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AKC Delegate

Report by MARGARET DICORLETO, Delegate

DECEMBER 2024

I attended the quarterly meeting of the or a summary of the problem. It is imperative
American Kennel Club held in Orlando, FL that we stay alert to legislation that threatens
December 12 & 13, 2024. Highlights from the the rights of responsible breeders and dog
All-Breed Clubs Committee: owners. Overreaching ordinances are popping
up everywhere. Please see the AKC GR Alert
There is now a hotline for the Darkness to published on October 28, 2024 for contact
Light program. The Darkness to Light hotline is names and numbers of the Ojai City Council
1-866-FOR-LIGHT (1-866-367-5444). This toll- members and also strategies for what you can
free, confidential helpline provides information do in your community. www.akcgr.org
and resources about sexual abuse for children
and adults in the United States. Darkness to Also the new Senate Farm Bill includes
Light also offers a crisis textline by texting dangerous anti-breeder proposals. Animal
"LIGHT" to 741741. rights lobbyists are strongly behind this. Go to
www.akcgr.org for more information and what
Darkness to Light offers prevention training to do.
for adults to help them understand how abuse
happens and how to prevent it. www.d2l.org I presented a document called “Be
Prepared-Plan Ahead” which stresses the
The Government Relations Department
continues to monitor thousands of bills each
year. Of growing concern is the issue of “torture
breeding.” A small town in California recently
adopted a severe breeding restriction that
prohibits the breeding of dogs and cats
with “congenital anatomical features”
that are likely to cause the animal or
its offspring to suffer pain, deformity,
or difficulty expressing natural
behaviors, difficulty breathing or
exercising or breeding. There is a
long list of characteristics that are
considered likely to cause suffering
and therefore are considered
“unethical breeding.” There is also
a list of breeds considered to have
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway
Syndrome (BOAS) and Chows
are on the list. All national breed
parent clubs and all AKC -affiliated
clubs are encouraged to express
opposition to the ordinance. Of
utmost importance is for everyone to be
vigilant about what dog-related issues are
being discussed in your community. When
something dog-related comes up, share that
information with AKC Government Relations.
Email doglaw@akc.org with a link to reports
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