Editorial: November 15, 2024

Established in 1879, the Kennel Club of Philadelphia has a long and storied place in the world of purebred dogs. From the beginning, some of its members went on to become national figures in our sport. Among the bold-face names associated with the Kennel Club of Philadelphia who went onto hold high positions in the American Kennel Club were Elliot Smith, one of the original group of men who met in Philadelphia in 1884 to form the American Kennel Club and who became the American Kennel Club’s second president from 1884 to 1887. He was succeeded by William H. Child, who was the American Kennel Club president from 1887 and 1888. Fast-forward to more modern times: President of the American Kennel Club from 1968 until he retired in 1971 was Alfred M. Dick, and certainly the most formidable American Kennel Club vice president of that time was Charles A.T. O’Neill, who served from 1978 to 1985 and also served as the show chairman of the now famous AKC Centennial Show, held on November 17 and 18, 1984, with more than 8,400 dogs entered, followed the Kennel Club of Philadelphia dog show on Monday. Today, his daughter Mari-Beth O’Neill carries on the family tradition as a member of the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, but also as an executive vice president of the American Kennel Club. Many had hoped she would one day assume the role of the American Kennel Club presidency. The Kennel Club of Philadelphia then was a must-attend dog show on everyone’s calendar. Multiple breed clubs held their specialties there, most notably the Doberman Pinscher club, a favorite breed of the O’Neill family. There was a time when the influence on the American Kennel Club was so heavily wielded by members associated with Philadelphia that they were referred as “the Philadelphia Mafia.” It was a hotbed of influence. Like many shows of the time, they grew out of their city venues for various reasons, including the higher cost of venues and the varying ups and downs of entries to support such high costs. Philadelphia gave up its city venue and moved to its current location at the Oaks in 2009. Today the Kennel Club of Philadelphia uses its adopted name of “The National Dog Show,” which is televised on NBC following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thanksgiving Day. Working with the NBC network, club members led by Wayne Ferguson worked out a lucrative financial contract. In keeping with the city’s nickname — The City of Brotherly Love — the Kennel Club of Philadelphia shares in those profits with local and canine charities. The Kennel Club of Philadelphia has afforded the fancy exposure to the public that is second to none. We congratulate the club and its members for all their good work and wish them continued good luck.