New York, NY – The American Kennel Club® announced recently that Linda D. Witouski of Myrtle Beach Kennel Club and a resident of Conway, South Carolina, has been named a recipient of the AKC® Community Achievement Award for her longtime dedication to educating the public and lawmakers about canine legislative issues. Witouski received one of three awards for the third quarter of 2008– Lyons Township Dog Training Club and Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club also received recognition.
The AKC Community Achievement Awards support and recognize outstanding public education and legislation efforts of AKC-affiliated clubs, AKC-recognized federations and their members. The AKC selects award recipients who promote purebred dogs and responsible dog ownership within their communities or who have successfully introduced, monitored and responded to legislative issues affecting dog ownership.
Linda D. Witouski is the AKC Delegate from the Myrtle Beach Kennel Club. In addition to keeping her club apprised on AKC activities and policy, she is a tireless foe of breed-specific and anti-dog legislation on the state and local levels. On behalf of her club and the dog fancy, Witouski writes letters, attends state functions and lobbies legislators.
As the co-author of the “Monthly National Legislation Report,” Witouski reaches 200,000 readers nationwide. She is founder of the South Carolina Animal & Sportsman Voting Coalition and is on the steering committee of the Camo Coalition, a group of concerned hunters and wildlife enthusiasts.
When the Southside Middle School seventh-grade class began a project in opposition to proposed breed-specific legislation, Witouski was invited by their teacher to educate and advise the kids on their presentation. This led to an ongoing relationship with the class and, ultimately, to Southside being the first South Carolina school to offer an AKC education program for middle school students, an achievement widely reported in the local media.
“AKC is proud of the hard work Linda has done on behalf of the dog community. Her efforts to educate lawmakers and the public on canine legislative issues have earned her much respect from her club and the dog fancy,” said Noreen Baxter, AKC’s VP of Communications. “We congratulate Linda on her award and wish her much success in the future.”
Nominations for the AKC Community Achievement Awards are accepted year-round. Up to three honorees are named each quarter. They receive a certificate of appreciation and a $1,000 check payable to the club or federation’s public education and canine legislation efforts. To nominate a club, visit https://www.akc.org/public_education/community_achievement.cfm