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The Bulldog Club of America LogoThe Bulldog Club of America LogoThe Bulldog Club of America Logo
  • About BCA
    • National Organization
      • The Council
      • National Committees
      • Governance
      • National Winners Gallery
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      • The Bulldogger Publication
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      • Joining the BCA
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    • About the Divisions
      • New Member Packets
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      • Division I: CT, DE, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
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      • Division VI: IA, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD
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      • Bulldogger’s Shop
      • All Forms
    • Find Bulldog Clubs in Almost Every State
      • *NEW* Seminars
      • History
      • History in Publications
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      • BCA Awards
      • Breeder Hall of Fame Inductees
      • Performance HOF Inductees
      • Versatility Award
      • Versatility Awardees
      • Ambassadors For Health
      • The Bulldog Club of America Charitable Fund
      • Bulldog Rescue
  • About Bulldogs
    • Advice Column
      Expert Advice
    • The Official Bulldog Standard
      • Illustrated Guide (PDF)
      • Meet the Breed Events
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    • Bulldog Rescue
      rescue
    • Bulldog Maintenance
      • Disaster Preparedness
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      • Education Podcasts
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  • Find a Puppy
    • Where to Look
      • Responsible Ownership
      • Before You Buy a Bulldog
      • Preparation
      • Bulldog Rescue
      • Other Considerations
    • Find a Breeder
      juniors
      • Breeder Approval
    • Selecting for Competition
      • Evaluation
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    • Before You Breed
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    • Health Statement
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      • Sweepstakes Judges
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    • The Fun Zone!
      • The Bulldog In Performance Events
      • Family Dog Fun!
      • New Titles
      • Performance HOF Inductees
      • Performance Gallery
      • Starting Out in Performance
      • Obedience
      • Agility Trials
      • Rally Trials
      • Scent Work
      • Field Events
      • Tracking Trials
    • The Kids Zone
      • Conformation
      • New Champions
      • Show Results
      • Point Shows
      • Informal Events
      • Becoming a Champion
      • Beyond the Breed
      • Honor Thy Veterans
    • National Specialty
      2025logo400
      • 2024 National Specialty Results
      • 2023 National Show Results
      • 2022 National Show Results
      • 2021 National Results
      • National Winners Gallery
      • National HIT Gallery
      • Specialty Planning
  • Marketplace
    Elizabeth Milam's Puppies

    Puppy Finder

    BCA Marketplace!

    720869 scaled

    Place a Puppy Ad

    Members Only!

    2025logo400

    Merchandise

    National Show Website!

    Bulldogger Covers

    Bulldogger Ads

    Place an Ad!

    • Puppy FinderBulldog Puppies Available!
    • Place an AdMembers start Here to place a puppy ad!
    • National Show MerchandiseNational Show Logo Merchandise Available!
    • Bulldogger AdvertisingPay for your Bulldogger Ads
The Bulldog Club of America LogoThe Bulldog Club of America LogoThe Bulldog Club of America Logo

Official akclogo Bulldog Club

Login
  • About BCA
    • National Organization
      • The Council
      • National Committees
      • Governance
      • National Winners Gallery
      • Gallery Sponsorship Program
      • The Bulldogger Publication
      • Bulldogger Archive
      • Bulldogger Advertising
      • Member’s Directory
      • Discipline
      • Joining the BCA
      • Member Code of Ethics
      • logomenuv3Logo Usage Policy
    • About the Divisions
      • New Member Packets
      • Member Edit Options
      • Division I: CT, DE, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
      • Division II: IL, IN, KY, MI, OH, WI, WV
      • Division III: AZ, CA, HI, NV
      • Division IV: AR, CO, LA, NM, WY OK, TX
      • Division V: AK, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA
      • Division VI: IA, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD
      • Division VII: DC, MD, NC, SC, VA
      • Division VIII: AL, GA, FL, MS, TN
      • Bulldogger’s Shop
      • All Forms
    • Find Bulldog Clubs in Almost Every State
      • *NEW* Seminars
      • History
      • History in Publications
      • Bulldog History in Images
      • BCA Awards
      • Breeder Hall of Fame Inductees
      • Performance HOF Inductees
      • Versatility Award
      • Versatility Awardees
      • Ambassadors For Health
      • The Bulldog Club of America Charitable Fund
      • Bulldog Rescue
  • About Bulldogs
    • Advice Column
      Expert Advice
    • The Official Bulldog Standard
      • Illustrated Guide (PDF)
      • Meet the Breed Events
      • Bulldog Videos
    • Bulldog Rescue
      rescue
    • Bulldog Maintenance
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Education Materials
      • Education Podcasts
      • Bibliography
  • Find a Puppy
    • Where to Look
      • Responsible Ownership
      • Before You Buy a Bulldog
      • Preparation
      • Bulldog Rescue
      • Other Considerations
    • Find a Breeder
      juniors
      • Breeder Approval
    • Selecting for Competition
      • Evaluation
      • Nurturing
      • Pedigrees
    • Before You Breed
      • Breeder’s Code of Ethics
      • Responsible Breeding
      • Health Testing
      • Whelping
  • Health
    • Health Statement
      • Health Care
      • Health Testing
      • Health Education
    • Find a Bulldog Vet
      • Ambassadors For Health
      • Health Research
    • The Bulldog Club of America Charitable Fund
      • Anasarca Study
      • BCACF/AKCCHF Updates
  • Advocacy
    • BCA Position Statements
      • Media Guide
      • Let Us Know
    • AKC Toolbox
      • AKC Federations
      • Register to Vote
    • Legislative Alerts
      • Legislative Tracking
      • Effective Contact
  • Events
    • Event Resources
      • Meet the Breed Events
      • BCA Show Forms
      • Show Calendar
      • Show Results
      • Judging
      • Becoming a Judge
      • Bulldog Judging Seminars
      • Member Judges Directory
      • Sweepstakes Judges
      • Mentor Directory
    • The Fun Zone!
      • The Bulldog In Performance Events
      • Family Dog Fun!
      • New Titles
      • Performance HOF Inductees
      • Performance Gallery
      • Starting Out in Performance
      • Obedience
      • Agility Trials
      • Rally Trials
      • Scent Work
      • Field Events
      • Tracking Trials
    • The Kids Zone
      • Conformation
      • New Champions
      • Show Results
      • Point Shows
      • Informal Events
      • Becoming a Champion
      • Beyond the Breed
      • Honor Thy Veterans
    • National Specialty
      2025logo400
      • 2024 National Specialty Results
      • 2023 National Show Results
      • 2022 National Show Results
      • 2021 National Results
      • National Winners Gallery
      • National HIT Gallery
      • Specialty Planning
  • Marketplace
    Elizabeth Milam's Puppies

    Puppy Finder

    BCA Marketplace!

    720869 scaled

    Place a Puppy Ad

    Members Only!

    2025logo400

    Merchandise

    National Show Website!

    Bulldogger Covers

    Bulldogger Ads

    Place an Ad!

    • Puppy FinderBulldog Puppies Available!
    • Place an AdMembers start Here to place a puppy ad!
    • National Show MerchandiseNational Show Logo Merchandise Available!
    • Bulldogger AdvertisingPay for your Bulldogger Ads

Effective Contact

  1. Home
  2. Advocacy
  3. Effective Contact
Effective Contact
  • Plan

  • Prepare

  • Meet

  • Plan

Plan Ahead

Offer alternatives (see NAIA model legislation). Our community can help!

Small gains are better than no gains at all. The AR movement succeeds by making incremental advances towards their goals.

Select your talking points carefully. Avoid legitimizing unscientific terms and language used by animal rights activists, such as "puppy mills". The problem we are trying to address is substandard kennels or inadequate animal care standards.

Avoid demonizing the opposition. They are entitled to their position and opinion, but encourage your lawmaker to research the source of their information before accepting it. Explain the difference between animal rights and animal welfare.

Know your audience and frame your message in terms they can understand and support.

Be courteous, never confrontational, even if you disagree. If they agree, thank them for their vote – ask them to talk to their colleagues!

Political contributions count. No matter how small, you are still on their mailing and supporter list.

 

  • Prepare

Be Prepared

Practice your talking points and anticipate questions based on AR propaganda.  Prepare handouts on the issues to leave with the legislator or the staff

Get acquainted with the staff. They are the gatekeepers and frequently frame positions for the legislators. They can insure that your information gets placed at the top of the bill file.

Arrive early for appointments. Be prepared to wait. Legislators’ schedules can be unpredictable and you want to make a favorable impression.

  • Meet

At the Meeting and Afterwards

What you will want to do at the meeting:

  1. Identify yourself as a constituent
  2. Thank them for their time
  3. Share any relevant affiliations, clubs, volunteer activities (especially rescue or shelter work) and community or political involvement.

Reference the bill or issue and your position

Mention anything that makes you uniquely qualified to speak on the issue: your profession, avocation, years of experience, training, and degrees or certification.

Focus on the implications of the legislation or regulations – do not get sidetracked by side arguments or "straw men."

Always be compassionate when discussing animal issues. There are those who would unfairly mischaracterize our "side" as lacking compassion.

If opposing a bill, explain why it is unnecessary, has unintended consequences or will be costly or subject to legal challenge as drafted.

Discuss how the bill will impact you and the people you know. Emphasize impact on the district and the state. Tell stories to illustrate your point.

Give the legislator a chance to respond or ask questions. If you don’t know the answer to something tell them you aren’t sure. Say that you will look into it and follow up soon with that information. Never guess at the answer if you aren’t sure.

Don’t be afraid to ask them for their position on a bill. They might not be able to commit, so be understanding, but invite them to call on you as a resource to help them arrive at a decision.

Leave them with the written materials we have provided. Add your name and contact information at the top so they have something for their records and can call on you in the future.

Follow up with a letter or e-mail thanking them for the meeting and briefly stating your position again.

Related Pages

  • Position Statements
  • AKC Toolbox
  • Media Guide
  • AKC Federations
  • Register to Vote
  • Legislative Alerts
  • Legislative Tracking
  • Effective Contact
  • Let Us Know

Share!

About BCA

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Contacts

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