Chirico's Chestnut Ridge Kennel - The VIP page . . .


helping me develop an interest and passion for the sport of hunting with hounds over the last 25 years. I will forever be grateful to these people and hope I can do the same for others in the future. ~ Michael Chirico	1982 photo: me at sixteen on opening day of coon season at my friend Greg Bennett's farm. We treed six coon that night one was 28 lbs.

Mom & Dad

I don’t know what else to say except that I was lucky to have them both. They supported me in all my outdoor interests. They really didn’t understand how I found these interests but none the less they supported them.

Thanks Mom & Dad you did a great job

Dewayne & Kitty Brough

I purchased my first Redbone coonhound at age fourteen from Dewayne. I called him PR Kentucky Shilo. I can’t tell you how much fun I had with that hound. He was a straight cooner with a hell of a mouth and a nose to. He simple was the best pure coonhound I ever owned. I want to thank Dewayne and Kitty for being so patient and helpful to a fourteen-year-old boy.

Chuck & Janet Struble

Janet was always willing to talk dogs with me and offer some very good tips on showing. She was always pleasant and gave me all the time I wanted to talk about hounds. To this day I still see Chuck and Janet at many of the local events. Chuck is a well-respected bench show judge and a region representative of the New York State Hounds men Association. Thank you Chuck and Janet

Mariano, Antoinette, Paul and Elizabeth Chirico

My brothers and sisters had no idea what coon hunting was but they knew I needed a special light to do it with. So at Christmas they all pitched in and bought me a brand new Kohler Wheat Light. Over the next 12 years they all in some way helped me and encouraged me in the sport. To my family thank you I love you all.

Aunt Ann & Uncle Dom

At first I didn’t know enough about showing dogs and became discouraged after losing a couple events. My aunt and Uncle were at the house one Saturday morning and urged me to give it another try. They insisted that I try again and try that day. There was a show about three hours away that day. They said load the dog we are going to win. Well we drove and I showed and yes, I won. The real story here is not me it’s my aunt and uncle. They are an amazing story of human spirit and will that I have admired my whole life.

Their story has helped shape part of my life and I can’t thank them enough.

Doug Robinson

Doug and I spoke quite a bit on the phone when I was a kid. He is one of the nicest people I have ever met. Doug sold me a real nice hound named GRCH PR ROBY”S SMOKE. Smoke was a great hound with plenty of personality. He was a great pup trainer and if I knew anything about nite hunts he would’ve easily made grnite. Doug and I still hunt together and attend competitions.

Thanks Doug you have been a great friend for many years.

Gregg Bennett (left) and me.

Greg Bennett & Paul Chirico

These two guys are the one’s I spent most of my time with hunting as a kid. We have had some great times and I will always have fond memories of all the hunts we went on together.

My brother Paul with Shilo

Joe Rozsa

My nephew has been my hunting partner for the last three years and we have had many a good night. Joe was great he was always pushing me to go to the woods. This past year I lost Joe to work and girls. The good news is I have replaced him with his younger brother Jesse. Jesse really loves the sport and we are working together towards youth hunts.

Michael Chirico

He is my five-year-old son and my inspiration to continue in the sport. I hope he will enjoy the sport as much as I do, and spend time with me in the woods, as he gets older.

Kim Chirico

My wife and best friend, although she is not big on coon hunting. She realizes how much I love the dogs and the sport. So she puts up with barking hounds, me in the woods, hunting clubs and competitions on the weekends. She will even take care of hounds when I work late. In return I put up with her housedog Itchy the beagle. He listens only to her, follows her and cries for her when she leaves the house. Itch is probably the best housedog I have ever seen and a great playmate for my son.

Rob & Katina Childers

Those folks are some of the most thoughtful unselfish people I have ever met. They are dedicated to their family and their dogs. They have helped me many times over the last four years and I appreciate all they have done for me.

Thanks Rob & Kat