South Carolina dog fanciers and enthusiasts: Extensive proposed amendments to Spartanburg County’s Animals ordinance seek to create new licenses for dog breeders, require inspections of their facilities, establish care and conditions standards for all dogs, and impose ownership limits.  The ordinance is likely to be considered at the County Council’s next meeting, scheduled for Monday, […]

LD 962 – ESTABLISH OFFENSE OF AGGRAVATED OPERATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF A PET – OPPOSE On Monday, March 31, 2025, starting at 1PM, the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety is scheduled to accept testimony on LD 962. Among other provisions, the bill would create a new, separate crime […]

Today is the deadline for bills to be heard in an Illinois committee.  Thanks to the many club members and breeders who took the time to register your concerns, the three bills of primary concern to the AKC will not advance in the spring session. These bills included HB 1902 (Mandatory Genetic Testing and Sterilization), […]

On March 18, testimony was taken on a bill (SB 1076) that establishes a licensing framework for all breeders who sell even one dog as a pet was heard by an Oregon state Senate committee. The bill is not currently scheduled for a follow-up vote by the committee and AKC continues to closely monitor it. […]

The New York Senate is expected to vote soon on a bill to ban “debarking” – a standard veterinary practice also known as bark softening – unless the procedure is medically necessary to treat an injury, illness, or congenital defect. New York residents are strongly encouraged to contact your State Senator TODAY to express your […]

The New York Senate is expected to vote soon on a bill to ban “debarking” – a standard veterinary practice also known as bark softening – unless the procedure is medically necessary to treat an injury, illness, or congenital defect. New York residents are strongly encouraged to contact your State Senator TODAY to express your […]

Currently, animal owners in California can perform certain functions on their animals such as giving vaccines or basic wound care under what’s known as the “owner exemption”—allowable under current regulations from the California Veterinary Medical Board (CMVB). This policy (and others affecting veterinarians) was considered last month by the California Legislature as a part of […]

On Monday, March 24, four bills impacting dogs are on the agenda for public hearing by the Connecticut Joint Committee on Environment.  OPPOSE HB 6277, AN ACT CONCERNING THE ADOPTION OF ANIMALS FROM ANIMAL BREEDERS AND ANIMAL TESTING FACILITIES This bill would: (1) require “animal breeders” (any person who breeds dogs, cats, rabbits or guinea […]

Minnesota Senate File 1029, which is scheduled to be considered by the Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee on Friday, March 21, 2025, seeks to eliminate longstanding privacy and data protections for commercial breeders, which the state defines as those with more than 10 intact dogs and 5 litters a year.  The American […]

On Wednesday, March 19, a Nevada Assembly committee will be considering a bill to strengthen protections for animals by penalizing people who allow, permit or approve of animal torture or cruelty as defined in Nevada law. AB 381 also enhances penalties for those found to have been convicted of cruelty in especially egregious cases. AKC […]