Report from the AKC Legislative Conference held on January, 2014, Embassy Suites Brier Creek, Raleigh, NC - This was an informative seminar where you will learn more about how to help combat today's troubling trends regarding purebred dogs, humane relocation and anti-breeder rhetoric and more. Breeders of purebred dogs are in danger due to emotional propaganda put forth by Animal Radicals such as the HSUS, PETA, NAIA, and other such organizations.

With hopes of delivering a boat load of information in a short amount of space, I would like to summarize this VERY informative seminar.

What I hope you take away from this article is that we, AKC breeders of purebred dogs are working AGAINST each other to our detriment. Read carefully, below, to learn how imperative it is to change our rhetoric or pet dogs, as we know them, will be gone as little as three generations.

The first speaker was Mike Williams, AKC Federal Affairs Advisor—works with Sheila Goffe at the AKC. He is our eyes and ears in Washington, DC and monitors legislation and regulations. When PUPS bill was alive, the lobbying efforts of the AKC reduced the co-sponsors from 215 to about 110—excellent success!

We need to focus on fostering a personal relationship with our Congressperson and their staff. Invite them to canine events, tours or kennel operations—anyway that you can get media participations/photo ops—politicians love positive press!

Also look for allies, such as Farming Groups, Sporting Groups, and Canine groups and retailers that rely on the pet industry. Don’t forget Veterinarians! After talking with the president of the AVMA this past year, my conversation with him made it very clear that he sees it as “us versus them.” As breeders, we have all wished that veterinarians would take a “team approach” to the healthcare of the pups you place. And by the way, they do not have to carry malpractice insurance, so in a way, they are lone rangers playing God with your clients and your pups/dogs without the input of YOU, the breeder. An as you know, when something goes wrong, they make it the breeders problem. I find my puppy buyers to be more devoted to their vet than to the breeder, which is understandable if they have years and years of relationship with them. But that does not mean they understand your breed and its special needs like you, the breeder does! In the past, I have experienced some very heated debates regarding some vets decisions that I would have expressly not recommended, due to my knowledge of canine development, dog structure, and the specific needs of my particular breed.

Currently, vets only have to have general liability insurance That would change if they could be sued for emotional loss or malpractice. Vet costs would go through the roof and become unaffordable for the average pet owner. So we MUST have their backs, and they must have ours.

The next speaker was Jennifer Clark, Manager of Canine Legislation, along with Sarah Sprouse, Legislative Analyst.

Did you know that there is no legal definition of a Puppy Mill?? Only perceptions. And boy, are they all over the place!

A few months ago we invited our Congressman to our kennel for a tour. He admitted he’s never been welcomed in by a breeder, and only hears the negative things coming through his office. It was the first time he saw a well-run, professional show kennel run by competent owners. So he, literally, only has the perception that all breeders should be shut down because all he hears is the negative! And how he votes will be affected by this twisted perspective!

Write a responsible pet owner column or tip of the week to local media. Be creative! Vote! Set your personal bar high! Comply with current laws.

Watch your language!!! Don’t say ‘puppy mill’, say ‘substandard breeder.’ Don’t say ‘backyard breeder’, say ‘casual breeder’. Avoid saying Rescue and, instead, say ‘re-homing’ DON’T THROW ALL BREEDERS UNDER THE BUS! We are our own worst enemy most of the time when it comes to public perception. Think long and hard about this before you react with ‘perceptions and opinions’. Stick to FACTS. The AKC is her to help. Gov’t relations:919-816-3720. Also look at http://humanewatch.org.
You will find this website VERY eye-opening. Share it so that we can stop the false emotional propaganda be propogated by the HSUS, specifically.

The HSUS and other AR (animal rights) organizations specialize in “Humane Confusion” and they have perceived “Moral Authority” by demonizing us breeders. Little by little they move their agenda forward. We need to go on the offense! Sometimes its good to use humor:
(insert youtube video of lawyers in cages here)
(insert the quote from CEO wayne Pacelle(
(inswert fox and youtuvbe videos)

Use facebook and other social media to go viral. And be aware…the ASPCA is starting to make moves as well.

Bill McIntryre-Executive Vice President – Grassroots Enterprise, Media training for Dog Advocates.

Check out these statistics that breed misinformation:
79% of the population looks online for info about dogs.
73% believe that vets are a reliable source for information (consider how much MIS-information they spread about purebred dogs/nutrition/early spay and neuter falsehoods!)
71% believe other dog owners are a reliable source of information (can you say ‘wives-tales?”)
42% believe that dog breeders are a reliable source of information—WOW! Should be much higher---more like Breeder # 1, Vets # 2, owners last!

Sheila Goffe – AKC Director of Government Relations---the latest on the AKC GR: Trends, Tools, and Resources

Dog legislation continues to treat breeders as pariah, rather than experts and incrementally threatens purebred dogs and all dog sports. EVERYONE is affected!

Some new trends:
Trying to regulate pet sales based on the type of transaction.
Legislation giving advocacy to dogs (we can no longer be their owner or advocate!)
Watch exemptions for Hobby Breeders—should be the same for all
Mandatory spay/neuter
Commercial breeding defined by ownership, not commerce
Ownership limits
One size fits all standards
Poor/ambiguous definitions

When asked, the AKC has no “position” on pet stores. The reality, however, is that pet stores are actually one of the most regulated venues in the pet industry!

Patti Strand – National Director- National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA)

The 1st amendment allows people to clump us all together!!! It allows artful use to defame people and industries at will.

The HSUS, PETA, Mercy for Animals and other fund raising animal rights organizations are part of the growing Conflict Fundraising Industry

(include naiaonline,org link here )

“Our goal is to make the public think of breeding dogs and cats like drunk driving and smoking” –Kim Sturla, director of the Peninsula Humane Society who spearheaded San Mateo spay and pay ordinance iin late 1980’s.

Breeders are the recipients of about 30 years of bad publicity in which breeders have been portrayed as responsible for every problem our pets face, and as greedy people who don’t really care about animals.

Humane Relocation – The Grizzly Truth
Definition: The practice of moving dogs from areas of high supply to areas where demand for dogs exceeds supply; National and International – from as far away as India, China.

There is very little coverage due to pressure due to pressure from HSUS. USA today ran a story (insert link )