The fourth quarter Community Achievement Awards will solely honor AKC clubs holding exceptional AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day (AKC RDO Day) events in September 2008. AKC RDO Day aims to educate first-time dog owners about the responsibilities of dog ownership and help current owners enhance their relationships with their pets.

For the fourth quarter only, any AKC-affiliated clubs, AKC-recognized federations and their members who host an AKC RDO Day event in their community are eligible for nomination. In order to qualify for the award, the club must hold its event in the month of September. Nominations for the AKC Community Achievement Awards are accepted year-round, however, due to the fact that the 4th quarter awards are dedicated solely to AKC RDO Day, nominations for RDO Day events will not be accepted for consideration for the three remaining quarters. Up to three honorees are named each quarter. Award recipients will receive a certificate and a check for $1,000 payable to the club or federation's public education and canine legislation efforts.

The following clubs won $1,000 for their Responsible Dog Ownership Day Efforts in 2007:

Oconee River Kennel Club of Watkinsville, GA
“Oconee River Kennel Club is a new club with a positive direction honoring the AKC tradition of dog events and contributing to its community through education and donations,” wrote Maria Caudill, Secretary of the ORKC, who nominated the club for the Community Achievement Award.

The ORKC put together a multitude of engaging and educational activities to draw in the several hundred spectators and numerous local merchants who supported its event. Among the activities were an AKC sanctioned B-match, a poster contest for children, AKC Canine Good Citizen® testing, a Meet the Breeds, a Junior Handling clinic and a demonstration by therapy dog R.E.A.D. volunteers. The club’s efforts to promote the event included donations for a silent auction, prize sponsorships; use of the local bank’s scrolling marquee plus radio, newspaper and television coverage leading up to, during and after the event.

Rapid City Kennel Club of Rapid City, SD
With a proclamation from the mayor of Rapid City proclaiming September 8, 2007 AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day, the Rapid City Kennel Club reached out to its community and news media to spread its important message. The club took advantage of local enthusiasm by partnering with three other local not-for-profit agencies to offer more educational opportunities for participants. They hosted activities such as AKC Canine Good Citizen® testing, an “Ask the Vet” booth, microchipping, coloring contest for kids, a parade of breeds and demonstrations in obedience, agility, earthdog, flyball, water rescue, retrieving and dog sledding.

Susque-Nango Kennel Club of Binghamton, NY
“This accomplishment was a direct result of the hard work of the [SNKC] committee and their efforts promoting the event,” wrote Andrea C. Wawrzusin, President of SNKC, who nominated the club for the Community Achievement Award. “Not only did they manage to have the event promoted ahead of time in the local newspaper and television stations, they also succeeded in having September 15, 2007 declared Responsible Dog Ownership Day in the City of Binghamton… and in Broome County.”

SNKC held its event in conjunction with another annual event, the Canine Companion Breast Cancer Awareness Walk. By combining the two events, both organizations were able to capitalize on the positive publicity they received. The club hosted many educational activities for attendees including “Meet the Breeds”, AKC Canine Good Citizen testing, microchipping and demonstrations in agility, obedience, rally and flyball. A local radio station provided live event coverage, encouraging the public to stop by throughout the day.

For more information on the AKC Community Achievement Awards, please visit http://www.akc.org
/public_education/community_achievement.cfm