The CBARRC Board
I was convinced that Ridgebacks were the breed for me since the end of high school. Growing up in south/central New Jersey, I started riding young and did equestrian sports through college. I was drawn to the grace, athleticism, and versatility of the Ridgeback. I majored in Animal Science at Cornell University and minored in Nutrition and in Global Health. My original plan to work in equine sports training and nutrition shifted to more people-related things, and after an initial stint in biopharmaceuticals, I went back to school to become a dentist. I guess you could say that makes me interested in all sorts of canines…!
It wasn’t until I married and moved to DC with my husband, Derek, that I pursued that decade-old dream of finding my Ridgeback. And he’s been an amazing emotional and physical (with strong male dogs) support despite not realizing the full extent of what I was actually getting into when I said we should get a puppy :) Showing and performance events were not the original intention, but after chats with Jen and Christine and bringing home a puppy, things quickly changed! Fast forward 5 years, and that puppy, Mac, is now CH Whirlaway’s Tides Of March SC CAA BCAT CGC TKA FITB. And, because having one makes you’re realize it’s not enough, his half brother, Murphy - CH Whirlaway’s Jersey Fresh To Death CA FITB - was added to the family in 2022. This year I have plans to try them both in nosework and barnhunt while I search for agility classes.
It’s been great meeting many Ridgeback people and I appreciate learning more each year in the breed. I joined the CBARRC Board to learn even more and help grow the Ridgeback community in our region. I hope to help new members/new owners realize the variety of fun activities to do with their dogs and how approachable some events and owners can be!
I became acquainted with Ridgebacks in Southern California in 1972 while living next to a mother-and-daughter pair, Rhoda and Simba from the Redhouse Kennel, each weighing in at over 100+ lbs. After meeting these impressive girls and learning more about them, I found Kari (Lionpride) in a newspaper ad in 1974. She was followed by Tuffi in 1976, (Ch. Rolling's Tufani), the first dog I showed in conformation. We learned the ropes together and he finished owner handled at 13 months. In 1978, I obtained Rose (Ch. Kimbida’s Crackling Rose, ROM, dam of 13 champions) from Ida Poore.
Over the last 50 years, I have been involved extensively with the national club, RRCUS, serving four two-year terms as corresponding secretary, serving on several committees over time, and assisting with rescue. I served from 2008 through 2020 on the board of Ridgeback Trust, Inc. (RTI), an all-volunteer group dedicated to saving Rhodesian Ridgebacks from the chains of indiscriminate breeding.
My most recent Ridgebacks were active in the sport of lure coursing. In 2012, they were introduced to straight racing and did well with that after learning to wear the muzzle. My current single resident is 12-year-old Mardi. We frequently have foster dogs and boarding regulars to keep life interesting.
Since 2017 my focus has been on rescue and I serve as state coordinator for Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue, Inc. National Capital Region covering Maryland and West Virginia. I also cover Pennsylvania for the Mid-Atlantic Region.
CBARRC has been a part of my life since its inception in the 90s. I have served previously as secretary and president.
I was introduced to ridgebacks in 1996. I was living in San Antonio, Texas when I went to a local dog show looking to add a dog to our family. As a lifelong horse owner, I was fascinated by the similarity in the RR and equine athleticism and personality. My husband and I first added a ridgeback to our family in 1997. When we moved to Northern Virginia in 1999, I joined CBARRC and began to volunteer for Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue as their Board Treasurer.
I started with a male RR from a RRCUS Texas breeder, then added a female from a RRCUS Michigan breeder. We took a short break after the death of this pair then added our current male from a RRCUS Ohio breeder and finally a female from a RRCUS New Mexico breeder. While we have shown all our ridgebacks, we found we all (dogs especially) enjoyed lure coursing and spent many years traveling to local and non-local coursing events.
We and our dogs are all retired but still travel annually to the Rhodesian Ridgeback National Specialty to volunteer for rescue and catch up with other RR friends we have met along our almost 30 years in ridgebacks.
I live in Leesburg, Virginia and continue to use my CPA experience to volunteer for Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue, Inc and CBARRC as Board Treasurer. I love to travel with (and sometimes without) my current ridgebacks, Reilly and Brooklyn
Pat Wieland was introduced to Ridgebacks in the 1990s and has been owned by them ever since. Her Ridgebacks have been successful both in the conformation ring and on the lure coursing field, has bred a few Ridgeback litters over the years, and has also shared her household with Golden Retrievers and Smooth Fox Terriers. Besides CBARRC, Pat is a member of RRCUS, Tortoise & Hare Lure Coursing Club, Mason Dixon Lure Coursing Club, Upper Chesapeake Bay Saluki Club, and Golden Retriever Club of US.
Outside of Ridgebacks, Pat lives in Thomasville, PA with her husband, has two grown children, and attended Virginia Tech University, obtaining a BS in Animal Science. Pat is active in her church and has sung with the adult choir for over 20 years. Pat and her husband love the beach and spend each summer at their family home in Eastham, Cape Cod. Pat is retired from being a customer service representative for a box company but has recently completed the Project Management Course curriculum at Penn State, York Campus.
I joined the CBARRC Board in 2017, having owned ridgebacks since the early 2000s. I was first introduced to the breed in the 1990s through a friend and immediately fell in love with the dog’s combination of athleticism, loyalty, and love of sleeping on couches (or anywhere). I currently have three ridgebacks – Zephyr (DC Mahaba’s Monkey Business, SC, CA, FITG, TKN, CGC, ET(2), TDI), Celeste (Keniba’s Celestial Queen, CA, CGC, TKN, FITB, ET), and Tugger (Springridge Supermoon’s Till It Shines, CGC, TKN). I discovered CBARRC through Bonnie Louden’s welcoming attitude while getting involved in lure coursing with Zephyr several years ago and am pleased to now be able to serve the organization and its members through the Board.
Outside of CBARRC, I currently work at Habitat for Humanity and have served as a partner in a van conversion business (Road Dog Vans) focused on designing and converting vans for dog owners. Prior to launching Road Dog Vans, I worked for approximately 20 years as an executive and lawyer in the consulting and emergency management industry. Finally, for approximately 20 years, I served in various board positions, including President, and as a volunteer master firefighter/emergency medical technician for a metropolitan Washington, D.C. fire/rescue department.
I have owned Ridgebacks since 1991. My first dog “ Benny “ was bred by Lisa Hoffman and John Arvin. We had many fun wins and I was hooked. My first litter was in 1997 and I started breeding under the Whirlaway kennel name. Christine Kitsch later joined the kennel and we produced over 50 champions with quite a few ending up in the final lineup at our National Specialties. . My children have grown so I
have been able to explore more activities with my dogs such as Nose work and Lure coursing. I am an AKC licensed judge, regular status for Ridgebacks and permit for 6 other hounds. My goal is to be able to judge the entire Hound Group.
I joined CBARRC a few years ago and was elected to the Board of Directors last year. CBARRC is a very special club. By welcoming and having activities for all Ridgeback owners, we encourage responsible dog ownership to further the goal of making wonderful ambassadors for the breed. I am also proud of the support CBARRC has provided to The RRCUS Rescue mission.
I first learned about ridgebacks in 2015 when my now-husband finally agreed we could get a puppy. He wanted a dog who could run with him, and I was excited to finally get a dog, any dog! Well, our first ridgeback, Atlas from Rollings Ridgebacks, was a little too lazy to keep up with Scott but we absolutely fell in love with the breed. Atlas opened up a whole new world for me.
We attended our first CBARRC Fun Day when he was a puppy, where he showed us he was also a little too lazy for lure coursing, but I met the most welcoming group of people and all their wonderful dogs. I am lucky to call many of them friends now! A few years later when we were ready to add another ridgeback, I agreed with my breeder Emmy Crowder to show her in conformation…and I was HOOKED! Together, Io (CH Roaring Fork To The Mooooon and Back SC CA DCAT CGC TKN ET2) and I have explored nearly every venue of performance together, including lure coursing, obedience, tracking, and now we are learning agility too. I look forward to doing all these things and more with her daughter, Artemis!
I have been involved with and supported Ridgeback Rescue for several years. I look forward to serving on the CBARRC board and hope that we can continue to foster a strong, supportive community of ridgeback enthusiasts, while promoting our wonderful breed and supporting rescue.