American Working Terrier Association
The American Working Terrier Association (AWTA) was founded in 1971 by Patricia Adams Lent to encourage and promote the ownership and working of earthworking terriers of correct size, conformation and character to be usable for their intended purpose. The organization currently includes about two hundred members. The group sanctions terrier den trials put on by local groups across the US. The AWTA is unusual in that since its inception, it does not require that dogs be purebred, it welcomes all breeds of small working terriers as well as dachshunds and it has no headquarters or employees.