The AKC Government Relations department had a busy month meeting with clubs, legislators, associations, and breeders across the country!
Jennifer Clark, Director of Legislative Outreach, traveled to Lebanon, Missouri, to speak at the Missouri Pet Breeders Association conference, attended by hundreds of breeders from Missouri and throughout the Midwest. She spoke on legislative issues impacting breeders, and proactive ways they could get involved and advocate on behalf of their dogs and breeding program.
Government Relations’ new Legislative Analyst/Community Outreach Coordinator (Western Region), Robert Miller, set up AKC GR’s first educational booth at the 2018 AKC National Agility Championships in Reno, Nevada. With nearly a thousand dogs entered in the event, Robert met and spoke with numerous participants and spectators about legislation that could potentially impact all dog owners and breeders across the country.
Patty Van Sicklen, AKC Government Relations Regional Manager (Southeast), traveled to South Carolina to meet with representatives of the Greenville Kennel Club in Greenville, SC, to discuss working proactively on legislative issues. She also presented a program on legislative trends and grassroots advocacy at the club’s March 21 membership meeting. Members are now working to compile information about club projects and activities that benefit dogs and the community, and to share this information with legislators and the public.
We look forward to another busy spring and summer full of events and conferences that allow us to continue to educate the public and government officials on the importance of policy protecting responsible dog ownership, breeding, and exhibiting.