AKC chews apart Puppy Bill

Washington-Barely a growl surfaced after the Senate recently approved the Puppy Protection Act, which specifies new canine breeding and treatment guidelines.

No one appeared to wince except for the American Kennel Club, which islobbying to halt the bill from becoming law, contending it would invadethe privacy of breeders nationwide.

The act would determine how often dogs could be bred and mandate thatpuppies be socialized byhuman exposure. An additional "three-strikes-you're-out"provision would revoke a breeder's license after three violations.

The organization would like the rules to be removed from a final billoverhauling federal farm programs.

"If the people who are currently closest to dogs - breeders, veterinariansand animal behaviorists - don't have a consensus as to how is the best wayto raise a dog, then how can the federal government have a way?" saysStephanie Robinson, AKC spokeswoman.

The Puppy Protection Act is one of a few animal welfare provisions tackedon to either the Senate or House versions of the farm bill. M