Rio Grande Kennel Club (RGKC) is an American Kennel Club (AKC) member all-breed club serving Albuquerque, NM and surrounding communities. RGKC was founded in 1932 and is New Mexico’s oldest nonprofit canine advocacy group. RGKC promotes purebred and mixed breed dog sports, dog health and responsible dog ownership through grants, public education and AKC dog shows and obedience and rally trials. RGKC is honored to include many notable New Mexicans as members over the years, including such founding members as Governor Clyde K. Tingley, Mrs. Carrie Tingley, U.S. Representative Albert G. Simms and U.S Representative Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms (Mrs. Albert G. Simms).
RGKC held its first dog show in 1935. RGKC shows and trials are held on Mother’s Day weekend each year at Expo New Mexico along with events held by four other clubs at the High Desert Cluster. The High Desert Cluster generates over $1 million of economic benefit for New Mexico each year. AKC licensed and sanctioned events held by New Mexico’s 29 AKC-affiliated clubs generate several million dollars of economic benefit for New Mexico each year, as well as being educational and family-friendly events benefiting thousands of New Mexicans.