The truth about those AKC papers

Have you ever heard someone proudly tell you their purebred dog “came with papers”? Sadly, they’ve been duped.

Consumers are tricked into thinking their puppy is healthy and well-bred because it came with AKC papers. However, the certification only means that the breeder paid a small fee to the American Kennel Club. For around $40, breeders, including puppy mills, receive “papers” from the AKC. That’s it.

A meaningless (but highly profitable) certification

AKC paperwork doesn’t mean anything, except that both of the puppy’s parents were the same breed. Dogs that came from horribly abusive situations can still get AKC papers. The AKC has even been criticized for registering dogs with genetic health issues.

So who benefits from AKC papers? The AKC. In 2022, over a million litters and dogs were registered with the AKC, providing them with $56 million in revenue. These eye-popping numbers also show that AKC papers aren’t exactly exclusive or hard to get. You could say the AKC certification isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.

Part of the problem

The American Kennel Club is partly why puppy mills exist, misleading consumers into believing their puppy is healthy and well-bred. But registration with the AKC doesn’t mean the puppy, breeding dogs, or breeding facility were inspected.

It gets worse. The AKC actively lobbies against legislation that would help dogs in need. The Humane Society of the United States (now Humane World for Animals) reports that the AKC “has opposed more than 450 bills aimed to help pups since 2008.”

An AKC judge was charged with animal cruelty, and they even gave an award to a breeder who pled guilty to animal cruelty.

If you care about doing right for dogs, know that AKC papers don’t help.

Read more about this topic here.