The VHDOA was formed in late 2000, by Bob Kane, a retired Washington federal affairs consultant residing in rural Madison County. Bob, an engineer by training and a hunter, pointing dog owner and field trialer by avocation, represented clients before government agencies and the U.S. Congress for twenty years. In the late 1990's he began pro-bono (no charge) lobbying on behalf of hunting dog field trialers, whose access to state game lands was threatened. VHDOA, initially a Virginia grassroots adjunct to that federal effort, quickly became a significant sportsmen's and hunting dog owner advocacy force in Richmond.

The VHDOA and a complementary national effort, the Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance, have enjoyed remarkable success, owing in large measure to our network and relationships with national hunter's rights groups, sportsmen's and animal owner organizations. Since 2000, we've lobbied the White House, the Departments of Agriculture, Interior and Justice, the U.S. Congress, Governor Warner, Virginia's Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Department of Agriculture, the General Assembly, and in an unusual circumstance, the California legislature.

Our legislative and administrative efforts have been most effective. Legislation and rulemakings adversely affecting dog owners have been minimized and in many cases defeated through VHDOA efforts. We maintain a network of state wildlife professionals, activists and press contacts, with whom we share intelligence, information and compare notes. All bills introduced in the General Assembly which pertain to hunting, hunting dogs and animal ownership generally are monitored. When hearings are held, the VHDOA is there to voice its position on the issues.

Finally, and most importantly, we work the problem at its roots. VHDOA feels it's necessary to clearly identify our friends and foes. Those legislators who receive the endorsements of anti-hunting, anti-animal owner groups and/or support their agendas against our interests are named and targeted at election time, if education efforts fail. Likewise, we search for those politicians that protect our hunting and dog ownership traditions, work with them and ask sportsmen to aid and elect them. It is essential that EVERY club and individual dog owner unite with VHDOA to defend our sport!

Protect your rights! There is no better way than to join and support VHDOA!

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