The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the comment period on proposed new regulations that would require people who keep more than four "breeding females" (this term is not defined) and who sells a puppy sight unseen to obtain a USDA commercial breeder license and be subject to federal regulations and inspections as a USDA commercial breeding kennel. The new deadline for comments is August 15, 2012.

Accordingly, the deadline to sign AKC’s online petition, Join With the AKC to Protect Responsible Small Breeders, has been extended to August 13. To date, more than 67,000 concerned dog owners have already signed the petition. The petition, along with AKC’s comments on the proposed rule change, will be sent to the USDA at the close of the comment period.

It is important that responsible breeders -- and individuals who may wish to obtain a dog from a responsible breeder in the future – express their concerns with the proposed rules by both signing the petition and submitting comments to USDA. Visit the AKC Government Relations online USDA/APHIS regulations resource page for more information and to learn how to submit comments.

Sign and share the petition.

Go the AKC Government Relations USDA/APHIS regulations resource page.