A Little About Me…
My name is Kevin Carroll. I grew up in a small village just outside Limerick City in the southwest of Ireland. I moved to the USA in 2012, and I am now a dual citizen of Ireland and the USA. Growing up, I was fascinated by society and its interaction with the environment. As a result, I studied Environmental Science, and I am now a Physical Scientist with the United States Air Force. I enjoy caring for my dogs, hiking, and literature,
I grew up with many different breeds. My parents owned Norwegian Elkhounds and were active Pomeranian breeders so my love for spitz and primitive breeds stems from childhood. As a teenager, I dedicated every spare minute I had as a dog groomer while also volunteering for a local animal shelter.
My passion and dedication to the Japanese Akitainu began 20+ years ago. My father showed interest in the breed and purchased a brindle male from the only breeder in Ireland at the time. That dog quickly sparked a passion in me that exists to this day.
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During my time presenting the breed at dog shows across Ireland, I was asked to be one of the founding committee members of the Akita Association of Ireland which still exists today. I also owned the first ever BIS winning and Group winning Akitainu at an FCI Show in Ireland. Shortly after, life swept me up and I found myself in North America....
Today, I am actively involved in the dog sport scene internationally. I am currently a member of the AKC Breed Parent Club & Buffalo Kennel Club locally. I am also a member of the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) given our proximity to the border. I started off judging for FCI in Ireland & now, I am the only Akitainu licensed conformation judge in the USA through the United Kennel Club (UKC) & AKC. I have judged dog shows in 8 countries worldwide & in many states/provinces in the USA & Canada. I am also a licensed Canine Good Citizen (AKC) Evaluator & SPOT (UKC) temperament test evaluator. I am both proud & honored to be a part of the Japanese Akitainu breed journey in North America. Things are changing fast & now more than ever; we need educated preservationists committed to safeguarding this breed for the right reasons.
Why Name My Kennel "Yakumo Sou"
As mentioned above, I have a passion for literature. Who better to inspire my kennel name than writer Patrick Lafcadio Hearn. He was raised in Ireland by his father’s family as Patrick Hearn; but is better known to the rest of Europe and the USA as Lafcadio Hearn. He took up citizenship, married and raised a family as Koizumi Yakumo in Japan. His writings about Japan offered the western world a glimpse into the largely unknown but fascinating culture. That Irish-American-Japanese connection that Hearn lived resonated with me and thus inspired me to name my kennel Yakumo Sou.