David Gallant, a freelance writer and American Kennel Club judge based in Oklahoma City, has won a national award from the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA). The DWAA announced on February 18, 2024, that Gallant won first place in the category for magazine articles (on art or any other topic) for his article “By a Nose,” published in the May-June 2023 issue of the AKC Family Dog magazine. He also was one of five finalists in the category for magazine articles (on rescue) for “Safe Haven: Ukrainian Refugee Dogs Find New Home in Oklahoma,” from the January-February 2023 issue of OKC Pets.
The nationwide contest drew hundreds of entrants. Each submission had to pass a rigorous set of rules to be chosen and then was reviewed by several judges, accomplished authors, educators, and writers for various publications. Each submission was judged on several points in each of two broad categories — technical merit and creative style.
The Dog Writers Association of America, founded in 1935, is the most recognized professional writing association devoted to dogs. It has various levels of membership. Gallant is a professional member, which means he had to prove a history of being a published writer/author over the years. He is a frequent contributor to OKC Pets.
Here is a link to Gallant’s winning submission, “By a Nose,” https://dogwriters.org/contestants/by-a-nose/.
Here is a link to his OKC Pets article that placed in the top five in its category, “Safe Haven: Ukrainian Refugee Dogs Find New Home in Oklahoma,” https://dogwriters.org/contestants/rescuemission-from-ukraine-to-oklahoma/.
OKC Pets congratulates Gallant on this remarkable achievement and is proud to count him as one of its writers.
