United States Senator Debbie Stabenow (Michigan) was honored with an AKC Legislator of the Year Award during her visit to the Detroit Kennel Club (DKC) show on June 20.
Senator Stabenow, who visited the show with members of her family, toured the event with DKC Show Chair Chris Berg, chatted with constituent dog enthusiasts and met their beautiful dogs. She tweeted and posted photos while watching group competition.
As Chair of the United States Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Stabenow has been a strong voice for the interests of Michigan fanciers and hobby breeders, particularly when they would have been negatively impacted by changes to federal commercial dog and cat breeder licensing laws implemented in 2013. She played an important role in supporting and advancing measures to protect hobby breeders and address their concerns as part of the 2014 federal Farm Bill and Farm Bill Manager’s report.
A framed AKC Legislator of the Year rosette was awarded to the senator by Berg and representatives of the Michigan Association for Pure-Bred Dogs (AKC’s Michigan federation). The show concluded with Sen. Stabenow presenting the trophy to Best in Show winner, a German Shepherd Dog named “Rumor” (GCH Lockenhaus Rumor Has It V. Kenlyn).
The AKC Legislator of the Year Award (also known as the James S. Holt Memorial Award for Promotion of Responsible Dog Ownership in Legislation) honors legislators who demonstrate a commitment to promoting responsible dog ownership, the well-being of dogs, and protecting the rights of dog owners, exhibitors, and responsible breeders. It was established in 2009 in memory of the late James S. Holt, who served as an AKC Delegate, Board member and federal legislative consultant.