Protect Your Rights! Become an AKC Legislative Liaison
Who are Legislative Liaisons?
Legislative Liaisons are dog club members who follow local and state-level dog policy issues and provide an important communications link between their clubs and the AKC Government Relations Department.
Click here for a downloadable flyer.
Organizing a State Federation of Dog Clubs
Today, dog owners and breeders are being challenged as never before by the introduction of legislation that could change our way of life. The AKC Government Relations (GR) Department is committed to fighting unreasonable canine legislation wherever it occurs, but our assistance cannot take the place of your involvement in dog issues at the local and state level. The GR Department works with its state federations of dog clubs and provides back up to fight bad dog laws and support positive measures that teach the public about responsible dog ownership and care. As constituents, state federations and their members have a powerful voice in addressing legislation that will directly impact them. They are the ground soldiers in the state-level battles on topics such as unfair breeder regulations, limit laws, breed-specific legislation and mandatory spay-neuter laws. When united, the voice of responsible dog owners can be a powerful political tool.
If your state doesn’t have an AKC federation, please consider organizing one. It’s easy to do. Here are some resources to learn more.
- Guidelines for Becoming a State Federation of Dog Clubs
- AKC Federation Statement of Principles
- Suggestions for Organizing a State Federation of Dog Clubs
- American Kennel Club Position Statements
Sample Constitutions and By-laws
- Mississippi Canine Coalition
- Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs, Inc.
- Illinois Federation of Dog Clubs and Owners
Sample Newsletters
AKC Dog Clubs and Other Allied Groups
The AKC encourages dog owners and breeders to work together on legislative issues. To facilitate these efforts, many clubs and individuals who are interested in protecting and promoting the world of purebred dogs form state and local federations, coalitions, or alliances. The following are current contacts listed by state.
Alabama
Alabama Canine Coalition
Baba Monk, President, 334-567-0673, Info@alabamacaninecoalition.org
Arkansas
Grover Jameson, 479-965-2078, Ark.STEPP@ymail.com
California
California Federation of Dog Clubs
Judythe Coffman, President, 661-256-6743, judy@cfodconline.org
Dog Owners of the Golden State
Chuck Bridges, President; 1-866-972-8373; info@ca-dogs.org
Sacramento Council of Dog Clubs
Joan Gibson Reid, 916-689-1661, jgrcorgis@comcast.net
The Animal Council
Sharon Coleman, 650-692-0126, TheAnimalCouncil@aol.com
Colorado
Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs and Owners
Linda Hart, 303-842-1033, Kharahs@comcast.net
Connecticut
Connecticut Federation of Dog Clubs & Responsible Dog Owners, Inc.
Mabel M. Diamond, 860-251-5931, mmdiamond@charter.net
Delaware
Delaware Dog Owners Association
David Lawson, 302-632-3848, info@delawaredogs.org
Florida
Florida Association of Kennel Clubs
Judy Seltrecht, President, 813-843-5145, Jseltrecht123@gmail.com
Georgia
Georgia Canine Coalition
Gail LaBerge, 770-271-7246, OUTLAND@laberge.org
Hawaii
Pacific Pet Alliance
pacificpetalliance@gmail.com
Lynn Muramaru, President, 808-542-9581
Charlee Abrams, Secretary, 808-742-9537
Idaho
Idaho Dog Coalition
Wyoma Clouss, 208-345-5197, info@idahodogcoalition.org
Illinois
Illinois Federation of Dog Clubs and Owners
Steve Hayden, President, hybrk1@comcast.net
Michele Kasten, Vice President, schipnut58@yahoo.com
Indiana
Indiana Purebred Dog Alliance
Laura Hooser, laura.hooser2@gmail.com
Kansas
Kansas Federation of Dog Clubs
Patricia Deshler, wichitapudel@aol.com
Lori Neer, agilitydog@twinvalley.net
Maine
Federation of Maine Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners
Gary Anderson, President, mainedogclubs@gmail.com
Maryland
Responsible Dog Owners of Maryland, Inc.
Mary Lou Olszewski, President – olbay101@aol.com
Bekki Pina, Corresponding Secretary – kaije1127@yahoo.com
Maryland Dog Federation
Adrianne Lefkowitz, 301-693-2256, marylanddogfederation@yahoo.com
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs & Responsible Dog Owners
info@massfeddogs.org
Michigan
Michigan Association for Pure-Bred Dogs
Bob Darden, bobkdarden@hotmail.com , 734-476-1791
Kim Cochran, 810-984-1977, mythicalaussies@comcast.net
Protect MI Dogs
Karen Palmer, Secretary, info@protectmidogs.org
Mississippi
Mississippi Canine Coalition
Linda Chance, Legislative Chair, lhasasbychance@yahoo.com
Missouri
Missouri Federation of Animal Owners
Karen Strange, 573-480-2389, kjeeper@gmail.com
New Hampshire
Dog Owners of the Granite State
Elin Phinizy, dogs.nh@gmail.com
New Jersey
New Jersey Federation of Dog Clubs
Linda Deutsch, Legislative Chairperson, 908-996-4009, taadeutsch@yahoo.com
Jeffrey Ball, President, 201-689-1323, jeffbetsyball@yahoo.com
New York
Responsible Dog Owners Association of New York
Ann Lettis, 917-603-5358, annlettis2001@gmail.com, ann.lettis@friedfrank.com
Associated Dog Clubs of New York State, Inc.
Joan Janssen, wnjjanssen@hvc.rr.com
North Carolina
North Carolina Federation of Dog Clubs
Steve Wallis, 919-782-2558, wallissm@bellsouth.net
Ohio
Ohio Valley Dog Owners
Norma Woolf, 513-932-3176, ovdogo@canismajor.com
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Animal Interest Alliance
Anna Vaughn, 918.906.3776, anna@okdoglaw.org
Oregon
National Animal Interest Alliance
Patti Strand, 503-761-1139, NAIA@naiaonline.org
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs
Darin Cox, President, President@PAFederationofDogClubs.org
Bettina Sterling, Secretary, Secretary@PAFederationofDogClubs.org
Texas
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
Mary Beth Duerler, 210-822-6763, noah007@satx.rr.com
Vermont
Vermont Federation of Dog Clubs
President, Mary McFaun, mmcfaun@aol.com
Vice President, Pam Parshall, pwparshall@myfairpoint.net
Secretary, Bette (Cookie) Mac, cookievt@gmail.com
Treasurer, Jennifer Adsit, lightfarm@gmavt.net
Virginia
Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs & Breeders
Mariane Herndon, marianer@verizon.net
Sharyn Hutchens, sharyn@timbreblue.com
Alice Harrington, aharrington4832@verizon.net
Wisconsin
Dog Federation of Wisconsin
doglaw@dfow.net