• Attend or designate someone to attend regularly scheduled public meetings. Consider attending gen- eral council/board meetings as well as key commit- tees, and taking the time to introduce yourself to the elected officials and the appropriate staff (manager, admin assistant, etc.) so that you become a known en- tity. They are generally approachable before and after meetings. • Before an election, send local lawmakers a survey about their position on animal issues. Let them know that your club and community take these is- sues seriously and that responses will be shared with your club. Visit the Legislative Action Center toolbox for sample surveys and election guides. Support the AKC Political Action Committee, and if you are work- ing with a candidate worthy of strong support, contact the AKC PAC (www.akc.org/pac) to learn how the PAC can help to elect dog-friendly candidates. The AKC’s GR Legislative Action Center and Toolbox (https://www.votervoice.net/AKC/Home) provides a wide range of resources, including outreach planners, policy and issues analyses, sample letters, fact sheets, and more. When local issues do arise, AKC Government Relations is here to help you—but we can’t do it without you! With thou- sands of local communities across the country, local clubs and dog owners play a key role in working together with AKC GR and in being vigilant in monitoring for proposals impacting dog owners. HOW YOU CAN HELP AKC STAY INFORMED ABOUT LOCAL PROPOSALS • Monitor local media and follow your lawmakers on social media. Keep an eye out for animal incidents in your community. These incidents are often the cata- lyst for changes to the law. In some cases, you may also find local stories about the development of these ordi- nances in local media and on social media. • Regularly check city and county websites. Most cities and counties have websites where they post meeting agendas. Learn when the council or commis- sion meetings are held and find out when agendas are posted. Also, check to see if your city or county has an animal advisory committee and check those agendas as well. When you learn of an issue, contact AKC Gov- ernment Relations and we can help you with analysis, talking points, and spreading the word to other local clubs and breeders. AKC Government Relations is happy to help you in com- municating with lawmakers and developing policy solu- tions. Whether its participating in educated voting for lo- cal elections, supporting the AKC PAC, or participating in your community, your engagement is crucial to protecting the future of purebred dogs and dog events in your commu- nity. Visit AKC’s Legislative Action Center at www.akcgr.org. The Toolbox, Blogs, and Key Issues tabs are updated fre- quently with new resources. You can also always contact AKC GR at: doglaw@akc.org. We are glad to work with you to be effective advocates in your community on behalf of our dogs and our sport. T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2024 • 23
• Contact lawmakers via phone or email at their of- fice and see if you can schedule an appointment or arrange a telephone call to introduce yourself and ex- plain your willingness to serve as a resource for any issues related to responsible dog ownership, breed- ing, and issues related to zoning. The vast majority of elected officials are not dog experts. They rely on their constituents for advice. If we as enthusiasts and breed- ers do not share our expertise, lawmakers are forced to rely on the resources that are offered them… often by animal rights groups. Check your local community and county’s websites for contact information. If it’s not listed, you can also ask the Clerk’s office for the best way to reach out to local officials. • Invite them to shows and events. This is a great way to introduce lawmakers to the fun of our sport and the importance of supporting responsible breeders and hobbyists. Let them know how dog events and respon- sible dog owners and breeders benefit the community. Consider giving them a tour—or better yet, allow them to present a Best in Show or another award. If your club is participating in local community activities and events, be sure to let your local lawmakers know. AKC GR can help you with all aspects of this, from inviting the lawmakers, to tips on communicating, to appropri- ate resources and materials to provide, and more. • Let them know of your club’s good work in the com- munity. When communicating with lawmakers, AKC GR always lets them know if there are AKC clubs in their district/city/county. You can help to strengthen this talking point by letting them know what you do in the community. If you are offering a training class or CGC certification, write your local lawmaker and let them know. Did you donate money for K9 vests or par- ticipate in the Adopt a K9 Cop Program? Let your law- makers know and let your local media know too. This demonstrates your value to the community and also, again, shows your expertise on local dog issues. • Volunteer at your local shelter. Not only is this a great community service, but it shows your local ani- mal control officers that you care about these dogs and want to be a part of the solution. Often, too, local proposals are brought forward by local animal control directors and officers. By having a relationship and working with them, you may be able to better learn about these concerns and offer your expertise before a negative proposal is introduced. • Sign up for local boards and advisory commissions. Many counties and communities have an animal advi- sory board or commission. Consider applying for open seats on these boards to ensure the voice of local clubs and hobbyists are heard. If there aren’t any open seats or animal boards in your area, consider other boards or commissions that deal with issues of interest to you. Involvement in your community helps to develop es- sential relationships with leaders who can impact your ability to breed, own, and show dogs.
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