Connecticut – On September 18, 2019, the American Kennel Club (AKC) honored state Representative Doug Dubitsky with the AKC Legislator of the Year award in recognition of his work to promote reasonable, bipartisan legislation on dog-related issues. 

The Legislator of the Year award was established to honor legislators who demonstrate a commitment to promoting responsible dog ownership, the well-being of dogs, and protecting the rights of dog owners, exhibitors, and responsible breeders.

Rep. Dubitsky is serving his third term in Connecticut’s House District 47 representing the towns of Canterbury, Chaplin, Franklin, Hampton, Lebanon, Lisbon, Norwich, Scotland and Sprague.  He lives on a working farm and represents a primarily farming community.  He prides himself as the resident amateur veterinarian, farrier, lumberjack, architect, designer, engineer, carpenter, plumber, electrician, roofer, welder, mechanic, landscaper, heavy equipment operator, ditch digger, computer technician, political advisor, and cook.  Moreover, Dubitsky has owned and trained dogs for over twenty years, including a Blue Lacy (Texas Cattle Dog) with which he handled livestock on his farm, and which led to his involvement with the Texas Lacy Game Dog Association; and one Labrador Retriever the he attended Field Trials and hunted regularly with.  While accepting the award, Rep. Dubitsky shared that his Labrador taught him everything about hunting, noting, “He was born with all those instincts”. 

Legislatively, Representative Dubitsky established a diverse legislative working group to study various animal control issues.  As a result of his leadership, the group’s recommendations were drafted and met with bipartisan support. Dubitsky was also instrumental in passing Public Act 14-205 of 2014, which was charged with creating a task force to study the treatment of animals in municipal and regional shelters.  His leadership successfully kept the taskforce focused on its charge. 

In the Connecticut House, Rep. Dubitsky is a member of the animal welfare caucus and serves on committees reviewing both animal welfare and municipal function matters. He also serves his hometown as Chairman of the Planning & Zoning Commission. In these roles, he has extensive contact with all stakeholders regarding the issues of animal welfare, responsible dog ownership, and dog bites.

The award was presented by Laurie Maulucci, President of the Connecticut Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners (CFDRDO).  President Maulucci noted, “Rep. Dubitsky supports our mission to sustain the purebred, purpose-bred dog and recognizes that breed specific legislation is not the answer to preventing dog related incidents”.