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A History of the Neapolitan Mastiff Breed in the United States
The Neapolitan Mastiff has been documented as being in the United States at least since the early 1970's, although it is believed that individual dogs were brought over with their families all during the great waves of immigration which started in the 1880's and continued into the first half of the 20th Century.
The USNMC historical archives has the Italian Pedigree papers on a blue male, Ercole Di Miranopoli, imported in 1973 by Ms. Jane Pampalone from Paolo Testa. These papers provide the earliest verifiable documentation of a purebred Neapolitan Mastiff being imported into the United States. In addition, we have a copy of an ad taken out in the New York Times in 1973, which offers a "Neapolitan Mastiff -- Italian Bulldog, 6 wks, big boned, male / females. Excellent temperament." which shows that someone else had also begun to breed and sell Neo's.
The Neapolitan Mastiff Club of America (NMCA) was formed around 1973 by Michael A. Sottile, Sr. who became and remained president of this organization. Mr. Sottile and his family imported Neapolitan Mastiffs, bred many wonderful dogs, and converted many people into lovers of the Neapolitan Mastiff as well as educated many new fans of this breed. The NMCA ran a registry of pedigrees for the Neapolitan Mastiff in this country, and kept pedigrees, lineage, and ownership information for most, if not virtually all Neapolitans in the country at that time.
Mr. Sottile died in November of 1994. His influence on the progress and status of the breed in this country is recognized by all true breed aficionados. His son, Michael A. Sottile, Jr. has taken over the operations of the NMCA registry.
Around 1990 there were several movements across the country to form alternative clubs and registries to the NMCA. Sometime in 1990, the American Neapolitan Mastiff Association was formed, centered in Quinlan, Texas. The ANMA ceased its registry operations January 1, 1999.
After many meetings and planning sessions by many people in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania area, the United States Neapolitan Mastiff Club was formed in late 1990, and began operations. The USNMC was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1991.
The Neapolitan Mastiff population in this country has grown steadily. We estimate that at this time, there are over 6000 living dogs across the USA, with the greatest populations being along the Eastern Seaboard, from New York, through Pennsylvania and New Jersey, down through both Carolinas, and into Florida.
Neapolitan Mastiff entered the AKC effective July 1, 2004
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