This year’s AKC booth at ALEC featured state legislators, dogs, and sticky rollers. 

Recently, the American Kennel Club Government Relations (AKC GR)  team participated in the American Legislative Exchange Council

 (ALEC) Annual Meeting to provide state lawmakers with updates on AKC’s policy positions and initiatives on behalf of dogs. 

The non-partisan ALEC conference offers opportunities for one-on-one discussions with legislators, policymakers, and staff who are interested in sound animal welfare laws. The conference agenda made for long days inside a high-rise hotel in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, and participants welcomed a few minutes of downtime to pet a friendly dog.

Members of the Georgia Canine Coalition, the state’s AKC federation, provided “dog breaks” for conference attendees to interact with happy, well-behaved dogs. On Thursday morning, Standard Poodle Archie (CH Bar-None Bullseye BCAT TKN) and Siberian Husky Kacey (CH Halo’s Follow Your Arrow At Kachme RN DCAT RATN CGCA TKA) greeted visitors to the AKC booth with dog kisses and husky hair, while owner Sandy Weaver answered questions about her dogs and their many activities. 

Jody Allgood brought 7-month-old Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppy, Stoney, to the Thursday afternoon and Friday morning sessions. Stoney was found at-large with a littermate, and after no owner came forward, Allgood gave him foster care and training to prepare him for rehoming. This illustrated the good works of AKC club volunteers and the AKC Rescue Network, which provides assistance to non-profit dog rescue groups across the US.

AKC GR Regional Manager Patty Van Sicklen offered issues updates and sticky rollers for dog hair removal. “Again this year, many ALEC attendees expressed surprise at the breadth and complexity of legislative issues that affect dogs. We had some good conversations about AKC GR’s Detection Dog and Service Dog PassTM programs, as well as current trends in canine legislation. Several legislators took cell phone photos of the new AKC economic impact flyers for their states,” Van Sicklen said.