Mrs. Liz Harrell, the grand lady of the Akita world, has crossed
the Rainbow Bridge and joined her late husband, Al, and all of her beloved Akita
Tani, reg. dogs. Liz Harrell was one of the founders of the Akita Club of
America in 1956, and her name and signature are on the incorporation papers of
the club. She and her late husband Al also organized what came to be known as
the Akita Rescue Society of America in 1976. She served several terms as ACA
president and other ACA offices. She was the first "real" Akita
breeder to use line breeding and inbreeding to "set" her Akita Tani,
reg. type of Akita. The renowned Akita Tani kennel name is found in
the pedigree many of the great dogs and kennels from the 1950's on through the
1980's.
Liz and Al Harrell were founding members of the Akita Club of
America in 1956, and each has their name and signaturer on the incorporation
papers of the club. Each served many years as officers guiding the breed and the
club. In recognition of her service to the Akita breed and club, Liz was elected
as an Honorary Life Member of the Akita Club of America in 2000 and the Raritan
River Akita Club in 1980. In the days before the Akita was admitted to the
miscellaneous class, Liz and Al would drive their station wagon with Akitas to
dog shows and walk around the parking lots, to give the Akita breed exposure to
the dog fancy. Liz Harrell was a lady of keen intelligence, acumen and strong
opinions. The Akita Tani kennel name was registered by the AKC in 1956. Akita
Tani's Shoyo-Go was the first Akita to be seen on the front page of a major dog
magazine DOG WORLD in 1966. Liz was the Akita columnist for Northern Dog News
magazine for ten years. Liz lead a technical seminar on the breeding of Akitas
at the ACA national specialty dog shows in 1983 and in San Diego, CA. on Oct.
14, 1998 (photo above), when the ACA celebrated its 25th year of full AKC
recognition.
In the 1970's, after the Akita breed admittance to full AKC
recognition and the unfortunate population explosion of the Akita breed, it was
Liz and Al Harrell that volunteered space at their Akita Tani kennels for
homeless Akitas and organized what came to be known as the Akita Rescue Society
of America, the national rescue for the Akita breed in 1977. ARSA grew to
several chapters throughout the United States and became the role model for the
other national breed rescues and other Akita Rescue groups that followed.
Liz was a knowledgeable and experienced dog breeder, who learned
from other experienced dog breeders in other breeds and applied those lessons to
her famous Akita Tani dogs. Akita Tani dogs are found in the background of some
of the major Akita breeders since the 1960's. Liz would willingly share her
Akita knowledge with any Akita person.
The Akita world was a better place for having the presence of
Liz Harrell.
Liz had celebrated her 79th birthday several months ago. She had
several elderly Akitas that will taken care of.
Elizabeth R. Harrell ... "A life worth living"
February 13, 1922 to June 20, 2001
Back