AKC-Supported Legislation Alert

Yesterday the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the final adoption of a rule, effective January 3, 2022, that requires licensees under the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA)—including breeder/dealers, research facilities, intermediate handlers, and carriers—to establish emergency/contingency plans in the event of a natural or manmade disaster or other business interruption.

For more information click here to read the AKC Legislative Alert:

APHIS Rule Requiring Emergency Contingency Planning

AKC Legislative Alert

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced an update to its current emergency rule that generally prohibits the importation of dogs into the U.S. from countries that are considered high-risk for rabies. Effective December 1, 2021, eligible travelers, U.S. citizens, or lawful U.S. residents with a valid U.S.-issued rabies vaccination certificate traveling with their personal pet dog(s) from a country at high risk for rabies will no longer be required to apply for a CDC Dog Import permit, and will be able to travel with their dogs during the remainder of the suspension.

Click here for more information:

CDC Updates Import Requirements for Dogs Reentering U.S.

Ask Your Congressional Representative to Support HR 5261

AKC thanks Congressman David Schweikert for introducing H.R. 5261 to require that food products containing xylitol or “birch sugar” be labeled to warn of the sweetener’s toxic effects on dogs. Xylitol is a chemical compound most commonly used as a sugar substitute in chewing gum, dental products, peanut butter, baked goods, and other human food.. Xylitol is harmful to dogs because, unlike humans, it is quickly absorbed in the bloodstream and may result in a sudden release of insulin from the pancreas. The rapid release of insulin into a dog’s bloodstream may cause hypoglycemia.  In dogs, this may occur within 10 – 60 minutes of ingestion of xylitol and if untreated, can quickly be life-threatening.

AKC urges responsible dog owners to contact their member of Congress and ask them to support this positive bill. For more information about this bill and about Xylitol and its effects on dogs, click here:

HR 5261 – Warning Labels for Xylitol

The Nebraska Legislature Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider two bills in the week of 4/19/2021 that provide certain liability protections when there has been exposure to the COVID-19 virus. These bills may be of potential interest to clubs with concerns about conducting their events while under a higher-than-normal exposure to liability risks. Click here for more information: https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/nebraska-support-bills-providing-liability-protections-covid-exposure-february-18/