From the Buffalo News, Outdoors Section, June 12, 2007

Hunting dogs /By Will Elliott

Chirico’s love of
hounds a classic tale

Mike Chirico likes hound dogs.

Chirico’s attachment to his three redbone hounds may have him living the latter-day, north-country version of that classic dog story, “Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls.

The novel tells of 10-year-old Billy Coleman, who lives in the Ozark Mountains during the Depression Era. His love for coon hunting dogs has him buy two dogs that hunt raccoons with such skill that they go on to win show and hunt prizes before their tragic deaths while killing a mountain lion.

Above: Mike Chirico shares his lifelong love hunting dogs with his nephew Jesse Rozas, left, and his son Mike as they enjoy the company of redbone hounds Echo, Daisy and Soda.

Most children somewhere between fourth and eighth grade have read the tale of their burial on a hillside and the red fern that grows between the graves of Old Dan and Little Ann.

On the way to Chirico’s Chestnut Ridge Kennels in Orchard Park, he said, “I must have read that book 100 times.” He recounted how he, at 42, has lived a northern sequel to the fictional dog story.

If Billy Coleman spent his childhood in Western New York, he may have gone on to live a life quite similar to Chirico. In the novel, Billy sells fruits to get enough money for his grandfather to buy his first two hounds. Chirico works as a food broker, a trade he learned from his dad. Today, he specializes in avocado sales.

His humble beginnings as a youthful hound hunter closely parallel the novel’s plot.

“I worked as a Buffalo Evening News carrier and saved up $250 to buy a redbone,” he said of his first hound. A hunting dog that cost $250 seems remarkable for a 14-year old in 1979, but even more outstanding in this purchase was that he had not let his parents know that he had contacted a breeder in Oak Harbor, near Sandusky, Ohio, and bought a redbone hound named Shiloh.

“Mom was used to the noise of five kids around in an Italian household, but dad was harder to convince [when Shiloh arrived],” Chirico said. “I think dad was impressed that I saved up so much money to get the dog, and I know he secretly loved dogs anyway,” he said of his father’s reaction and eventual acceptance of the noise, feeding and care chores.

As for the noise, hound owners today can buy bark-eliminator collars.

“This way, you keep the family and nearby neighbors happy,” he quipped.

His dog’s arrival departed from the novel’s plot line, but much of the rest of Chirico’s dog doings replicate what Coleman might have done later in life as a Western New Yorker.

Chirico’s hounds have won more prizes over the past 28 years than can be accurately counted on a wall of his kennel. More than 50 plaques, statues and ribbons cover one wall, with numerous, recent major winnings kept inside the house.

His current family of hounds consists of a mother, Daisy, 5 years old; father, Echo, 4, and daughter, Soda, 4. All hold at least two or more championship standings.

“When [hound] dogs attain three or four championships, they may sell for $3,000 to $4,000,” he said, “and I’ve heard of some going for more than $15,000 with the right papers and winnings.”

Not all dogs in the Chirico household take to the hunt.

“I got a beagle we named ‘Itchy’ six years ago and thought I’d do some rabbit hunting. But he ended up strictly a house pet,” Chirico grinned as he petted Itchy, who is friendly and likes to hang around the redbone hounds.

When not on the road for business or afield hunting with his hounds, Chirico serves as a contest judge for redbones and other hunting-dog breeds.

“On the bench and in field trials, judges look for configuration, standards of looks and stance, for each breed,” he noted.

Everything from Walkers, to black-and-tans to Plott hounds may show up for these contests.

The next scheduled event at Cattaraugus County Houndsmen & Conservation Club offers a great opportunity to see a variety of hounds on show and in action.

The bench show begins at 5 p.m., with a field trial at 7 and night hunt starting at 9 on June 23 on club grounds 4.5 miles south of Route 39 on Route 240 in West Valley. For details on this event, call Joel Nicholas (378-1832).

To check out this event and other West Valley Houndsmen Club activities, go to: www.westvalleyhc.com. For a view of Chirico’s Chestnut Ridge Kennels, go to: www.ccrkennel.com.