The Birmingham Kennel Club's

Position on Dog Ownership and Legislation

The Birmingham Kennel Club supports sound, enforceable and non-discriminatory legislation governing the ownership and breeding of dogs.

The Birmingham Kennel Club emphatically endorses the right to own, keep and breed dogs in a responsible and humane manner.  This includes supporting clean-up ordinances, leash laws, nuisance laws and other reasonable regulations designed to ensure that dogs and their owners remain respected members of their communities. 

The Birmingham Kennel Club supports programs dedicated to teaching the pet-buying public how to find a responsible breeder an dhow to make well-informed decisions when buying a dog to ensure that they will find a puppy or dog that is a good match for their lifestyle.  The Birmingham Kennel Club strongly encourages owners to provide proper care, training, and socialization to ensure their pets remain happy members of the family and respected members of the community.

The Birmingham Kennel Club believes that the breeding of dogs should be undertaken responsibly for the purpose of preserving breed characteristics and producing healthy, well-socialized puppies.  Responsible breeders give careful consideration to health issues, temperament and genetic screening, as well as to the individual care and placement of puppies in responsible homes.  The Birmingham Kennel Club strongly opposes the breeding of dogs by those who do so without regard for the dogs' welfare.

The Birmingham Kennel Club supports the voluntary spaying and neutering of dogs by pet owners and encourages breeders to discuss these options with puppy buyers.

The Birmingham Kennel Club opposes legislation based on a particular breed and does not support the idea that a dog should be declared a nuisance or a danger based solely on its breed.

The Birmingham Kennel Club supports and encourages the efforts of clubs, organizations, and individuals to rescue adoptable purebred dogs whether they originate from animal shelters or from owners who can no longer care for their dogs in a responsible manner.

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