The Jack Russell Terrier Research Foundation
Board of Directors
 Debbie has been involved with Jack Russells since 1983, serving as vice chairman of the JRTCA Breeders Committee and on the JRTCA Trial Committee. As a breeder she became concerned about genetic disease when she produced cerebellar ataxia in 1993. She started the first genetic research, for Jack Russell Terrier cerebellar ataxia, at the University of GA in 1994, and continues to support ataxia research today through funding and education.
She has served on the board of directors for the Jack Russell Terrier Research Foundation for five years. In 2003 she served as vice chairman and was elected Chairman in 2004. "Research is my passion, and helping find genetic markers for our beloved terrier, is my goal".
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 I was a Biology major and taught high school science beginning in 1992, following that I began working as a middle school counselor which is still my career today.
My parents bought their first Jack Russell when I was in college ( hard to believe that was 20 years ago). A small but correct little smooth coat named Mel, who kept the rats out of the barn. My first attempt in the JRTCA show ring was in 2003- my pup won a 6th place ribbon and I was hooked ever since. My first experience with genetic conditions associated with the terriers was when my foundation bitch was diagnosed with juvenile cataracts. I was very upset, but determined to learn as much as possible about the genetic issues facing our breed so I could make informed breeding decisions. I am very pleased to be working with the foundation and hope that my small contribution will be of assistance to the mission to preserve the genetic health of the Jack Russell Terrier.
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 I have worked for 35 years for Social Security Disability. I have been married for 35 years and have one grown daughter. I got started in the Jack Russell's through a friend. She gave my husband an older bitch who was bred. The bitch whelped and had one puppy with mega esophagus. I had spent so much time with him that when she told me to keep a puppy, of course I kept him. He was really a misfit but a great dog. I feel in love with his personality and after some time realized the dogs and I might share some similar personality traits. One of my first litters produced 2 affected puppies for cataracts and I was devastated. In learning about the Research Foundation from Debbie Johnson, I thought there would be hope that in the future, others won't have to go through what I and many others have gone through. I appreciate this opportunity and I'm looking forward to it.
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 My first jack russell was a wedding gift from my husband. She was born a week before our wedding and had the image of a tornado on her forehead. Twister Cleo is lacking in several aspects of conformation, but she has introduced me to a completely new world of which I am now fully engulfed. I enjoy attending trials with my terriers and this little white dog has introduced me to some of my very closest friends. I find, however, I'm most relaxed, at peace, and in tune with my terriers when I'm out in the field hunting with them. I graduated from attending fun days and trial to hosting an annual JRTCA trial, the Cowboy Classic Terrier Trials. Since the inception of the trials, some sort of fundraising has been done for research. We plan to continue that tradition. I am married to a wonderful man that works as a State Trooper and I work as a coal miner to fund my terrier adventures. We currently share our home in Wyoming with 6 jack russells, a geriatric black lab, a geriatric Highway Hound, and 3 horses.
Through the years, I've grown more and more attached to this entire breed and I've come to find research into genetic disorders something that very naturally became priority for me. I'm pleased to be able to take a more hands on role with the foundation and look forward to a day when we have tests for the genetic disorders that plague our beloved little white terriers.
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Working together toward a better breed.
