Celebrate AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, YOUTUBE & FLICKR

New York, NY – This September, the American Kennel Club invites dog lovers across America to participate in the first ever “Virtual AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days.” For the past eight years, hundreds of AKC clubs and dog organizations nationwide have been celebrating AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days by hosting events that educate the public about the importance of responsible ownership. Now, you can do the same at any time via your smart phone, iPad or home computer!

“We hope to extend the reach of AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days by inviting dog lovers worldwide to share their ideas and tips about how to make the planet a more dog-friendly place,” said Lisa Peterson, AKC Spokesperson. “We hope that the “Acts” posted on the American Kennel Club Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr pages will inspire others to become more responsible dog owners.”

To participate in Virtual AKC RDO Days, share an “Act of Responsible Dog Ownership” with us online through September 30th. Did you take your dog for a walk or donate food to your local animal shelter? Let us know on Facebook. Volunteer at the local dog park or give your dog a good grooming? Tweet us about it. We want to hear about any responsible “Act” of dog ownership, large or small. You can also “Like” the AKC’s Daily Act of Responsible Dog Ownership, which will be posted every day on Facebook.

Post a description, photo or video of your “Act” on:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/americankennelclub
Twitter at @akcdoglovers
E-mail at communications@akc.org
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/AmericanKennelClub
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/meetthebreeds/

The AKC also encourages everyone to sign the AKC Responsible Dog Owner Pet Promise, a petition that celebrates what it means to be a responsible dog owner. You can also leave your “act” of responsible ownership in the comment section here. The “Pet Promise” reminds all dog owners that raising a healthy dog requires training, grooming, nutrition, exercise and veterinary care. Find it at www.akc.org/rdod.

To spark your creativity for Virtual AKC RDO Days, why not visit an AKC RDO Days event in person? Hundreds of nationwide events will take place throughout September in communities across the country and AKC’s flagship Responsible Dog Ownership event caps off the month on September 25th in Raleigh, North Carolina. Send us your photos and experiences from the events you attend!

AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days are sponsored by Invisible Fence^® Brand, ADT Security Services, Inc., Hill’s^® Science Diet^® Small & Toy Breed Dog Food and Motel 6. These organizations will be highlighting their commitment to responsible dog ownership this September by working with event-hosting organizations across the country to provide resources and information for pet owners and sharing their own responsible ownership tips via social media.

###The American Kennel Club, founded in 1884, is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its nearly 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 20,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Companion Animal Recovery and the AKC Museum of the Dog. For more information, visit www.akc.org.

AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc.