Logo

Legislative Action Center

Legislative Liaisons and State Federations
Action Alert

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.

Sample Constitutions and By-laws

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 
Carole Raschella, josef@earthlink.net
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. 
Carol Phelps, szizlin3@aol.com

Florida
Florida Association of Kennel Clubs 
Judy Seltrecht, President, 813-843-5145Jseltrecht123@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 

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 

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 
Angela Ferrari, 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
Associated Dog Clubs of New York State, Inc. 
Joan Janssen, wnjjanssen@hvc.rr.com 

Ohio
Ohio Valley Dog Owners 
Norma Woolf, 513-932-3176, ovdogo@canismajor.com 

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, pwparshall77@gmail.com 
Secretary, Bette (Cookie) Maccookievt@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 

 

 

 

 

    Subject
    Message Body
    Tweet
    Suggested Message
    Post
    Remaining: 0
  • Hide
    • Please call this number:

      Please do not close this window. You will need to come back to this window to enter your code.
      We just sent an email to ... containing a verification code.

      If you do not see the email within the next five minutes, please ensure you entered the correct email address and check your spam/junk mail folder.
      Enter Your Info