We are brought up to believe our opinion matters and that we should have our voices heard on what we are passionate about and address what is important to us but in the canine world, do we do that all the time?
You hear many opinions about judges, show times/locations, club participation and other canine concerns where it seems as if people have no issue voicing their opinions regarding those matters. However, what happens to these voices when it’s time to educate the public and legislators about canine issues? If the public knew us better and understood our goals, we would have much more success legislatively.
Public opinion plays a major role in politics and legislation. Bad legislation at every level of government can hurt our breeding programs and our sport. Where are those voices that will make the public and legislators understand who we really are and what we are about? We hear them loud and clear inside the sport on how to improve things, but they seem to get lost outside the sport. Why would we allow other voices to describe who and what we are and to portray us as more of the problem than the solution in the canine world? The truth is we have not done a stellar job utilizing our voices to get our message across to the public and to politicians.
The ways of educating the public has changed over the years. Years ago clubs were larger and much more active and club members looked for activities and were happy to share their knowledge. For example, my first exposure to a kennel club was seeing a match show in the local mall, which were a major destination for families, and the club members would have more of a captive audience.
In the past, major sources of education were face-to-face communication, newspapers or books, or if a family wanted to learn more about a breed or purchase a specific breed, the best way to go about that was through a club. Social media has changed all that. Social media has evolved with the internet and it now includes, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and multiple news outlets to name just a few. While information is at the touch of your fingers, however, that does not mean that all that information is truthful. We all know, false information and lies are common and done to benefit someone, an organization or a cause.
If your town holds a pet event, what are you more likely to see at that event? An AKC booth/kennel club education table or a rescue group? You will probably see a rescue group and what message are they sharing? It is not about responsible breeders or what a great organization AKC is. This is where public opinion begins.
When we talk about politics and legislation, many in the canine world do not acknowledge its importance or some just want to ignore it. It is no secret that what happens in the political world affects us, which is true from the small-town ordinances all the way up the line to the president and their appointments in governmental departments. There is a greater impact on the canine fancy lives than most people want to admit. Everyone who loves, owns, breeds or who even shows a dog should be involved with politics at some level. Your involvement can be as simple as educating yourself and others around you. Recognizing the importance of legislation is vital.
So, if we can agree that education at all levels is important, what do we do about this? We all need to get involved!
There isn’t just one-way to do this, we need to have a multifaceted approach. Let us start with the basics. Most clubs have some sort of public education committee which in most clubs, is just one person. How much can one person do? If more people volunteered a few hours a month, we could have tables at more, if not every event. This would be a great way to start to get our message out.
The AKC, along with individual Clubs and Federations, needs to begin using all social media outlets. We can and should embrace posting information on our Facebook, Instagram, twitter and other media. We need to establish more hands on programs that reach the public. There are small groups doing a wonderful job working with 4-H, Canine Ambassadors, Junior Jackets and Scholarship, just to name a few. However, we need a more unified approach and on a larger scale. We do not need to reinvent the wheel. Look at what HSUS has done with false information. Imagine what we can do with the truth.
I often hear people are concerned or do not know how to get involved with politics. It is actually very simple. A great way to get involved can start by attending your town hall or council meetings. You do not need to attend every meeting, but try to do so on some regular basis and get to know your local politicians. From there, you can move your way up, to meeting your local legislators. You would be surprised how easy it is. When you get involved, you are able to make a difference. As an example, if you support a candidate who is in favor of not restricting breeding and they win, that will have a positive impact on not only your life but the lives of others as well. There may also be candidates who are in favor of acts, which could negatively impact your breeding or canine ownership. Vote and educate other so you have a higher likelihood of getting someone in office you think will do better.
Whether it is public education or active political involvement, talking to your neighbor, friend or supporting a candidate or an issue, our presence and contribution make a difference.
There’s no excuse not to be involved in the issues you are passionate and care about. The canine world needs you. Have your voice heard.
Jeffrey D. Ball
