October 2005

Editor's Note
The Canine Legislation department has many things to celebrate this month. First, we are extremely pleased with the success of this year’s Lobby Day event. Held for the first time in conjunction with Pet Night, an annual reception on Capitol Hill, Lobby Day made for a very exciting two days of advancing the purebred dog fancy’s interests in Congress. Please see our feature story for more details.

Our department is also proud to celebrate Gail LaBerge’s receipt of the Community Achievement Award. Gail wears many hats in her capacity as a Legislative Liaison in Georgia, and we are delighted to see her efforts formally recognized.

Finally, we report only eight states and Congress remain in session this year. The Canine Legislation department looks forward to having a bit more time to devote to projects that will make your jobs as legislative advocates easier and more productive.

Regards,
Stephanie Lane




Lobby Day 2005
Purebred dog owners from across the country converged on the nation's capitol September 21st and 22nd to participate in the American Kennel Club's third-annual Lobby Day. Hosted by the Canine Legislation department, Lobby Day provides participants an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge about issues that impact fanciers on the federal level. More importantly, attendees have a chance to carry the fancy's concerns directly to Congress during pre-arranged meetings with their elected officials. Read more.



Around the Nation: Legislation That Affects You
CALIFORNIA - Sen. Speier's SB861, to allow local governments to enact mandatory spay/neuter for specific breeds, is pending before Governor Schwarzenegger. The Governor has until October 9th to decide whether to sign or veto the measure. California dog owners who have not already done so should immediately contact the Governor's office and request a veto. For more information and to find out how you can help, please read our Legislative Alert.

See news from other states.



Take a Bow
Gail A. LaBerge, Board Member and volunteer lobbyist for the Georgia Canine Coalition, has been named a recipient of the AKC Community Achievement Award for her efforts defending and protecting the interests of the canine community. Through her work with the Georgia Canine Coalition, Gail helped spearhead efforts that resulted in the withdrawal of a breed-specific bill in the 2005 session of the state legislature. She also assisted in the rewriting of the Georgia Veterinarian Practice Act and has helped redraft animal-related legislation for many municipalities in the state. LaBerge travels the state to speak on canine legislation issues and how to combat laws that discriminate against dogs and their owners. Read more.

 
Stephanie Lane, Director
Sarah Sprouse, Program Administrator
Phone: 919-816-3720 | Fax: 919-816-4275 | Email: doglaw@akc.org

© The American Kennel Club 2005