History.

The Raritan River Akita Club Inc. (RRACI) dates back to 1963 when it was known as the Eastern Akita Club and covered a territory from Maine to Florida, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. The annual spring Akita Specialty Fun Match dog Show was held in Roosevelt Park, Route 1 South, Edison, New Jersey. Akita owners would plan their annual vacations around this event. Barbara Miller of Sakura Akitas would travel north from Maryland, often bringing along young puppies to exhibit. She would be joined by the Krug family from Maryland, Harry Smith from Virginia and the rest of the "southern contingent". Dick and Brenda Everett would stuff their station wagon with their Akitas and children, picnic lunch and drive from the outer lengths of Long Island NY. Proud Akita owners from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts, Connecticut and other states would travel to New Jersey for the annual east coast Akita show.

With the AKC advancement of the Akita breed to full championship competition status set for April 4, 1973 along with an growing Akita owner population, the Eastern Akita Club Board of Directors dissolved that club and transferred the records to its successor - the Raritan River Akita Club Inc. (RRACI). The "new" club was incorporated as a nonprofit dog club in the State of New Jersey on December 17, 1972. RRACI held the annual east coast spring Akita show on April 29, 1973 at Roosevelt Park, Edison NJ in continuation of the tradition.

The members and friends of RRACI hold AKC Akita Supported Entries and Akita Sweepstakes in conjunction with NJ, NY and PA all-breed dog clubs to promote the Akita breed and, also, make it easier to gather Akita entries for the major point competitions needed to complete an Akita Championship. RRACI encourages Akitas in Obedience at its Supported entry events and always offerrs handsome rosettes and trophies to qualifying Akitas and the highest scoring Akitas in Obedience competition classes. RRACI supports and encourages other emerging area Akita dog clubs, sharing its resources and legal expertise with them.

Early members of RRACI included Sam and Barbara Mullen, Elaine and Marty Alpert, Nick and Marilyn Fiorenza, Tom and Beverly Bonadonna, Dick and Helen Merschen, Simone Fallon and Louis Fallon, Rosemary Aigner and Larry Aigner and Walter Yates. Louis A. Fallon of New Jersey was the last president of the Eastern Akita Club and the first president of RRACI. In 1975 Fallon was elected president of the Akita Club of America, the national parent breed club. Fallon was a prolific author of Akita stories, dog stories and show competition reports. In 1975 Louis Fallon authored the Akita breed description which is printed in the pages of the AKC Complete Book of Dogs.

Like all organizations RRACI has had its ups and downs. It was the first AKC sanctioned area Akita breed dog club and the first to host an Akita Supported entry and Akita Sweepstakes in conjunction with an all-breed dog club show. On the other hand, one of its treasurers was reported to have disappeared with the club treasury, a secretary had a house fire which destroyed many club Akita photo albums of early Akita shows and some club records. There were several civil lawsuits between Akita owners alleging that 'your dog bit me'. The late Mr. Walter Yates, an AKC licensed dog show judge, was an active member of RRACI and would often amuse the club meetings with his stories of dog shows. A memorial tribute to Mr. Walter Yates was held at the Sept. 26, 1976 Westbury Kennel Association all-breed championship dog show, as a RRACI supported Akita entry.

Akita Rescue. Once the Akita breed was admitted to full AKC status the breed began to grow like garden weeds after a rainy season with the unfortunate byproduct result of homeless Akitas. In 1976 Akita Rescue was organized in southern California by Al and Liz Harrell of Akita Tani , Mrs. Stephanie O'Donahue, Mrs. Pat Rodgers, Mrs. Lowen Becker, Mrs. Kay Lee, and other concerned Akita fanciers. At the RRACI spring AKC sanctioned Akita match show on April 17, 1977 the Akita Rescue Society of America (ARSA) was incorporated in New Jersey as a nonprofit humane society to serve the Akita breed throughout the United States of America. RRACI arranged for the legal paperwork of incorporation of ARSA and also paid for the cost of obtaining a 501-C-3 tax exemption status for ARSA. It was an example of men and women of good will, on the west coast and east coast, working together for the good of the Akita breed of dog. ARSA operated from its adminsistrative home in southern California, serving as the national humane society for the Akita breed, with several chapters nationwide and an alliance of concerned Akita fanciers.

With the Akita breed population growing and the unfortunate side effect of Akitas being dumped into streets, humane societies and animal shelters, the members and friends of RRACI concentrated more upon Akita Rescue efforts then on championship dog show support. Today as yesterday, through its members and friends RRACI continues to advocate and support the noble Akita breed of dog.

In response to a request, in 1997 RRACI executed the legal corpration paperwork and 501-C-3 IRS status for the new Akita Owners Rescue Foundation (AORF) .

This Internet website was first put up in January 1996 to distribute Akita information. Each year in September as part of National Dog Week, RRACI takes part in the "AKC Dog Day in the Park" in Madison Square Park, New York City to spread the word about Akita Rescue and seek suitable homes for homeless Akitas. Every year on the Sunday before the Westminster KC dog show in New York City RRACI visits the "AKC Open House" to meet old friends and make new ones before going on to the Westminster show and applaud the Akita breed entry. Since 1976 RRACI has donated Akita books to the Library of the AKC so that future generations of Akita fanciers may read and learn about this wonderful breed of dog.

Membership.

While membership is unrestricted as to residence, the club's primary purpose is to be representative of the Akita owners in its area. Applicants must be over twenty-one years old. The applicant must attend at least two functions prior to applying for regular membership. A completed application form with sponsoring endorsements of two RRACI members in good standing must be accompanied by the correct dues. The application will be read at the first meeting of RRACI following its receipt. At the following RRACI meeting, the applicant will be voted upon and an affirmative vote of three-quarters of those members present and voting at that meeting will be required to elect the applicant to membership.
Print the RRACI Membership Application Form