Throughout the month of September, bellies were rubbed and tails wagged as dogs and owners across the country celebrated their commitment to responsible ownership at nearly 450 events held in conjunction with AKC’s 2nd Annual Responsible Dog Ownership Day. Held in honor of AKC’s anniversary on September 17th, these events were a wonderful way for purebred dog clubs and federations to reach out to their communities, sharing their knowledge, expertise and love of dogs with the general public. They also reminded legislators, the media and the public about the positive contributions fanciers make to their cities and towns.

Legislators including the governors of Alaska, California, Delaware, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, as well as the mayors of New York City, Jacksonville, Florida, Raleigh, North Carolina and others provided a boost to Responsible Dog Ownership Day events in the form of congratulatory letters and proclamations recognizing the importance of responsible dog ownership.

“We are delighted to have these mayors and governors recognize AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day. Our clubs work year-round to educate dog owners and be a positive resource in their communities, and their efforts deserve to be acknowledged by these government leaders,” said Noreen Baxter, AKC’s VP of Communications. “No one is in a better position to work with legislators and their neighbors when it comes to dog-related issues than AKC clubs.”