The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization, the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, is pleased to announce that the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) has honored the AKC Family Dog magazine. In the DWAA’s annual writing competition, the magazine earned a total of seven Maxwells and special awards, the most prestigious honors in the world of animal-related journalism. In addition, nine Family Dog articles or photos were chosen as finalists in several categories.
“I am so proud of the work that we in the AKC Publications Department have done to produce this outstanding magazine,” said Russell Bianca, Publications Director. “I’m very happy and honored to have our work recognized in receiving these awards from the DWAA!”
Since its founding in 2003, AKC Family Dog and its writers have earned nearly 50 DWAA awards, numerous Folio Awards and honorable mentions for feature stories, as well as the Debakey Award for Science Writing.
Here is a rundown of this year’s awards for AKC Family Dog and the stories behind them:
Magazines-Entire Issue, Single, Related, All Breed
AKC Family Dog, January/February 2023, “The Training Issue”— Publications Director Russell Bianca, editor Mara Bovsun
- Every January, the magazine helps readers fulfill at least one New Year’s resolution, which is to improve their dogs’ behavior and skills. This year’s issue offered training insights from the first female police K-9 handler, a baroness whose troupe of canine acrobats made her famous, and a couple who taught their Newfoundland to leap from a helicopter to save people who are drowning. We also learned how a woman used tricks training to help her paralyzed Saluki learn to walk again.
Magazine Articles, Breed
“Pick of the Litter,” by Jen Reeder, July/August 2023, “The FIT DOG Issue”
- In this feature, Reeder, the one of the America’s most respected dog writers, profiles a Border Collie named Scruff, known to the world as the “Eco Dog.” Scruff and his owners show us how to stay fit, have fun, and save the planet by picking up discarded plastic bottles. In 2022, Scruff gathered 1,334 of them, just by cleaning up the areas around his home.
Magazine Articles, Art or Any Other Topic
“By A Nose,” by David Gallant, Ph.D., May/June 2023, “The Social Issue”
- In this feature, Gallant, an AKC scent work judge, writes about an experimental program in Texas that pairs children with young Golden Retrievers for scent work, socialization, training, titles, and fun.
SPECIAL AWARDS
DWAA Junior Writer Awards (age 15 to 17)
Walter R. Fletcher Memorial Award
“Child’s Play?” By Emily Holmes, March/April 2023, “The Juniors Issue”
- An extraordinary young woman—Emily Holmes—captured both of these awards with an essay she wrote at age 16. It chronicles her life in dog sports, from a sweet 9-year-old in the 4-H to her stunning victory at the Rhodesian Ridgeback Specialty seven years later with the dog who grew up by her side.
Harrison Stephens Inspirational Feature Award
“Waltzing Matilda,” by Amanda Stronza, July/August 2023, “The FIT DOG Issue”
- A professor finds an abandoned Australian Cattle Dog puppy under her porch, starting an 18-year waltz of an estimated 13,000 miles, on “beaches, mountaintops, and through prairies, and many, many fields of flowers.”
National Dog Show Presented by Purina Excellence in Writing/Producing Award
“Heroes Helping Heroes” by Jen Reeder, September/October 2022, “The Emergency Issue”
- A look at how first-responder therapy dogs are offering stress relief to firefighters on the line in California.
For more information on AKC’s publications, visit http://www.akc.org/pubs/.