The American Kennel Club® announced recently that the Everglades Golden Retriever Club (EGRC) has been named a recipient of the AKC® Community Achievement Award for its development of a unique way to observe AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day in 2006. The EGRC received one of three awards for the third quarter of 2007- Joseph Foster of New Castle, Del. and the Detroit 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.
Instead of staging a public event for last year’s AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day (AKC RDO Day), the EGRC decided to visit a public school and take the message of responsible dog ownership directly to children. They chose Stranahan High School, which has a pre-med magnet program that includes veterinary studies in its curriculum. Working with the coordinator of that program, the club devised a lesson plan based on materials provided by the AKC and the Golden Retriever Club of America.
On the morning of September 12, 2006, EGRC President Pat Andrews and Vice President Kara Clark, accompanied by their two titled Goldens, made presentations to two classes of students with veterinary aspirations. They discussed the breed’s history and standard as well as breeding, AKC events, health issues that affect all breeds and how to examine a dog for signs of illness. The presentation concluded with an obedience demo.
EGRC Public Education Coordinator Linda Rappaport said that the club was extremely pleased to have been a part of Stranahan High School that day. “Imagine our pleasant surprise when the magnet program’s coordinator asked us to be part of the curriculum for the remainder of the school year!” she added.
“The EGRC is a great asset to the fancy. We congratulate club members on finding an innovative way to effectively reach others with their message of responsible dog ownership,” said Noreen Baxter, AKC’s VP of Communications. “We encourage all AKC clubs to follow their proactive outreach example.”
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. Nominate a club.