NWRRC MEMBER PROFILES

CURRENT FEATURED PROFILE

Jennie & Joe Piott

Lifetime Members

Jennie (Jeanette) and Joe Piott, of Kuwinda Rhodesian Ridgebacks, joined the NWRRC in late 1989, just after the Club was formed. In fact, they were at the very first Club meeting. We all owe the two of them a great deal, especially regarding their contributions to Ridgebacks and lure coursing, as Joe was one of the very earliest enthusiasts and advocated for our breed competing in Lure Coursing as an AKC recognized event!  Our Club honored them a few years ago with a Lifetime Membership.

Not too long ago, I had the pleasure of speaking with the delightful Jennie Piott. I got to learn a lot more about her and Joe, who passed away in 2022. I was also able to learn more about both of the Piotts and their Kuwinda Rhodesian Ridgebacks through the comments, contributions, and background from Club Members Marykay Ligocki, Betsy Metcalf, Kathy Thompson, and Rosalie Sterner. I thank each of them for contributing.

Jennie (Jeanette) Piott, with one of her beloved Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Anna, GCHB DC KUWINDA'S TATUAGGIO DELLA ROSA SC

Background:

Jennie grew up in Indiana and met Joe through a Methodist church youth group. After completing her degree in Economics at Indiana University, Jennie and Joe moved to Washington so Joe could get his PhD in Physics from the University of Washington. Jennie worked for the State of Washington in the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Joe ended his career with Boeing after having worked in academia. They lived on a 10-acre property in Puyallup and had two daughters, both of whom still reside in Washington.

Ridgebacks:

“Joe heard about Rhodesian Ridgebacks and was immediately enthralled,” says Jennie. “We went down to a dog show at the Seattle Center and decided we had to find one for ourselves. Our first Ridgeback, Rusty, came from a breeder we happened to find… but our second Ridgeback, Rafiki, DC WARIDI'S AMINI RAFIKI MC, came from breeders Shirley Wait and Noel Brittenham [note: Karen McClelland’s mother – Karen’s kennel is Hataki Ridgebacks]. Rafiki was our foundation bitch.”

“Joe had a friend that had coursing equipment so Joe went and picked it up because we thought it would be a wonderful thing for our dogs to do. We had 10 acres so set it up and let our dogs use it. We then got the newly formed NWRRC involved.”  The rest, they say, is history.

I also reached out to a few other Club members for their comments and memories about Jennie and Joe:

Marykay Ligocki: “Rafiki, DC Waridi’s Amini Rafiki MC, Arthur, CH Kuwinda’s Diamond Rhodes, and Anna, GCHB DC Kuwinda’s Tatuaggio Della Rosa SC, were all very successful in conformation. Rafiki and Anna also did very well in lure coursing. Coursing was one of Joe’s biggest passions. He was one of the people responsible for getting RRs approved to lure course in ASFA and AKC. He and Jennie supplied most of our lure coursing equipment out of their own pockets (used for NWRRC trials). Joe maintained the equipment and hauled it to all of the events. Jennie often took care of hospitality at those events and frequently did supported entry for RRs at local shows. Joe and Jennie were early members of both the NWRRC and Western WA hound clubs. They were also RRCUS members for many years.”

Joe Piott shown on the left coursing one of he and Jennie’s Kuwinda RRs

Betsy Metcalf: “Rafiki was a great lure courser and I remember her well. According to POST, Rafiki had 14 pups with titles. Another Kuwinda DC was born in 2005, Kuwinda’s Golden Boot, and she had 2 titled offspring. Joe loved to show his own dogs even when he was older. He was an early lure coursing enthusiast. He had a small trailer and a 4x4, which was important in those days because we did drag lures.”

Joe Piott loved to show his and Jennie’s RRs

Rosalie Sterner: “We held our first formal meeting as a Club at the library near the

Monroe fairgrounds and the Piotts were at that meeting. Joe and Jennie were very active in showing their dogs and were very supportive of the club. I know Jennie served as Secretary for a couple of years. They attended almost all of the club meetings and playdays. They were very faithful to the breed.”

Kathy Thomspon: “We probably wouldn’t have lure coursing like we do if it wasn’t for them. Joe was also great at the legalese and details of our club rules, but keeping the coursing equipment maintained and bringing it to all the trials, setting up and tearing down, was where Joe really shone. Jennie always made sure the food was great and plentiful! They also really loved their dogs, of course. When I think of Jennie and Joe, I am reminded of their generosity with the club and their obvious enjoyment in whatever was going on.”

Towards the end of my conversation with Jennie, I asked her what she liked the most about our breed. “They really pick up on how you’re feeling,” she said. “I love that they’re so affectionate, and also that they’re protective without being aggressive.” Jenny ended our conversation with an unsolicited, spontaneous comment about her Lifetime Membership in the NWRRC. “I am still so honored with our lifetime membership – it was so nice of the Club and something I will always treasure.”

Thank you, Jennie and Joe, for your tremendous contributions to our Club.