The American Kennel Club (AKC) will honor Forrest and Charlotte Lucas with the inaugural AKC Award for Outstanding Leadership in Canine Policy. The award will be presented at the 2016 AKC National Championship Dog Show presented by Royal Canin in Orlando, Florida, December 17-18, 2016.
The new AKC award is designed to honor those who demonstrate exceptional commitment and leadership in the areas of canine policy, public understanding of canine policy, responsible dog ownership and the future of purebred dogs.
Mr. and Mrs. Lucas are being honored for their work in The Dog Lover movie, released in July 2016 by Sony Pictures. The film raises awareness about animal rights-fueled bias and misinformation that harms responsible dog owners and breeders.
Mr. Lucas is the founder of Protect the Harvest, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting responsible animal agriculture, sporting activities, and animal ownership. He served as Executive Producer of The Dog Lover.
“We are excited to honor Mr. and Mrs. Lucas,” said Sheila Goffe, AKC Vice President, Government Relations. “They have brought new attention to the threats and challenges facing dedicated dog breeders, owners and purebred dog lovers who are the foundation of our sport.”