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Successful breeding programs
are imperative to the Program's
mission. Small population management calls for a
cooperative effort between hosts of the dogs, breeders
of Apsos - both Gompa Lhasa Apsos and modern Lhasa Apsos
- and general fanciers of the breed.
Breeders are working together
with hosts and fellow breeders,
developing pods of dogs in different parts of the USA.
Each
breeder believes the genetic lineage should be
perpetuated; the Gompa dogs have traits worth
maintaining and a history that should be preserved. It
is important to realize that the rescue of this lineage
is an ongoing project, a work in progress.
The
Kennel Without Walls is a unique approach; individuals
host a dog, or dogs, in their home where they become a
cherished member of the family and yet available to
participate in the Program for tracking purposes and/or
for breeding.
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Cecile W. Clover -
Lotus
Cecile is
a highly respected art restoration expert who has
dedicated her life to preservation efforts. She is the
author of Holsinger's Charlottesville,
Documenting Your Possessions and To Have and To
Hold as well as numerous articles on her hometown,
Charlottesville, and Albemarle County. As a conservator of
fine art, she has been involved in projects both locally
and abroad for over thirty years.
Her interest in preservation extends to preserving the heritage of Tibetan culture, and her
contributions to the current health and welfare of the
Gompa Lhasa Apsos have been many and are ongoing. It was
through Cecile’s effort and creativity that the Gompa
Lhasa Apsos arrived in the United States, and it was
through her ingenuity that the Kennel Without Walls
concept was developed and successfully implemented.
She is intrigued by the
spiritual aspect of these dogs, how it related to life in
monasteries and how it relates in today's world.
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Debby Rothman - Kunza
Debby has been a breeder of distinction for over
30 years with more than 80 champion Lhasa Apsos through
her
Fleetfire Kennel to her credit.
In addition, Debby has achieved worldwide recognition for
her publications and expertise regarding Renal Dysplasia. With her deep
knowledge of the Lhasa Apso breed, standard breeding
approaches, leading-edge information regarding DNA testing
and small population management programs she is uniquely
qualified to make breeding decisions based on a
comprehensive set of criteria. She guides breeding
decisions for the overall population, as well as her Kunza
breeding program.
She houses the largest
number of Gompa dogs,
at one location,
in
her
Kunza Kennel located at 9000'
elevation, next to Arapaho National Forest, in the Colorado Rockies.
Gompa Kunza is named after Debby's AKC Fleetfire Kennel....kunza meaning, in
Tibetan, fire.
The dogs thrive in a
high-quality kennel environment with a carefully prepared
diet, lots of exercise and high levels of socialization.
Debby, a certified Veterinary Technician, owns Mountain
Pet Grooming in Evergreen, Colorado. She has been a
long-standing and very active member of the Lhasa Apso
Club of Central Colorado and currently serves on the
Breeders Education Committee of the American Lhasa Apso
Club.
As part of her
interest, she presents the dogs in
educational programs so fanciers, exhibitors and breeders
are made aware of these unique dogs that provide a bridge
to the past.
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