The AKC has announced its new AKC Public Service Dog titling program! This program will recognize dogs that work for government agencies and keep our communities safe by awarding the title of Public Service Dog. Titles include Public Service Detection Dog (PSDD), Patrol Dog (PSPD), and Tracking Dog (PSTD). For more information about the program and what these titles entail, please see the attached flyer.

AKC Public Service Dog Title_FINAL.pdf

The AKC has announced that 3 new Fit Dog Tiles have been added! Participants may now earn bronze, silver, and gold level titles. For more information or to read about the requirements, click the link below.

AKC Fit Dog Guide

A bill has been introduced in California that would require boarding facilities to have an emergency preparedness plan. The AKC and CWDTC do not have a strong opinion one way or another, but are asking for boarding facilities and licensed kennel property owners to weigh in with their feelings on the issue. If you feel that this bill would be of benefit or hinderance to  your business, please visit the link below for more information on who to contact to express your thoughts and what the bill includes. 

https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/california-bill-require-emergency-preparedness-plans-kennels/

California has introduced a new bill that would hold dog trainers and training facilities to the same standards as boarding facilities. The AKC and CWDTC oppose this bill and are asking for support from individuals by contacting our representatives and expressing concern. This bill assumes that all training involves overnight care and does not account for the many different types of training classes and programs. If this passes, it could threaten our ability to hold classes, along with many other training clubs and programs. For more information, who to contact, and a list of concerns/talking points, please visit the link below. A committee hearing is scheduled for April 19, 2022. Thank you for your support!

https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/california-bill-regulating-dog-trainers-boarding-facilities-scheduled-hearing-call-today/

GREAT NEWS!!!
We have been heard!!!

California dog enthusiasts can celebrate today!

AB 702, the breeder permit bill, has been pulled from this morning's hearing in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee by the author. AB 702 is now a two-year bill.

We are at the beginning of a two-year legislative cycle so converting this bill to a two-year bill means that it is dead for this year. It's possible for it to be changed and brought back next year, but judging by history, that is unlikely.

This is a huge victory for everyone involved.

Thanks to everyone who contacted their assembly members and to all the great groups that worked so effectively to stop this bill: in particular AKC and CalAnimals, and to all the other groups, including the CPPGA, that worked together to defeat this bad legislation.

We have heard from a number of vets, through our students and membership, about the increase in the current dog influenza type virus.  According to these sources the virus is caused by a new influenza virus variant and their recommendation is that “your dog maintain a current vaccination for canine influenza particularly if they regularly socialize with other dogs or go to dog parks, daycare or boarding.” These e-mails to various client bases also state that "many of the dogs that have come in with this disease have reportedly been vaccinated for both Bordetella and Canine Influenza".

How is that affecting the club so far?  We have had a few students that have missed one or more nights of class due to some form of “kennel cough”.  So far, no one else in those classes had any symptoms.  We routinely advise against having dogs come to class and play or interact with the other dogs directly as that makes the other dogs more interesting than the owner trying to get their dog’s attention for training.  For this reason, direct nose to nose, close contact interaction is not normally a part of our classes.  Direct interaction is the common mode of transmission for this respiratory disease. 

Currently the club requires all dogs to be current on the normal vaccinations.  Due to COVID restrictions we have already reduced some contact vectors by not allowing use of the club dog crates, requiring students to bring their own crates when needed, and reducing class size.  We had considered, relaxing these restrictions and possibly allowing a small increase in class size due to COVID status for our county moving to a less restrictive tier but in light of the current increase in influenza type illnesses in dogs we will continue with existing COVID restrictions which will also serve to keep our classes safer for the dogs.

Social distancing for the dogs (which includes bringing your own water dishes and water as needed to limit transmission between dogs) seems to be in order during this period of increased influenza type illness in dogs.  

A committee hearing has been scheduled for AB 702 on Tuesday, April 27. The AKC is actively working to fight this legislation and is asking for clubs and individuals to contact the committee members to express concerns and opposition to the bill before the hearing date. You can find a list of talking points, a list of the committee members and their contact info, as well as online contact forms at the link below. Please take a moment to read through the updated alert and voice your concerns. 

https://www.akcgr.org/

Click this link and scroll down to find the post titled "California: Breeder Permits Bill AB 702 Set for April 27 Hearing – Contact the Committee Today!"

Please take a moment to read through the recent legislative alert sent out by the AKC. Assembly Bill 702 has been scheduled for a hearing on March 19, 2021. This bill would require anyone who owns an intact dog or cat to obtain a breeding permit from their local jurisdiction. This bill would be incredibly detrimental not only to hobby breeders, but anyone involved in purebred dogs, dog shows, performance events, or anyone who choses to keep their pet unaltered for health reasons. Click the link below to read the brief on Assembly Bill 702 provided by the AKC, along with who to contact to show your concerns and some suggested talking points. 

https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/california-bill-seeks-regulate-dog-breeders/

The AKC has posted a legislative alert for a bill that is currently in the US Senate. This bill would create new mandates for breeders and is especially concerning because to a non-expert, it all sounds great. Animal rights activists have been pressuring lawmakers to back the bill and it has been gaining quite a lot of traction. The AKC is urging its community to contact our leaders to express our concern and disagreement with the proposed legislation. Please click the link below to read more about it and to find out what you can do to help.

https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/us-congress-problematic-breeder-mandates-bill-introduced-senate/