American Dog Owners Association

ADOA was the first national organization of dog owners and fanciers working together to protect our dogs and our rights.

ADOA stands for the American Dog Owners Association, Inc., which was incorporated in November, 1970, in Detroit, Michigan by Duncan Wright and eighty-five individuals who wanted to stop dog fighting in their area. ADOA is a NON-PROFIT organization -- its only sources of income are dues and donations. Its expenses are many and varied, with the administration of the Canine Defense Fund consuming a large portion of ADOA's income.

ADOA's office is headquartered in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Spotsylvania County in between Richmond, Virginia and Washington, D.C. There is a President, Vice-President, Secretary, nine Directors, four Club Directors, five Executive Committee Members and Counsel geographically located throughout the United States. ALL are volunteers! The only paid employees is the Executive Director located in Fredericksburg, VA. Any ADOA member who has a problem should call the Fredericksburg, VA office for assistance from 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

"The American Dog Owners Association preserves the special relationship between dogs and mankind by protecting and defending the rights of responsible dog ownership; opposing detrimental and supporting appropriate regulation for dog owners; educating the public; and promoting standards for safe and civilized treatment of dogs."

WHAT DOES IT DO?

ADOA has gone to Court, has worked against, and continues to work against, "limiting dog ordinances". ADOA feels that limiting the number of dogs a person can own is absolutely unconstitutional. The Government doesn't try to regulate the number of televisions or cars a person can own. Why? Because they are personal property. Dogs, too are personal property - personal property for which the owners are responsible. ADOA believes an individual can have as many dogs as he/she wants as long as he/she is a responsible dog owner, the dogs are properly cared for and they are not a nuisance to his/her neighbors. You have a right to own as many dogs as you can take care of logically and physically. Call ADOA if you need help.

Approximately three to four hundred (300-400) bills affecting dogs and dog ownership are introduced in the Legislatures in the fifty (50) states each year. The bills range from as many as eight-nine (89) in one state to as few as one (1) in another state. These proposals cover every aspect of dog law, and most are poorly written. If you have a problem, contact ADOA for information and/or assistance.

ADOA was the primary force behind tbe 1976 re-write of the ANIMAL WELFARE ACT passed by Congress. Why? Because dogs were being shipped from puppy mills in lettuce crates, cabbage crates, or anything else they could find. It was a very dangerous situation for these puppies and dogs and the Animal Welfare Act, prior to that time, offered no help. ADOA provided most the input for the re-write. ADOA was also able to get the prohibition of transporting dogs across state lines for the purpose of dog fighting included in the re-write. This federal statute provides for a $10,000 fine upon conviction.

ADOA brought the airlines into a conference to decide what the HANDLING RULES SHOULD BE FOR LIVE ANIMALS ON AIR CARRIERS. They didn't attend willingly -- they had to be subpoenaed -- but they came. As a result, we now have a standard for shipping crates and standard handling procedures in the Air Industry for our animals. We still have a few problems reported to our office head-quarters but ADOA is set up to handle these complaints and vigorously pursues them. Did you know that since 1979, USDA Regulations allow hobby breeders and individual pet owners to ship their dogs when temperatures are below 45° F if they have a Certificate of Acclimation from a Licensed Veterinarian, and over 75° to 85° F for no more than four (4) hours (over 75° F must have extra ventilation)? Commercial breeders had similar regulations for years prior to 1979.

ADOA has been actively fighting BREED-SPECIFIC VICIOUS DOG LEGISLATION in and out of the courts since 1978. Long before any other organization even thought of sending out information on how to combat breed-specific legislation, ADOA was sending out twenty to twenty-five page packets of information and statistics. ADOA often mails over sixty (60) of these packets per week to Municipalities; Townships, Counties, Boards, State Legislators and individuals. ADOA, with the help of others, has been able to convince some state Legislatures to withdraw breed-specific proposals and to pass good, strong, enforceable Dangerous Animal ordinances. New York, New Jersey, and California are just a few examples of these "turnarounds". But turnarounds don't just happen! They are the result of very hard work by individual members of the dog fancy working together with ADOA to protect the rights of all people to own pets. It can be done.

Again ADOA is ready to help and has developed a brochure, Canine Defense Fund, which describes the structure and purpose of the Fund set up to defend your rights to own any breed of dog anywhere in the United States.