Legislative Alerts

Yesterday, Governor Sununu signed H. 338 into law, making the tampering or removal of a dog’s collar or microchip a misdemeanor crime.  It also increases the penalty for stealing a dog, from a misdemeanor to a class B felony, for anyone guilty of multiple offenses.  These changes, effective January 1, 2022, are expected to act […]

The Virginia Board of Wildlife Resources as proposed amendments to the Commonwealth’s regulations governing hunting, trapping, and terrestrial wildlife specifically as they relate to Coyote and Furbearer Hunting Contests which could impact field trials and similar training events.  Online comment submission closes July 30, 2021. As proposed, a new section to Title 4 of the […]

Last February, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture finalized rules for the operations of animal shelters and other regulated entities.  However, in May, the Legislative Regulation Review Committee advised the Department of Agriculture of substantive and technical corrections needed prior to approving the rules.  Late last week, the Department of Agriculture responded to the request by […]

On July 20, the City of Stamford’s Legislative and Rules Committee met virtually to consider additional input on the city’s proposed tethering ordinance from fellow board members who had been contacted by their constituents with requests for amendments.  Video of the meeting can be viewed here. The Committee spent one hour and 45 minutes discussing […]

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) recently published proposed amendments to the regulations that carry out the state’s Animal Welfare Act.  These regulations would apply to all state licensed breeders, which in current law is anyone who raises and sells dogs they have bred, and have more than five females “capable of reproduction.” The proposed […]

Animal rights activists are currently collecting signatures in Oregon to place a measure on the 2022 ballot that would have a detrimental impact on hunting, many breeding procedures, and other animal husbandry practices in the state. Oregon Initiative Petition 13 claims to be stopping animal cruelty practices in the state, but instead would essentially ban […]

The Colorado Department of Agriculture has proposed amendments to the regulations that carry out the state’s Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act (PACFA), to include education requirements for license applicants and licensees seeking license renewal. PACFA defines “canine hobby breeder facility” as any facility which transfers no more than twenty-four dogs per year or breeds […]

A resolution has just been introduced in the California State Assembly that declares the Assembly’s intention to only support “sensible and humane therapeutic veterinary procedures for companion animals.”  As defined, this could mean the Assembly opposes such procedures as ear cropping, tail docking, and dewclaw removal, among other veterinary surgical procedures. It is important to […]

As previously reported, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has proposed to reissue a rule to require that breeder/dealers, research facilities, intermediate handlers, carriers, and other animal enterprises subject to USDA licensing establish emergency/contingency planning in the event of a natural or manmade disaster or other business disruption. HISTORY […]

The 2021 Louisiana state legislative session focused on taxation and spending, with limitations on the introduction of non-fiscal bills. Legislation of interest to dog owners that was tracked by AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) during the regular session included: Enacted legislation: Senate Bill 144, now Act 100, creates the crime of unlawful possession, transfer, or […]