It seems hard to believe that it is almost Thanksgiving. AKC Government Relations continues to be hard at work around the country, but we would be remiss if we did not pause for a moment and thank the federations, legislative liaisons, breeders, and local dog owners around the country who have taken the time this year to speak out on behalf of dogs. Your efforts in the trenches truly make a difference in the fight to protect the rights of responsible dog owners and the future of our breeds.
If you are coming to the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin, next month in Orlando, we invite you to stop by the AKC Government Relations booth (booth #105) to say hello and discuss how we can continue to work together. We also hope you will consider a fun, easy way to support those lawmakers who stand with us in supporting responsible dog owners and breeders. The AKC Political Action Committee will once again host renowned caricature artist Rafael Diez to sketch caricatures of you and your dog. Donors of $50 or more to the AKC PAC will receive an original drawing and electronic version we encourage you to share online to spread the word about the AKC PAC. Sketches of you and your dog will be published in The AKC Gazette, Dog News, PureDogTalk.com and other venues. Sittings last year sold out quickly. We encourage you to visit the booth early or sign up ahead of time with Nathan Makla at Nathan.makla@akc.org. Rafael Diez will be at booth #105 from 12pm – 5pm on Friday, December 13th, Saturday, December 14th, and Sunday, December 15th.
In supporting the AKC PAC, participants are taking an active role in helping protect their right to own, exhibit, and breed dogs and ensure that legislators understand that AKC dog club members will hold their legislators responsible for laws impacting dog ownership. Check out the link to see last year’s caricatures!
Finally, as winter rolls in, many legislatures may be thinking about limiting the time and temperature dogs can be outside. No dog should be left in conditions where its health and safety are in danger. However, dog breeds are very different and individual breeds can thrive in a variety of temperatures. Arbitrary temperature guidelines inadvertently cause harm by legalizing temperatures that a dog may not be able to tolerate based on their characteristics. There are numerous factors that impact a dog’s ability to handle weather extremes. These include: breed, age, nutritional status, health, and coat density. To learn more about what you need to know about dogs and the weather, click here! This may also be used as a guide to educate the public and your local decision-makers.
As the holiday season approaches, we wish you all the best. Our sincere thanks to each of you who work so tirelessly on behalf of the dogs, who do so much to make our lives whole.