Acronyms Commonly Used in Pet Law Discussions

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

AAHA - American Animal Hospital Association
ADBA - American Dog Breeders Association Inc.
ADOA - American Dog Owners Association
AKC - American Kennel Club
ALDF - Animal Legal Defense Fund
ALF - Animal Liberation Front
APRI - American Pet Registry, Inc.
AR - animal rights
ARBA - American Rabbit Breeders' Association
ASPCA - American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
AVAR - Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights
AVMA - American Veterinary Medical Association
AW - animal welfare
AWA - Animal Welfare Act

- B -

BL - breeder licensing
BOD - board of directors
BSL - breed specific legislation

- C -

CERF - Canine Eye Registration Foundation
CAR - Companion Animal Recovery (AKC)
CB - commercial breeders or captive bred (in reference to birds, reptiles, amphibians, etc; as opposed to WC for wild-caught)
CFA - Cat Fanciers Association
CKC - Canadian Kennel Club, also Continental Kennel Club

- D - E - F -

DDAL - Doris Day Animal League
DFOW - Dog Federation of Wisconsin
ELF - Earth Liberation Front

- G - H - I -

HSUS - Humane Society of the United States
IDA - In Defense of Animals

- J - K - L -

JAF - Justice for Animals Fund
JFA - Justice for Animals

- M -

MM - mandatory microchipping
MoFed - Missouri Federation of Animal Owners
MSN - mandatory spay/neuter

- N - O -

NAIA - National Animal Interest Association
NCRAOA - North Carolina Responsible Animal Owners Alliance
OFA - Orthopedic Foundation for Animals

- P - Q -

PAWS - Pet Animal Welfare Statute: Sen. Rick Santorum's bill (S.1139/H.R. 2669)
PCRM - Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
PIJAC - Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council
PPA - Puppy Protection Act
PSYETA - Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

- R -

RAOT - Responsible Animal Owners of Tennessee
RPOA - Responsible Pet Owners Alliance

- S -

SAOVA - Sportsmen and Animal Owners Voting Alliance
SHAC - Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty
S/N - spay/neuter

- T -

TICA - The International Cat Association
TNR - trap, neuter, release (feral cats)

- U - V -

UKC - United Kennel Club
USDA - United States Department of Agriculture
*VAW - (state) Voters for Animal Welfare, e.g. VVAW = Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare

- W - X - Y - Z -

WC - wild-caught (as opposed to captive bred in referring to birds, reptiles, amphibians, etc)

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