Page 27 - JRT Magazine - 2023 Issue 2

Please introduce yourself and your kennel to with them. So, when my Granny gave me Molly for
our readers. my 40th birthday, it was a dream becoming true.
Hello Russell Terrier fans, my name is Monica The rest is history. That day I decided to become
Maria Teresa Fonzo. I’m actually a doctor. a breeder; no other breeds were even considered.
I’ve been practicing for 32 years as a dentist, Jack Russell terriers were THE BREED.
specialising in Orthodontics. I studied at the
University of Turin for 10 years (dental school What made you want to become a dog breeder?
+ PhD in Orthodontics), where I met Dr Luca Approaching my 40s, we realized that my
Villa who became the man of my life. Luca was contribution to the dental practice was not enough,
already living in Pollone, where he grew up and we decided to undertake the restoration of
since a child and he literally stole me from Turin, our small “village” by adding various agricultural
my hometown, to bring me to the mountains. activities, such as a plants nursery, beekeeping,
We bought an old house in Pollone, Frazione hospitality as a B&B, and…. breeding Russells!
Chiavolino, and raised 4 children (3 girls and a
boy). We raised them up in the ‘wilderness’, with How did you get introduced to the world of
no TV, no Mobiles, no PlayStation, no Gameboy-- showing and breeding?
only dogs, cats, trees to climb to reach a little My first JRT, Molly, didn’t have any pedigree, but
house on top, hiking, skiing, and all that nature at that time in Italy it was possible to get her
was offering in the neighbourhood. As mother recognized as a JRT and registered with the ENCI
of 4 kids, I never invested much time in working (National Canine Club of Italy) RSR (supplement
as a dentist. Fortunately, Luca was running his registration). So, we did, and this is the way I got
father’s practice, and so I could be as free as involved with the dog shows my first time.
possible to combine working and being a mother. As soon as I realized that breeding dogs was
During this time, we slowly purchased all parts of considered an agricultural activity, I came home
Frazione Chiavolino.

All Jacks Kennel has been recognized
by FCI since the end of October 2010,
just in time for our first two litters to
be born. I was in partnership with
Olaf Garetta at that time. But in 2012
Olaf decided to move to Russia as an
entrepreneur and he signed off
on our partnership, leaving
me all dogs and bitches. I
had to rehome some of his
dogs and bitches because Frazione
they were not getting Chiavolino
along well with mine,
and I started again with
new dogs from Denmark,
Sweden, Russia, adding these to
our keepers from the first All Jacks litters.

Why did you choose to own this breed?
I didn’t choose this breed, but this breed
chose me. My Granny owned two tricolor
Jack Russells, Romeo and Giulietta, when
I was kid. All of us grandkids were in love

A Worldwide Magazine for the Jack Russell Terrier / Russell Terrier • Issue 2/2023 | 27