Oct 07, 2025
New York, NY- The American Kennel Club (AKC ® ), a not-for-profit, the world’s largest registry of purebred dogs and a leading advocate for canine welfare and responsible ownership, has launched a new educational outreach initiative: AKC ® Pen Pawls, developed by AKC Public Education.
AKC ® Pen Pawls is an exciting program that invites children to engage in fun, interactive mail correspondence with Bailey the Beagle, the official mascot of AKC Public Education. This innovative program encourages kids to write letters to Bailey, who responds with personalized, tail-wagging messages filled with fun facts about purebred dogs, responsible dog ownership, AKC sports and events, and more. Letters from Bailey are thoughtfully crafted to nurture both literacy and empathy, creating a meaningful and memorable experience that deepens children’s understanding of dogs in a fun and impactful way.
“The program was created to bridge the gap between children’s natural curiosity about dogs and the need for reliable, trustworthy educational content,” said Ashley Jacot, AKC Vice President of Education. “Whether a child is a current dog owner, a future dog owner, or simply an animal lover, corresponding with Bailey, offers an exciting opportunity to build writing skills while learning valuable lessons about dog care, responsible pet ownership, and the many ways dogs enrich our lives.”
Open to children of all ages, the program is ideal for classrooms, libraries, homeschool settings, and youth programs looking to promote literacy in a fun, dog-themed format. AKC ® Pen Pawls offers more than just a fun pen pal experience. It sparks a love of reading and writing while fostering a lifelong appreciation for dogs and the responsibilities that come with pet ownership.
Educators, parents, and youth leaders can learn more and participate by visiting
https://www.akc.org/public-education/pen-pawls/ or contacting AKC Public Education at
publiced@akc.org.
