The Whidbey Island Kennel Club (“WIKC”) was started in the mid 50’s by service people stationed on Whidbey Island who had show dogs as there were no shows north of Seattle at that time.  Since Whidbey Island was indeed an Island, the first 300 dog show was held in the Armory in Everett, WA in Snohomish County.  Soon more local people with dogs joined the group.  After outgrowing the Armory the show moved to Maysville, but in short order the now 600 dog show once again outgrew the facility and moved to the Evergreen Fairgrounds in the 60’s.

The Fairgrounds had stock buildings which were used until the mid 60’s when an arena was built.  Since Fairground funds were limited, the club provided flooring for the lobby and hospitality/kitchen room and the equipment to take care of the new floors.  Thus started the club’s community involvement.

With additional space, Obedience Trials and Junior Showmanship were started.  In the 70’s the club instituted a special event, the Northwest Junior Showman award for the winners of three or more Top Juniors during the year, giving the winner a ticket to fly to compete at Westminster Kennel Club in that class.  This event is no longer held as there are other recognitions for juniors now.

In the 70’s, the greater Seattle area became economically depressed due to severe cutbacks by the major employer, Boeing.  The club, in conjunction with a local dog food company, began donations of dog food to those who became jobless at that time and continued the practice as the economy improved by providing dog food to the elderly in the community on an as needed basis.  The club continues to do this for those groups who are involved in the rescue of abused and neglected dogs in the area, and to make donations to events of National Disasters for dog rescue purposes.  The WIKC also supports the Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue and gives them free booth space at their shows.

Also in the 70’s, the WIKC began to superintend their own shows with all members required to work the shows.  Duties fulfilled by club members included assisting the Show Secretary, Ring Stewarding, working in Canine Health Clinics, attending to motor home and day parking duties, etc. as well as setting up and breaking down rings before and after the shows.  As such, club members are not allowed to exhibit a dog or enter any dog they own or co-own at these shows.  Superintending their own shows continued until 2003, when the club switched to a regular show superintendent.  However, club members still continue to do the bulk of the other work as before.

In the 80’s, the club also began to hold Tracking Trials each September.  This event is still in place today.  The WIKC received commendation from Field Rep Betty Winter when their Trials hit the 15^th year mark. 

In addition, Microchip and CERF clinics were held at the shows.  In recent years, a Tattoo clinic was initiated in response to the public’s request.

In the 90’s, when PETA moved into Snohomish County with the local Progressive Animal Welfare shelter to attempt to install similar ordinances governing dog ownership, breeding, licensing, etc. that had been passed previously in parts of California, the WIKC contacted all licensed kennel owners, 4-H Groups, equestrian groups, dairy farmers, hunters, field trial people, dog and cat owners, etc. to let everyone know what was occurring.  As a result of the club’s involvement, each hearing of the ordinances brought out several hundred people and resulted in over 600 pages of written testimony against such proposed regulations.  The County Council then established an Animal Advisory Board of 9 individuals to write animal regulations and look into county animal issues.  Five of the nine board members are WIKC members and continue to serve on this very active board aiding county council.  The Advisory Board recently began putting on free microchip clinics with the assistance of club members.  The WIKC provided scanners to all Animal Control Officers in the county so that micro-chipped dogs, who are licensed at half price, get a “free ride home” rather than end up in a shelter in the county.

When the first BEST FRIENDS instructional packet for schools was received from AKC, the club contacted all Curriculum Directors at schools in the county and the majority of them requested free packets for use.  The WIKC also printed pamphlets listing contact numbers for all Parent Club breeds in the US, with additional information offered on how dog shows work and other pertinent information relating to dogs and dog shows.  These were distributed to all school libraries, all county libraries and all veterinarian offices in the county.  They were also handed out with catalogs at the WIKC shows.

In the 90’s, the WIKC offered $500 scholarships for students from Snohomish County who were attending WSU’s Veterinary Program.  The club also contributed to the scholarship program for a Veterinary Assisting and Grooming program at a local high school.

When one of Snohomish County’s K-9 dogs was killed in the line of duty a community group, called Pennies for Puppies, put on a drive to purchase another dog.  The WIKC joined in the effort by giving them a booth at the shows and contributing $0.50 from each entry.  This resulted in close to a $3,000 donation.  The following year the County Sheriff’s department wanted to add an additional dog and officer to the current three.  The club decided to donate $10,000 so that this would be possible.  That donation also paid for the necessary “cocoon” needed for the officer’s car.  This car carried the sign “Sponsored by the Whidbey Island Kennel Club”.  The officer and the new K-9 attended the show, driving into the arena before Best In Show.  The next year, the club provided bullet proof vests for all the dogs in the unit.

The WIKC has put on Canine Good Citizen Tests and the annual 4-H Fair and has helped to sponsor and participate in the Washington State University Evergreen Pet Fair held in the county.  The club contributes to the AKC Canine Health Foundation and is over the Founders mark with yearly contributions and will continue to do so.  The club also continues to contribute to the AKC Museum of the Dog and to the National Animal Interest Alliance.

Recently, the WIKC has been working with the Snohomish County Licensing Department and the Animal Advisory Board to put together booklets with concise but helpful information on beginning dog training, general care, bringing home a new puppy, behavior issues, house training, crate training, the value of micro-chipping, questions about breeding or spaying, information on how to contact the AKC for additional information, etc.  These booklets will be given to people licensing their dogs and adopting dogs from shelters.  They will also be offered to Veterinarians and to school libraries in the county.  The WIKC continues to support the local Search and Rescue Group with contributions to facilitate their continuing work.