– AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days Are Key to Public Education –
This September hundreds of free community events for dog lovers across the country will participate in the ninth annual AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days. The AKC will host its flagship event in Raleigh, NC on Saturday, Sept. 24th. We welcome AKC clubs, Canine Good Citizen® evaluators, rescue groups, dog trainers, vet clinics and all other dog-loving groups to join us in making this year the biggest month-long celebration yet! If you haven’t already, I urge you to sign-up your club or organization for an event.
An AKC RDO Days event can be as simple as manning a public education table at your show or trial or as involved as creating a day-long fair, offering Canine Good Citizen® testing or running an AKC Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR) microchip clinic. Visit www.akc.org/rdod for more suggestions.
The first 500 groups that sign-up at www.akc.org/rdod by August 1, 2011 will receive an event listing on the AKC website as well as a materials kit that includes giveaways like pencils, stickers and brochures and a publicity packet filled with ideas to promote your event locally. We have hundreds of events from coast to coast already signed up.
We’ve also added a new tool to the materials kit this year – the updated “Welcome to the American Kennel Club” brochure. This public friendly brochure highlights AKC’s good works and the great programs we have available to all dogs and will assist your club in its public education and outreach efforts.
The brochure explains how to find a puppy through AKC’s Breeder Referral Services and Online Breeder Classifieds as well as how to find a training club, get started in the Canine Good Citizen® and S.T.A.R. Puppy programs or enroll a mixed-breed dog in the AKC Canine Partners program.
AKC CAR pet recovery services, the AKC Canine Health Resource Center, AKC’s kennel inspections program and more are featured in a section about how AKC works to keep our canines happy and healthy. Registering your puppy helps the AKC and its affiliates do so many things for dogs everywhere. The brochure also shines a spotlight on the proud work the American Kennel Club does through its affiliates: the AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Humane Fund and AKC CAR Canine Support and Relief Fund and how the public can donate to support those efforts.
Lastly, the back of the brochure is an engaging “Save This Page” cut out with places for important dog information and phone numbers as well as a fun Dog Age Calculator chart converting your dog’s age into human year equivalents. Owners can easily secure this page, which also contains AKC’s contact info and social media places, on their refrigerators with their favorite dog-themed magnet.
We believe this brochure will help support the wonderful education work you’re already doing with the public, legislators, schools and more. Thank you for your continued efforts! If you register for AKC RDO Days, you’ll receive 25 free copies of “Welcome to the American Kennel Club” or you can order additional copies of theGAINF3 brochure at orderdesk@akc.org.
Sincerely,
Ron Menaker
Chairman
July Chairman’s Report