The Jamaica Kennel Club was first formed on October 11, 1961, with a modest membership of only 40. The Club owes its existence primarily to Mr. Derrick Chang, who recognized that there was a great need to promote the highest standard of breeding, showing and selling of dogs in Jamaica. Mr. Chang’s energetic determination and organizing capacity led to the formation of a Founding Committee who instituted various policies for the Club’s operations.
Shortly after its formation between 1965 and 1967, the Club made great strides, operating as a multi-faceted, non-profit organization. Its many functions included the registration and transfer of pure-bred dogs, organizing and promoting of dog shows, keeping records of Wins and Challenge Certificates gained at recognized dog shows, holding Obedience Classes and other activities for members and their dogs, providing advice on purchasing, breeding, importation, and choice of stud mates, and generally helping to bring people together with similar interest.
The first Championship Dog Show was held in the same year that Jamaica gained her independence, 1962, and it proved to be a “Show of Shows”, bringing a fine selection of entries which included Dachshunds, Great Danes, English Cocker Spaniels, Labradors, Irish Setters, Pyrenean Mountain Dogs, Chihuahuas, Miniature Poodles, Basset Hounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, German Shepherds, Dobermann Pinschers and Shi Tzus.
Unfortunately, between 1965 and 1967 the Club experienced many problems despite the untiring effort of members such as Clyde Fisher and Gwen Goffe – brought about mainly by the banning of the importation of dogs to prevent rabies. During these lean times, Mr. Llewellyn Braham came to the assistance of the Club by providing free office space to maintain the continuation of the records of all purebred dogs.
However, in 1968 with the help of new members headed by Bill Milner, the Club recommenced holding “All Breed Dog Shows”, which have continued annually until this time. These shows together with seminars hosted by the Club with the help of members of the Jamaica Small Animal Veterinary Association to advise dog owners on breeding, genetic problems, diseases, etc., has kept a lively interest in the Club.
The Club has also registered “Three Breed Clubs”, namely The German Shepherd, Dobermann Pinscher and Rottweiler Associations, who hold regular breed Championship Dog Shows.
The Club also continues to encourage Obedience Training and Trails at which the dogs compete on a points system to qualify for the Title C.D. (Companion Dog), and C.D.X. (Companion Dog Excellent). Unregistered dogs are also allowed to compete in these competitions.
To add to the efficiency of the operations in 1987 the Club commenced the task of becoming computerized which considering the quantity of
previous records proved quite a task. This has been helped greatly by Mr. Don White from Canada who voluntarily took on the task of writing programmes to cover all the necessary areas, and this has been greatly assisted by Mr. Patrick O’Connor.
The organization of the Championship Dog Shows could not have been organized without the sponsorship from Security Companies such as Guardsman, Marksman and Duel, Bow Wow Dog Food, Jet Pet, Pedigree, Purina, Alpo Dog Food Distributors. These sponsorships have enabled the Club to obtain the services of highly qualified judges from the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada and Puerto Rico to officiate at dog shows.
