Page 71 - Chow Life - 2016 Fall Issue_Neat
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Special Report
AKC Legislative Conference
July 22-24 2016 by Dottie Everett
The conference held , at the Embassy Suites in Raleigh different areas of animal ownership and welfare.
North Carolina, started with a tour of the AKC offices Also there to give advice were several attorneys who
located a short few blocks from the hotel. Our group explained not only how to lobby effectively but also
was met in the lobby by a very pleasant man who things such as how to write letters to law makers that
answered every question asked of him. We were will make them pay attention, and how to handle
pleased to see that several of the employees brought things if/when animal control comes to your door. A
their dogs to work with them. Throughout the offices representative of APHIS explained their mission and
are pictures of dogs, one of which is a red rough Chow I why their rules are important to us.
would think from the early 1930s. During our lunch at the hotel we had time to talk with
Friday evening we were treated to a movie, The Dog each of the speakers and each other to ask questions
Lover, while it isn't "block buster" it is a movie ALL dog and exchange ideas. The afternoon brought us more
lovers should see. It's based on a true story of a raid speakers on other topics of interest to us all.
by HSUS on a well run,clean commercial kennel. The Sunday we again started at 8 AM and dealt with
movies shows how the public can and is tricked into raising the bar for dog care, and the statutory
thinking that kennel =BAD. The Dog Lover can be requirements in animal welfare. The conference
found on Amazon or at Walmart stores, well worth the ended about noon, with several of us staying around
purchase price. to talk. There were are least 80 people in attendance,
Saturday morning we were welcomed to the official several people who had signed up were caught up in
start by Shelia Goffe, Vice President of Government the Southwest Airlines problems and were not able to
Relations. We were treated to speakers from many rebook so they didn't attend. I'm greatfull to CCCI for
allowing me to represent us at the conference
I thought it was a great opportunity to learn
more about how AKC is helping ALL dog,
make that animal owners!
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