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PAL: ILP Program Sports New Name, Additional Benefits
By Penny Leigh, AKC Internal Consultant
Sheila Goffe and Wolfie on the Winner's Stand.


Stewart Event Images
Luke clearing a jump in Agility.
Wolfie was the saddest looking dog on shelter row. Lying in the back of the kennel run with his head flat to the cement, the Siberian Husky was not even noticed by most visitors.

A couple spotted Luke wandering along a remote country road and picked him up. Very ill with parvo, the border collie puppy was dropped off at a local veterinarian clinic.

Unlike many abandoned dogs, Wolfie and Luke were lucky. Following their rescues, they were adopted and recovered from their traumatic experiences.

A picture of Wolfie today shows him proudly standing on the winner’s stand with a first place Rally Obedience ribbon, and Luke’s snapshots capture him sailing over agility jumps.

Thanks to an AKC program created for purebreds without “papers,” Wolfie and Luke can participate in AKC events. The former Indefinite Listing Privilege (ILP) program grants numbers to purebreds whose pasts are unknown or whose original AKC papers were withheld, lost or otherwise unavailable.

As ILP nears its 50th birthday, nearly 3,000 dogs a year are granted ILP numbers. ILP has been so successful that AKC has renamed and revamped the program. The ILP program will become the Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL) program on February 1.

The new name is more appealing and better represents the purpose, organizers said.

“It is our hope that we can expand the ILP numbers and the overall appeal of the program by offering added benefits and renaming the program with this more creative and friendly acronym,” said Assistant Vice President of Customer Service Mari-Beth O’Neill.

In addition to the name change, several benefits have been added to a PAL listing to help new owners get more information on responsible dog ownership.

PAL enrollees will receive a copy of Family Dog magazine, a subscription to AKC’s e-newsletter “Your AKC,” a flier from the breed’s Parent Club with information on the breed and an attractive certificate affirming the dog as a PAL designee. New PAL owners also will receive information on AKC Pet Healthcare insurance and AKC Companion Animal Recovery enrollment.

As always, the ILP/PAL program allows approved dogs to participate in AKC Companion Events, AKC Performance Events and AKC Juniors Competition.

“Welcoming more ILP/PAL dogs to the world of AKC events and privileges can only benefit both dogs and owners by providing educational resources and also exposing them to the joys of competing with your dog,” O’Neill said.

To qualify, potential ILP dogs must be spayed or neutered, and their owners must submit a statement of proof from a veterinarian. Owners also submit two photos – a full side shot and full front shot – so AKC staff can determine if the dog is readily identifiable as an AKC-recognized breed.

Wolfie’s adopter, Sheila Goffe, said the ILP/PAL program introduced her to an entire new world. As Goffe looked for ways to keep the active 8-month-old husky entertained, she bought her new dog a backpack, strapped it on him and went hiking. Not only did it burn off extra energy, the activity led to Goffe discovering the local Siberian Husky club and the Working Pack Dog program.

To earn titles as a Working Pack Dog, the club explained to Goffe, Wolfie needed an ILP number since his past was unknown and, thus, he didn’t have an AKC registration. Sheila had never heard of ILP but with encouragement from the club members filled out an application and received Wolfie’s ILP number.

Today, in addition to his Working Pack Dog Excellent title, Wolfie also boasts the Rally Novice title, Canine Good Citizen award and is a certified therapy dog. He has been joined by four other AKC-registered Siberian Huskies, and Goffe is now exhibiting his housemates in conformation and preparing to whelp her first litter of puppies.

“If it had not been for this ILP number, I would never have had the opportunity to pursue all the wonderful activities that I have had with Wolfie – and those activities introduced me to the world of purebred dog sports,” Goffe said.

For more information on the ILP/PAL program, e-mail ilp@akc.org or visit the the ILP/PAL page on the AKC website.