Happy New Year! The holidays are behind us and many state legislatures are already in full swing, with bills being filed and hearings being scheduled.
As we note in our 2025 Year in Review, the most positive outcomes came directly from local involvement – clubs, breeders, and dog owners who took the time to get involved and speak out on behalf of their dogs, breeding programs, and sport. Lawmakers hearing from local constituents who care about dogs made a difference, and we thank everyone who reached out to their state, local and federal lawmakers this past year on issues impacting dogs.
To assist you in better communicating with your lawmakers, we are pleased to announce our new updated AKC Legislative Action Center. Visit www.akcgr.org to find updated resources, organized to help you quickly find what you may need – from sample letters to talking points to economic impact information for your state. We encourage you take some time to check it out – and share relevant materials with your lawmakers, clubs, and even distribute at shows. And be sure to check back often and watch for future announcements as we continue to add and update materials to help you be an effective advocate for your dogs and breeding programs.
This is also a great time to make sure you and your club are ready for advocacy in 2026. Check out a previous article we published providing you with 10 New Year’s Resolutions for dog owners, clubs, and breeders.
And remember AKC Government Relations is here to help you! Contact us at doglaw@akc.org if you hear of an issue in your community or have any questions. Thank you again to all who worked with us in 2025. We look forward to continuing to partner with you on behalf of our dogs and our sport in 2026.