I was big into the dog game 30 years ago, not recently.
BTW, what can they do? They are a registry and show sanctioning club.
Google “AKC and puppy mills” and you’ll see a host of links between them and the mill puppies. Like I said, they are notorious for looking the other way and giving legitimacy to puppy mill dogs — thus helping to perpetuate the problem. No, they aren’t the USDA, but without their tacit approval of the animals the industry wouldn’t be able to claim “status”.
Forgot to add that the AKC has also opposed many laws attempting to establish minimal breeding standards....