Reign's Legacy Petition for Change

We, the undersigned, write to you out of deep concern and shared grief. In recent weeks, yet another tragedy has struck our community: a beloved dog lost her life while under the care of a professional handler. Sadly, this is not the first time—and without change, it will not be the last.

Our members, exhibitors, and the dog-loving public are asking the same questions: How many times will this happen before the AKC acts? How many preventable deaths must occur before there are real safeguards in place?

The AKC must move beyond being “just a registry” and embrace its responsibility as a guardian of the dogs we all cherish. To that end, we respectfully but firmly urge the AKC to take the following steps:

1. Require professional handler licensing, bonding, and insurance — backed by mandatory training, enforceable care standards, and meaningful consequences for violations. Since handlers earn their livelihood under the AKC banner, proper oversight is essential.

2. Adopt mandatory safety protocols — covering transport, housing, and care of dogs at shows.

3. Establish incident reporting and transparency — all injuries or deaths under a handler’s care must be reported, tracked, and reviewed.

4. Create real consequences for negligence — including suspension or permanent revocation of privileges for handlers found responsible.

5. Adopt an Owner’s Bill of Rights — giving owners a clear process to raise concerns and protection from retaliation.

6. Form an independent review board — a neutral panel to evaluate incidents and recommend action.

We believe these reforms will not only prevent future tragedies but will also strengthen public trust in purebred dogs, dog shows, and the AKC itself.

The dogs we love deserve nothing less.