Early in 1967 many purebred dog fanciers residing in Medina County desired a local kennel club. Interested individuals began to spread the word of the possibility of forming a Medina County Kennel Club. On July 28, 1967, an organizational meeting was held in the Security Federal Savings & Loan Community Room on North Court St. in Medina with approximately 65 enthusiastic people in attendance from all around the county. The meeting was chaired by Chardell Patrick and then turned over to Harrison Fagan, an AKC licensed judge and a man of vast experience in the dog field and the formation of dog clubs.
It was decided by all to hold monthly meetings on the 4th Wednesday of each month (except November and December, due to the holidays) and initially the name of the club was "The Medina County Kennel Club". However, this was later changed at the suggestion of the AKC to "Medina Kennel Club". An election of officers was held and the results were as follows:
President, Harrison Fagan
Vice President, Chardell Patrick
Secretary, Jill Carpenter
Treasurer, Harriet Krieger
In August of 1967, a constitution was drawn up and approved by the AKC. Some of the founding members when the constitution was adopted were as follows:
Harrison & Emmy Fagan
Wendell and Edna Oglesbee
Herb and Ryta Tomes
Chardell and Robert Patrick
Martha Jane Ablett
Ralph and Harriet Krieger
Lois Brakeman
Bob and Jill Carpenter
Jim and Joanne Myers
Bob Rhode
Ralph and Jane Siman
Nick and Joann Furillo
In October of 1967 a Fun Match was held at the Wadsworth Memorial Park with an entry of over 325 dogs. Harrison Fagan was show chairman. A member/judge potluck supper was held after the show and enjoyed by all.
Monthly meetings continued to be held with Emmy Fagan as Program Director. Under her chairmanship, the club had some very informative and educational programs. These programs touched on many subjects and were given by various professional handlers, judges, dog show superintendents and the like. In 1969 our election of officers was changed from December of each year to January of the each year.
The first AKC sanctioned B OB match show was held on August 4, 1968 at the Buckeye High School with an entry of 402 dogs. Each successive Match Show increased in not only entries but also experience for the club and its members. In Jan. of 1969, another B OB match was held with an outstanding entry of over 950 dogs! According to Max Riddle, then dog columnist for The Cleveland Plain Dealer, it was the biggest puppy match ever held in the state of Ohio!
In September of 1970 AKC allowed the club to hold its first A OA match show, and the 2nd A OA match was held on April 18, 1971. Each match was a prerequisite for the club's holding a licensed point show. Both of these matches were held at the Buckeye High School.
On July 22, 1972, the club held its very first licensed point show at Cloverleaf High School with an entry of 1,479 dogs in 109 different breeds. Sally Schiletz was the show chairperson, with Bernard Moinettte as the Obedience Chairman. Max Riddle was the Best In Show Judge putting up a Shih Tzu.
It was decided that on January 29, 1977, that the club would hold a winter point show. The site was to be the Community Center of the Medina Fairgrounds. Unfortunately Mother Nature added her two cents to the club's decision. If you were a resident of Ohio in Jan. of '77 (and '78) you know that we suffered two of the worst blizzards in the history of the state with 70 mph plus winds and 15 to 20 ft drifts of snow. It was so bad that the Ohio National Guard would not allow Ted Bloomberg of MBF and his staff from Detroit to get onto the Ohio Turnpike at Toledo, to set up at the show site in Medina. A hurried decision by club President Paul Prieto, directors, show committee and AKC was that the club would have to cancel the show. The club did try to get out notices via various mediums. HOWEVER, at approximately 8:30 a.m. Chardell Patrick's phone rang and it was a little ol' lady from Pittsburgh, with a Pekingese who drove through a blinding blizzard, and SOMEHOW reached the Medina Fairgrounds and called to ask, "Where were all the people for the dog show?"
Each December the club holds an annual Awards Dinner. In years past a small silver plated engraved Revere bowl was presented. Presently a plaque denoting the name of the dog finishing an AKC recognized title is awarded. The award is engraved with not only the name of the dog and the title/s attained, but the name of the MKC breeder or owner or co breeder/co-owner. Every year approximately 33 to 57 dogs finish to at least one AKC title.
The club also hosts an annual pot luck get together with every conceivable delicious food you could imagine, sometimes followed by a member Fun Match. In years past the affair would be held at Hinckley Reservation Park.
Through the years the club has benefited from many helping hands within the county. The Medina County Gazette and then Editor Joe Cowden gave the club some much need publicity in one of his editorial columns. Merchants in the country lent their parking lots to the club for some of puppy matches, and often advertised in our point show catalogues. The Medina Country Fair Board members helped the club participate in the yearly County Fair by donating space, tents and lighting so that the club could have one of the first known "Meet The Breeds" in the area. The Medina County Vocational School gave assistance and support in allowing the club to hold some of their major programs at the school and for lending students from the Animal Care Class to act as "Sanitary Engineers" at various kennel club point shows. The Medina County District Library donated their display window to promote the summer and winter shows. The club couldn't have accomplished anything without them.
In a civic repayment the Medina Kennel Club donates dog related books and materials to the Medina Country District Library, needed supplies to the Medina County Animal Shelter, funds and supports the Medina County canine unit, supports monetarily the Medina Country 4-H clubs and holds obedience/grooming and showing instructions FREE for 4-H canine competitors at the Fair. In the past the club reached out to the public in a public education program by having an exhibition at the Medina County Home and Flower Show held annually at the Medina County Vocational Center.
Each year the active membership in Medina Kennel Club has increased from an original 65 to a current membership of well over 100 members. Some of the reasons for increased membership are the continued informative and educational programs that the club presents to its members and others in the dog fancy. Some of the notable guest speakers at various meetings through the years have been Rachel Page Elliott, author of "Dog Steps" speaking on canine movement, professional handlers such as Dick Becker and the late Jerry Rigden; Dr. Sharon Martin from Ohio State University; the late Julie Gasow of English Springer Spaniel fame; Dr. Ben Sheffy of Cornell University speaking on canine Nutrition. The club has had guest speakers from many and varied companies and universities speaking on everything from nutrition to progressive retinal atrophy, hip and elbow dysplasia, gastric torsion, breeding and related problems to whelping puppies. From genetics to behavior problems, these programs were truly educational. But not all were of a health or medical nature. The club has enjoyed various members and/or breeders who would give a discussion or grooming demonstration with their own breeds. There was a most enjoyable talk given by someone that did dog sledding and actually attended the Iditarod dog sled race in Alaska. They brought a team of Siberian Huskies with them along with a sled and showed how the dogs worked and the various parts of the harness and sled. The club also has a member who works with prison inmates in an obedience training program with the inmates as handlers/trainers. It's a wonderful, very successful rehab program.
Long before AKC mandated that each kennel club have a breeder referral service, Medina Kennel Club put one into action with Chardell Patrick as the first chairperson of this service. Through the years with successive people donating their time and effort in this manner the club has handled thousands of telephone calls thereby helping the general public obtain a healthy purebred puppy/dog from a reputable breeder.
As of today the club has its own training facilities at 355 Lake Rd., Bldg. "C"., Medina, Ohio. Under the various tutelage of knowledgeable club members, classes in conformation handling, various obedience classes, and agility are held not only for members but for any individual interested in showing/training their dogs for AKC competition. Obedience classes are also offered for the general public to have a well mannered dog in and away from home. Puppy socialization classes are also held to acclimate young dogs to various situations that they perhaps will face in their lives. The club runs an informational advertisement in each Tuesday's edition of the "Medina County Gazette" with a number to call for not only breeder referrals, but times and schedules for obedience, handling or agility classes at the Training Center.
The club has had representatives from AKC speak at meetings to keep members abreast of any and all things transpiring at the AKC and the dog world as a whole. And last but not least many local veterinarians on whom many members depend were often guest speakers at some of the club meetings and many of them donated their time to be club show veterinarians!
With the advent of the high tech computer era, Medina Kennel Club now has its own web site with club information and activities which can once again reach the general public who may have either an interest in purebred dogs or membership in the club.
Because of much of the foregoing success as a purebred dog club, Medina Kennel Club in the mid 1980's was granted AKC member status. This member status would not have been attainable without hardworking members. The first Medina Kennel Club AKC Delegate was Harrison Fagan and in succeeding years until the present time, Pat Dresser has served as the AKC Delegate.
Through the years the club has honored various members for their service and dedication to dogs and the club. Some of these awards are as follows:
LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARD
Pat Dresser
Martha Jane Ablett
Harrison & Emmy Fagan
Nick & Joann Furillo
Wendell & Edna Oglesbee
Bob Rohde
Chardell & Robert Patrick
Ralph & Jane Siman
Herb & Ryta Tomes
Earl (Chip) & Gwen Chaney
Gail & Gordon Sheddy