American Kennel Club Honors the Lawrenceville Kennel Club With a Community Achievement Award

The American Kennel Club® announced recently that the Lawrenceville Kennel Club (LKC) of Lawrenceville, Georgia has been named a recipient of the AKC® Community Achievement Award for its focus on training as an important part of promoting responsible dog ownership. LKC received one of two awards for the second quarter of 2010– Belle-City Kennel Club of Belleville, Illinois 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.

Lawrenceville Kennel Club members recognize the importance of sharing the responsible dog care message to as many different segments of their community as possible.  As part of a new county initiative, LKC members serve as volunteer trainers with “Operation Second Chance,” a program started by the Gwinnett County Sheriff.  A local private rescue organization places dogs from the county animal shelter with inmates at the Gwinnett County jail and a group of LKC members teach inmates how to train the “Jail Dogs” to make them more adoptable. 

Obedience classes at the LKC Training Building are geared toward the general public to encourage well-behaved dogs and responsible dog ownership. AKC Canine Good Citizen tests are offered at the end of each eight-week class session. LKC member Mary McElroy leads a “Reading with Dogs” program in local public schools. When the program launched, free obedience classes were offered to teachers who wanted to train their own dogs for the program.

Other community educational activities include presenting the AKC Safety Around Dogs program to schools, scout troops and other children’s groups. Each September, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners proclaims “Responsible Dog Ownership Day”. To promote canine good health, LKC sponsors scholarships at the University Of Georgia College Of Veterinary Medicine, makes donations to the AKC Canine Health Foundation, and supports additional research groups.

“AKC applauds members of the Lawrenceville Kennel Club for their programs that provide hands-on experience with dogs and dog training,” said Sheila Goffe, AKC’s Director of Government Relations. “Their focus on teaching others about dog care and training helps extend the message of responsible dog ownership throughout the community.”

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 here.

American Kennel Club Honors the Belle-City Kennel Club With a Community Achievement Award

The American Kennel Club® announced recently that the Belle-City Kennel Club (BCKC) of Belleville, Illinois has been named a recipient of the AKC® Community Achievement Award for its support of the Belleville community’s police and fire departments. BCKC received one of two awards for the second quarter of 2010 – Lawrenceville Kennel Club of Lawrenceville, Georgia 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.

When BCKC members discovered that dogs and officers with the K-9 Police Unit in neighboring Fairview Heights were training in an old garage without heat or air conditioning, the club invited all K-9 units in the area to use its training building and equipment twice a month free of charge.  The K-9 dogs benefit greatly from their ability to now train in different locations with varied equipment.

The club members also began a fundraising campaign in March to purchase a $1200 “hidden bite suit” for use in police dog training, donated animal oxygen masks to local fire departments and provided a dog first aid kit for the Belleville Fire Department’s new accelerant detection dog. 

Year-round, BCKC is involved in its community by offering dog training classes, clinics, and obedience demonstrations. Free obedience classes and building access for the 4-H Regional Semi-Finals are provided to 4-H students. Members give dog safety presentations to school children and offer educational seminars about what to consider when selecting and purchasing a puppy. On the legislative side of things, BCKC allied with other kennel clubs to hire a lobbyist and to work together to fight unreasonable anti-breeder legislation and invited the Mayor of Belleville to present the Best in Show Trophy at its all-breed show.    

“We commend the Belle-City Kennel Club for their dedicated support of local law enforcement and fire departments,” said Sheila Goffe, AKC’s Director of Government Relations. “This outreach, coupled with year-round events and educational programs for dog owners, provides valuable resources to residents of Belleville and the surrounding communities.”

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 here.