Working together toward a better breed.
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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 Sherri got her first terrier in 1973, a conformationally incorrect dog with the imaginative name of "Jack," but the courage of a lion, which opened the world of the Jack Russell to her. In 1995, she joined the JRTCA and became actively involved in hunting, showing, and breeding her terriers. She was a member of the JRTCA's Breeder's committee, and is a Washington state representative for the club, as well as a Go-To-Ground judge. In 1999, one of her best working and show terriers was diagnosed with Primary Lens Luxation (PLL) and had to have both eyes removed. Finding a marker for this devastating disease is her goal. Sherri currently serves as the Vice-Chairman for the JRTRF.
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 My love of the Jack Russell developed about nine years ago when I purchased my first "real" terrier, Raven. I became a member of the JRTCA and have been involved in showing and various activities with them ever since. I enjoy digging in and learning how to improve my dogs well being as much as our dogs love digging into quarry. I am excited to be part of the Research Foundation and hope to be able to assist the Foundation in reaching its goals.
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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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