It is with deep regret that the Israel Kennel Club announces the death of its Chairman, Mr Eitan Etinger. Mr Etinger passed away in Tel-Aviv on Friday morning November 9th 2012 after losing a short, intense battle with cancer. Mr Etinger had recently celebrated his 60th birthday. He leaves a widow, two married daughters and grandchildren.

Mr Etinger was a highly respected, dynamic Chairman who had completely modernised the IKC since his election as Chairman in 2009. A man of great personal charm, vision and energy, Mr Etinger revitalised every aspect of the IKC, whether it was introducing new computer software to improve its administration or greatly expanding the scope of the IKC’s shows, combining them with shows of other animals and entertainments and so attracting a much greater public to come into contact with pure bred dogs. Mr Etinger also successfully negotiated the various alterations in State Laws concerning tail and ear cropping in order to ease the legal transition concerning these subjects.

Mr Etinger was a working trial judge (IPO) and a founder of the Israel Defense and Rescue Dog Teams, participating himself in rescue missions abroad where Israel’s assistance had been requested.

Mr Etinger came from a very simple background and was obliged to leave school at an early age in order to go to work. He credited his interest in dogs and the Israel Kennel Club with having opened his mind as a young man to the world of literature, business and business administration, so becoming that much admired persona in Israel – the self made man and autodidact. Mr Etinger was a published author in Hebrew and a member of the Israel Writers’ Union.

He will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace.

Israel Kennel Club