South Plains Obedience Training Club of Lubbock, Inc. for encouraging responsible dog ownership in its community by offering training classes to local residents. Club member and trainer Joann Neal spoke with local newspaper The Daily Toreador to highlight why a dog should be trained and to promote the club’s classes. Joann used talking points about obedience to educate both the reporter and the readers of the article, highlighting the need to start training early in a dog’s life and the benefits of consistent, positive training. She also highlighted the many Texas Tech University students that attend classes as a way to tie the club to the local community of Lubbock, which is filled with college students. Landlords are often wary about rowdy college students, much less ones that also have dogs. The club’s involvement in improving town life by providing these classes to students is a great angle for the community or city reporter. If your club services help your city in any way, make sure you let your local newspaper know!

Furniture City Kennel Club member Merry Jeanne Millner for her thoughtful and well-written editorial in North Carolina’s News & Record in response to an article that highlighted a bad spectator experience at a local dog show. The writer of the original article attended an AKC show with several of his grandchildren in strollers and was asked to leave in a rude manner by club officials. Ms. Millner took the time to address the writer’s concerns by submitting her own letter to the paper. She began by stating that such behavior was not the norm at AKC dog shows, yet clearly explained why strollers are not a good idea at a dog show. Ms. Millner invited the original writer to visit her own club’s show so that he could experience typical club hospitality. Most newspapers welcome responses to previously written articles. Make sure you check out your paper’s editorial guidelines – there are often word limits and formatting requirements – but this is a great way to promote your club as an active and supportive member of the community!

Lake Eustis Kennel Club for providing pet oxygen masks to their local emergency services departments and informing their community of their availability through an article in The Daily Commercial. In the event of a fire, firefighters always bring oxygen masks to the scene, but these often do not fit pets. Since people today view their pets as family members and would be devastated if their pet could not be saved in an emergency, Lake Eustis KC saw a need in their community and worked to buy a supply of masks. The club then officially presented them to local officials at a local Lady Lakes Town Commission Meeting. Becoming a vital and supportive part of your community can pay dividends for your club. Due to their generous donation, Lake Eustis KC is now a visible part of its city and has created a relationship with local officials that could be beneficial in the future.

Lake Cumberland Kennel Club for promoting their club meeting in the Common Wealth Journal. Club meetings often become stale since educational programs can be difficult to arrange and dealing with the tiny details of club business can make meetings drag on – something that is definitely not conducive to enticing new members to stick around for the long-term. Lake Cumberland KC, however, offers refreshments at 6:30 pm and starts presentations at 7 pm – and makes an effort to expressly invite non-members. Their recent meeting featured a local vet that addressed seizures in dogs and general medical issues, as well as a breed presentation on the Australian Shepherd. In each meeting article, the club also reminds the public about what services they offer, such as obedience training, and their involvement in the community, such as providing pet oxygen masks to county fire stations. Club meetings don’t have to be boring if you make the effort to provide interesting and educational programs to your members. They can also be a great venue to draw new members into the dog community if you take the first step and offer an invitation.

The Collie Club of America and Collie breeders Julie Hinrichsen and Russell Dyke of Juell Collies for becoming involved in search for Reveille VIII, the storied mascot and “first lady” of Texas A&M University. Dogs serve as Reveille for several years and then retire. The nationwide search for a new mascot ended when Hinrichsen and Dyke donated AKC-registered Tapestry Tenacious Juell to the university after hearing about the mascot search through the Collie Club of America. After the Collie was selected, she became national news, with stories in the Houston Chronicle, USA Today and on television stations across the country. By providing a correct and well-trained example of their breed to the university, the Collie Club of America was able to spotlight and educate the public about the Collie. You too can become a breed ambassador in your own community. Work with your specialty club and attend local fairs, schools and community events to give presentations about your dogs – you could spark someone’s interest in the breed down the road!