American Kennel Club & Cat Fanciers' Association Celebrate 4th Of July With All-American Dog & Cat Breeds - Photos

In the spirit of July 4th, and to announce Meet the Breeds - a showcase of over 200 dog and cat breeds that will take place in New York City this fall - the American Kennel Club® (AKC) & the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) celebrated patriotic pets at Fraunces Tavern, a historic revolutionary site in lower Manhattan.

Nine breeds including the American Foxhound, developed by George Washington and the American Shorthair, believed to have come over to the U.S. on the Mayflower posed for photos and met members of the media. Many of the animal attendees are breeds recognized as state symbols: the Boston Terrier (Massachusetts); the Chesapeake Bay Retriever (Maryland) and the Maine Coon (Maine). The lovable American Eskimo Dog, Black and Tan Coonhound, American Curl cat and Ragdoll cat also showed off their patriotism.

AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson and CFA Spokesperson Geri Fellerman spoke about the unique history and heritage of these dog and cat breeds, how to safeguard them from Fourth of July hazards, and the upcoming Meet the Breeds event where pet lovers can get up close and personal with hundreds of breeds.