The Delaware General Assembly has adjourned its 2026 legislative session after approving several bills that impact dog owners, breeders, pet sellers, shelters, rescue organizations, and veterinarians. AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) monitored these measures throughout session and worked to ensure that legislation affecting dogs and dog owners is reasonable, enforceable, and protects responsible dog ownership. […]

Animal rights activists continue to collect signatures in Oregon in advance of a July 2 deadline to qualify an extreme measure (currently referred to as Oregon Initiative Petition 28) for the November 2026 ballot that would ban hunting, criminalize dog breeding (including artificial insemination), end recognized training practices, and significantly harm agriculture. AKC Government Relations […]

The Senate Agriculture Committee will be marking up draft language pertaining to federal dog laws in the 2026 Senate Farm Bill later this month.  As introduced, the bill supports important priorities for dog enthusiasts and responsible breeders, including canine health, welfare and the rights of responsible dog owners and breeders.  As a constituent of an […]

Yesterday (June 16), the North Carolina Judiciary 1 Committee approved an amended bill regarding tethering and shelters for dogs which includes some positive amendments, but some concerns remain. Thanks to the messages received by many AKC club members, the bill expanded exemptions to include more dog events and training, and activities such as grooming and […]

Updated: Thursday, July 2, 2026 31 cases of New World Screwworm (NWS, hereinafter screwworm) have been detected in southwest Texas and New Mexico since the first case was detected on June 3, 2026. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and state departments of agriculture and health officials are working together to address the issue. […]

On Tuesday, June 16, a North Carolina House committee will consider a bill regarding tethering and shelters for dogs.  Some provisions in these bills are reasonable and do protect dogs from being harmed while tethered or kept outside.  However, other provisions fail to take into account responsible practices that meet the needs of various dog […]

Updated: Wednesday, June 24, 2026 In early June 2026, cases of New World Screwworm (NWS, hereinafter screwworm) have been detected in southwest Texas and New Mexico. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and state departments of agriculture and health officials are working together to address the issue. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends that […]

The New York Legislature recently adjourned after a busy two-year session where AKC followed over 350 bills with the potential to impact dogs and New York dog owners. With state budget discussions dominating much of this year, there was a significant flurry of activity at the end of session to determine which bills would pass […]

On Monday, June 8, 2026, Kentucky State Senator Robin Webb will host a ceremonial bill signing to celebrate the designation of the Treeing Walker Coonhound as Kentucky’s State Dog.  Kentucky’s purebred dog community is invited to join lawmakers, sportsmen, and stakeholders at this memorable event. State Senator Webb, a 2016 recipient of the AKC Legislator […]

The Illinois Legislature adjourned the spring 2026 session in the early hours Monday morning.  While the lawmakers will come back for a short session later this fall where bills may be considered, this adjournment crosses a major hurdle for bills impacting dog owners and breeders in Illinois. Thanks to a significant response from dog owners […]