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Is the American Kennel Club Advocating for Dogs or Puppy Mills?

This week marks the 140th anniversary of the American Kennel Club (AKC), an organization well-known for its tagline, “For the love of all things dog.” However, while it celebrates this milestone, the AKC is also actively opposing two important pieces of legislation that aim to improve animal welfare: the Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement (CARE) for Animals Act and the Puppy Protection Act.

Both bills are designed to help government authorities crack down on the worst offenders in the puppy mill industry, where documented cases of abuse and neglect have been rampant. It stands to reason that any organization claiming to care about dogs would Support such measures, especially one with a motto so seemingly devoted to canine well-being. Unfortunately, the AKC’s actions tell a different story.

Though the AKC promotes itself as a leader in animal welfare, it primarily functions as a registry for purebred dogs. Much of the organization’s opposition to animal welfare reform stems from its financial interests. In 2022, the AKC generated over $103 million, much of which came from registering dogs, including those bred in puppy mills. These large-scale breeders, and the pet stores that sell their dogs, benefit from weaker regulations, making the AKC a powerful ally in their efforts to maintain the status quo.