Meet the Breeds

Meet the Breeders

t to know the people behind the pets

At Meet the Breeds™, you'll get to meet breeders of every AKC and CFA breed, and they'll be available to advise your family on the perfect pet for your lifestyle. Learn about the hallmarks of a responsible breeder.

Here's a quick introduction to some of the people who have dedicated their lives to raising healthy, happy pets and who you can meet at Meet the Breeds.

Sheryl Shaker
Border Terrier and Portuguese Water Dog Breeder/Enthusiast

A longtime Portuguese water dog and Border terrier enthusiast, Sheryl Shaker and her Border terrier "Maya" will be greeting the public at the Border terrier booth. A member of the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America and Border Terrier Club of America, Sheryl has competed in conformation, obedience and earthdog trials with her dogs. She is also a certified Canine Good Citizen evaluator.

After growing up with poodles, Sheryl obtained her first Portuguese water dog (PWD) in 1983 after looking for another breed that did not shed, in deference to her parents' allergies. Her dog "Calvin" was the first PWD registered by the AKC after the breed was accepted into the Working Group; Calvin's grandfather was from the first Portuguese water dog litter whelped in the United States. Since there were only 600 PWDs in the world at the time, owners were encouraged to keep their dogs intact to save the breed from extinction. Twenty-five years later, Sheryl's current PWD "Blue" is a descendant of her first dog.

Sheryl and her daughter attended Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 1999, where her daughter fell in love with the Border terrier. After educating herself about the breed and much pleading, her daughter convinced Sheryl that the breed would fit in well with their family, so they obtained their first Border, "Sky." Sky's daughter "Maya," who loves meeting people, will be greeting visitors at Meet the Breeds. A true terrier, Border terriers have the "hard wiring" that makes them independent—they entertain themselves and will work without instruction from their master. Although energetic and focused, the breed is calm and quiet in the house—Maya especially enjoys napping in the sun!

Sheryl says, "I think Meet the Breeds is an excellent opportunity for the public to see the full range of AKC recognized purebred dogs, and to learn what the different breeds are like in a relaxed setting. The only other opportunity to meet the full range of breeds would be at a dog show, and very often the participants are distracted by the competition and don't have the time to focus on visitors' questions."

Outside of the dog world, Sheryl was formerly a television producer for CBS News and has recently been doing writing, producing and marketing work for clients including the USA Network (The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show), Best Friends Pet Resort and Kanimals. She has served on the board of non-profit organizations Angel On A Leash and the Connecticut Special Olympics, among others. Sheryl and her dogs have also visited a children's residential psychiatric facility weekly for the past seven years.

Stop by the Border terrier booth to meet Sheryl and Maya and see if the breed is right for you!

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Ted Swedalla
Beagle Breeder/Enthusiast

Ted became involved in dog shows in 1979 when he decided to breed his red and white beagle named Joy. In 1986 he met Terri Giannetti at a dog show where she was showing her beagles. Brought together by their love of dogs, good food and music, Terri and Ted soon merged their lives as well as their beagle broods.

"People say marriage takes work," says Ted. "Well try keeping a wife and a kennel full of dogs happy and you'll see what work really is!"

But Ted says that the effort is well worth the reward since "the dogs help me keep my life in proper perspective. With their naturally upbeat and eager dispositions, beagles make themselves the center of attention and are constantly entertaining us."

In 1995 Ted founded the Beagle Rescue Foundation of America, Inc., which was created to raise money to fund the spay/neuter programs for beagle rescue groups nationwide. To date, it has raised over $130,000 and funded over a thousand spay/neuter procedures.

"During Meet the Breeds I'm looking forward to helping people make the right decision about whether a beagle should be part of their life," adds Ted. "Beagles travel well, have few health issues and if fed, exercised, and vetted correctly, will live well into their teens. They are the fifth most popular breed in the country for a reason, but there is still plenty that you need to know before bringing one into your home."

Ted recently sold his share of a Long Island-based plumbing and heating supply business and has retired. He is now enjoying dog shows and his other hobbies, which include biking, Civil War history and memorabilia, and woodworking.

Meet Ted and his Beowulf beagles, including Luciano (pictured), at the beagle booth at Meet the Breeds.

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Caroline Scott
American Curl Breeder/Enthusiast

Upon meeting her first American Curl in 1986 at The International Cat Association show at Madison Square Garden, Caroline Scott was overcome with affection for this beautiful and unique breed. Since then Caroline and her partner Michael Tucker have been showing and breeding longhair Curls exclusively. They continue to proudly produce both beloved pets and award-winning longhaired Curls through their Manhattan-based Procurl Harem Cattery, which also specializes in the rare blue-eyed colorpoint Curl variety.

Caroline and Michael have introduced the American Curl to Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Poland, England, Malaysia, France, Belgium, Bermuda, and The Netherlands while continuing to enhance the breed's recognition in the U.S.

"Curls make excellent pets for families," says Caroline. "They are a dog-like buddy that will wait for you by the front door each day, attempt to jump into the shower with you and adjust your glasses while trying to snuggle up to your neck as you read. Curls have a gentle, easygoing character and respect existing pets in a new home, so they generally fare well even with dogs."

Caroline is a retired fashion model, having worked with the famous Ford Agency and as a 'house' model for the iconic designer Bill Blass. She currently has her own hat company and her creations have been worn by Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Celine Dion, Wynona Judd, and many others. Music is another of Caroline's talents. She was the lead singer in Lemur and Flamingo, opening many nights for the "Talking Heads" during the 80's punk rock scene. In fact, she was "discovered" by Blass when singing at the famous Manhattan night spot CBGB's.

Meet Caroline and her comedically-named Curls, John Malcurlvich, Oscurl Wilde and Madeleine Curlbright at Meet the Breeds.

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Lauren Castle Flynn
Abyssinian and European Burmese Breeder/Enthusiast

Lauren's love affair with the Abyssinian began when she was just seven and chose a red Abyssinian as her first pet. She immediately knew that she wanted to show and raise these exquisite and intelligent animals. Lauren acquired her first Abyssinian show cat in 1990 and Abycastle Abyssinians, a boutique cattery located in New York City, was born.

Lauren says she laughed aloud and knew all of her years of dedication had paid off the first time someone asked her for an Abyssinian in "Abycastle Red."

"My cats are known for their beautiful vivid red color and exotic look," says Lauren. "In general Abyssinians are outgoing, loving, and confident and make great pets for any family that wants companionship and interaction with their feline family members. I encourage everyone to come out to Meet the Breeds for this exciting weekend."

A lover of art and museums, she lives with her husband John Flynn just a stone's throw from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Lauren has worked as an art broker, has run her own catering business, and is currently working on a book of essays about growing up in New York City. She is also honored to have done fund-raising for The Winn Feline Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting feline research and studies about cat health.

Meet Lauren and two of her beloved Abyssinians, "Razzle" and his baby brother "Jamaicanmecrazy" at the Abyssinian booth.

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Susan Cook Henry
Persian Breeder/Enthusiast

Susan Cook Henry of Warrenton, Virginia, has been involved showing Persian cats under the cattery name "Jadon" since 1965. "Persians have been part of my life since I was born," Susan says. "I suppose it was fate. My mother purchased a Blue Persian as a young girl, while living in London, where her Air Force father and family were stationed after the war. Mom never lost that interest and was introduced to the world of show cats by a friend in 1960. She took me to my first cat show that year, and I was fascinated!"

Susan's father's career in the Air Force kept the family moving, but that never stopped her and her mother Donna from showing cats. Susan, with roadmaps in hand, navigated alongside her mother as they drove many thousands of miles to shows in the far reaches of the United States. Since those early years, the pair have had many wins including Best-in-Show at the famous CFA International "Cat-Minster" show.

Professionally, Susan has been a flight attendant for over 31 years, with more than two-thirds of that time at US Airways, where her fluency in Spanish and French has been very useful. She and her husband, Brent, an architect, have enjoyed traveling to various parts of the world together. During his recent two-year assignment in Doha, Qatar, the couple took advantage of mutual days off to meet in various international locales. A highlight of this time was celebrating Susan's 50th birthday by riding camels along the Persian Gulf! She has been grateful for the travel opportunities and flexible schedules afforded by her career that has given her exceptional access to CFA's world of cats.

"The Persians have been a large part of my life for close to half a century," Susan says. "Their gentle nature and fabulous personalities are so special, and who can resist those sweet faces and gorgeous flowing coats? Persians are wonderful cats for families, and tolerate being carried around by young children. They require quick, daily grooming and face-washing, which takes just minutes. There are also options for clipping the coat for even less maintenance for those "on-the-go" owners. I look forward to sharing my fabulous Persians at 'Meet the Breeds' in October!"

Meet Susan and two of her beautiful Persians, "Joey" and "Chipper," who will model their "lion cuts" at the Persian booth.

Hallmarks of a responsible breeder.

Selecting the right breed for you and then finding a responsible breeder are the first steps you'll take when acquiring a new pet. But what makes someone a responsible breeder? Use the following tips to identify breeders who have the best interests of dogs and cats, and your family, in mind.

Joining the Club – Is the breeder a member of a national or local dog club? AKC Breed parent clubs as well as local clubs will often have a breeding Code of Ethics that members are required to follow. CFA-recognized breeds have Breed Councils. Membership allows breeders to stay up-to-date on health and educational information related to their specific breed of cat.
Meet the Parents – Have you been able to verify that the breeder properly cares for the parents of the pet you're considering by providing veterinary care, exercise, high-quality food, and a clean and stimulating living environment? Will the puppies and kittens have their shots before coming to live with you? Have they been exposed to plenty of people and situations to ensure proper socialization?
Bringing Home A Best Friend – A good breeder will ask you lots of questions about your home, your family, and your ability to properly care for a pet. He or she will want to make absolutely certain that you will take excellent care of your pet and may ask many questions of you and others who will be caring for your new dog or cat. A responsible breeder takes every possible measure to place their pets in loving, caring homes so the animals live long, happy and healthy lives. They will let you know that they'll be available throughout your pet's life to provide guidance and answer questions.

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