This article appeared in the Winter 2000 issue of Akita Dog, a quarterly publication of the Akita Club of America, Inc. It is reprinted with permission of the author and copyright owner, J. Creason.

So, tell me about the registration process. What did that involve?

OK. The regular ACA registration process involved several things. When a U.S. born litter was born to a sire and dam that were already registered with the ACA, the owner of the litter submitted the litter registration form to the ACA Registrar and, in return, received applications to register the individual puppies.

As each puppy was sold, the owner of the litter could give a registration paper to each new puppy owner. Then each new owner could individually register his or her puppy. So when you register the litter or an individual dog or bitch, you submit the application along with a fee.

For an import, the dog or bitch had to have an appropriate 3-generation pedigree from one of the Japanese registries. Back then those included Akiho, Akikyo, Akihokyo, Nichiho, Japan Kennel Club, or Japan Dog Federation. Some of the imports had pedigrees issued by Nippon Aiken Club rather than one of these registries. Some were only in English transliteration, some only in Japanese, the rest in both.

The ACA registered 686 litters and 3150 individual Akitas. Among the 3150 individual Akitas were 340 Japanese imports.
 

Registering a Dog as Foundation Stock
Now, with regard to foundation stock registration…. if the person wanted the dog registered with AKC as foundation stock, the owner had to file a particular form (with a fee) with the ACA Registry so that it could be processed prior to being forwarded to the AKC. I would send packets of probably 50-100 applications at a time to William F. Stifel, Executive Secretary of the AKC.

The eligible dogs were ACA-registered either way whether they were registered prior to or only during the foundation stock registration period. But, if they were ACA-registered during the foundation stock registration period, the letters FS preceded their ACA registration number.

Each dog that was individually registered through the ACA received a signed certificate decorated with a gold seal embossed with the club logo. 663 Akitas who were not previously registered with the ACA were registered during the foundation stock registration period, which formally ended February 28, 1974.

Processing the Early Forms
During this process I had to write what seemed like a million letters, answer a lot of phone calls, type and sign hundreds of certificates, etc. Many people could not follow the simple instructions on filling out forms; it was very frustrating. I had to send a large percentage of the forms back because they weren't completed correctly. It was incredibly time-consuming.

At the beginning of foundation stock registration, I think the first show where Akitas could compete for points was in April '73, and a lot of people wanted desperately to enter their dogs. But, to do so, they had to be AKC-registered. That meant the dogs had to be foundation stock registered.

People would call and plead with me to be sure to get their dog's papers done in time for the show. Well, I processed the forms in the order in which they arrived, and I did the best I could. We were totally swamped in the beginning.

I was always amused when people contacted me later and asked, "By the way, did you enter your dog in that first show?" Well, no, I was holed up at home processing the papers as fast as I could so everybody else could show their dogs!

The first few months during foundation stock, I was working 100 hours a week doing the registrations. I'm not exaggerating. Eric was working his full-time job and putting in about another 40 hours a week helping me with the registrations. All this free for the Akita breed and the Akita Club. And, you know, I think most Akita people today don't even know anybody ever did this.

Receiving My Recognition
The ACA recognized me and Eric by presenting us with a lovely plaque with this engraving: "The Akita Club of America, Inc. presents to Eric and Kay Greisen this award for their relentless and unselfish efforts on behalf of the Akita breed 1973-1974". At the same time I received a congratulatory letter from ACA President Gus Bell informing me that, due to my fine work, the AKC intended to use the Akita as a model for foundation stock registration of future breeds.  I felt honored.

Attending the 25th Anniversary of AKC Recognition
In October 1998, I attended the 25th Silver Anniversary National Specialty in San Diego. After more than a 20-year absence, this was my first return to the club. I felt deeply touched that this breed I had worked so hard to register had reached its 25th anniversary (since AKC recognition).

At the banquet when different people in the audience were singled out for recognition, some allowed to speak, no one introduced me or acknowledged the contribution I had made. When the acknowledgments were over, and I realized I was not going to be recognized, it was all I could do not to run out of the room and cry.

I believe that, if no one had done the work of handling foundation stock registration, there would not have been a 25th anniversary in 1998. I realize that fame and recognition are fleeting; if we're lucky, in our lifetimes we'll get 15 minutes. But this was a special occasion marking the Silver Anniversary of Recognition, twenty-five years since the beginning of foundation stock registration. And, I had been the Registrar, the one in the trenches who had made it happen.

I was deeply hurt by this lack of recognition. I appreciate the fact that I have this opportunity now to describe what I did. (Not only was I not introduced, but the only living founder of the ACA [Liz Harrell] also present at the banquet, was not recognized for her many contributions to the club and the breed.)

Getting Awards from the Raritan River Akita Club
Hours before I left for the 1998 National, I received a Certificate of Distinguished Achievement from the Raritan River Akita Club and in September 1999 they awarded me another Certificate of Distinguished Achievement as well as a bronze medallion. I cried receiving this recognition after so many years, realizing that this chapter club had appreciated my efforts.

Where to next?



              

Last updated November 29, 2002

Copyright 2000 by Kay S. Greisen
All Rights Reserved.