Because Lacey is a rescued dog we don't have any proof of her breed line so AKC allows us to show proof through pictures that she is indeed a pure bred dog and that she complies with their guideline of being spayed. They issue what is called a Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL) which allows an unregistered pure bred dog to compete in most all of the venues that AKC offers. The only one they cannot enter is conformation.