Officers and Directors

Diane M Helland, President Ms. Helland has ten years experience in the Finnish Spitz breed including active participation in the American Kennel Club's parent club for the breed. Service to the breed parent club included Chair of the Health and Genetics Committee, Secretary and Treasure as well as other show related positions. As an active breeder of the Finnish Spitz Ms. Helland has studied the health issues associated with the breed and the heritage behind the various lines.

Jillane Kapirin, Vice-President Ms. Kapirin has four years experience in the Finnish Spitz breed including active participation in the American Kennel Club's parent club for the breed. Service to the breed parent club included Chair of the Membership and Audit Committees. As an active owner of the Finnish Spitz Ms. Kapirin has studied the health issues associated with the breed and the heritage behind the various lines.

Sheila Brown, Secretary Ms. Brown has been involved with exhibiting and breeding purebred dogs for more than 30 years. She has owned Finnish Spitz since 1991 and has been actively involved in the American Kennel Club's parent club for the breed since that time. She has served as a board member of the breed parent club, the delegate to the American Kennel Club, President, Treasurer and Secretary as well as show related positions. In addition, Ms. Brown has served in every officer and board position for her local all breed dog club since 1976 and has served as the club's show chair for 28 years.

Mary Jo Wonnacott, Treasurer Ms. Wonnacott has four years experience in the Finnish Spitz breed including work with Finnish Spitz affected with health issues. As a certified respiratory therapist Ms. Wonnacott is well qualified to review health and research policies related to breed medical issues. As an active owner of the Finnish Spitz Ms. Wonnacott has studied the health issues associated with the breed and the heritage behind the various lines.

Dr. Karen Swisher, Director Dr. Swisher has owned and bred purebred dogs her entire life and adopted the Finnish Spitz breed in 2001. Dr. Swisher is board certified in internal medicine and is pursuing a fellowship in oncology as well. She has studied the health issues in the breed and her medical and research training will be invaluable in determining the issues that have most promise for improving the health of the breed.

Leslie Carlson-Elliot, Director Ms. Carlson-Elliot has owned purebred dogs her entire life and adopted the Finnish Spitz breed in 1997. Her involvement has included active participation in the American Kennel Club's parent club for the breed. Service to the breed parent included service as President and Secretary, and Chair of the Rescue committee. In 2004 Ms. Carlson-Elliot founded Finnish Spitz Recue Foundation as a separate organization. She currently serves as President of the successor organization, Finnish Spitz National Rescue Inc. As an active breeder of the Finnish Spitz Ms. Carlson-Elliot has studied the health issues associated with the breed and the heritage behind the various lines.

Dr. Cynthia Hynes, Director Dr. Hynes is a licensed chiropractor who has owned purebred dogs her entire life. Her involvement in dogs has included agility, obedience and conformation. Her chiropractic work involved structural, neurological and musculoskeletal work on impaired dogs for more than 15 years. Dr. Hynes has published various canine health articles. Her knowledge of structural issues will serve the organization in determining the issues that have the most promise for improving the structural issues in the breed.

Joan Grant, Director Ms. Grant was one of the early trailblazers for the breed in North America when she imported Finnish Spitz into Canada in 1974. She immediately began her breeding program with foundation dogs imported from the UK. The health issues in the breed were quickly apparent and Ms. Grant spent many years conducting test breedings in an effort to identify the specific carriers of inheritable genetic diseases and defects. In all she has bred over 400 Finnish Spitz in the last 34 years. She has visited and studied the breed in both the UK and Finland. She recently authored and published a new book entitled "Finnish Spitz-A Closer Look" detailing her experiences with the breed. In addition, Ms. Grant is the organization's liaison with the Canadian Finnish Spitz Club and the Canadian Kennel Club.

Dr. Paul Mason, Director Dr. Mason has a PhD in Veterinary Parasitology from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Dr. Mason has worked as a researcher and scientist in this area for more than 35 years. He is a member of the New Zealand Kennel Club's Inherited Disorders Sub-Committee. Dr. Mason's knowledge of veterinary research will be invaluable in determining canine health research projects that hold the most promise for improving the health of the breed. In addition, Dr. Mason has owned, exhibited and bred Finnish Spitz for more than 35 years.

Inkeri Kangasvuo, Director Ms. Kangasvuo has been in purebred dogs for 36 years. She has studied genetics and microbiology at the University of Finland. She has presented programs on canine genetics to kennel clubs in Finland and currently serves as a breeding consultant to the Finnish Siberian Husky Club and to the Norbotten Spitz breed in Finland. She is Secretary for the Society for Canine Genetic Health and Ethics. In addition, Ms. Kangasvuo is the organization's liaison with the Finnish Spitz Club of Finland and the Finnish Kennel Club.

Dr. Barbara Shelton, DVM Veterinary Consultant Dr. Shelton has agreed to serve as FSHN's veterinary consultant. Dr. Shelton has practiced veterinary medicine for more than 25 years and has developed a practice specializing in genetics issues for breeders as well as reproduction. She has bred dogs and cats for 20 years and worked to minimize or eliminate incidences of health issues in the breeds she works with most often. Dr. Shelton is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in both IL and TX.

About FSHN | Breed Health |Info for Breeders | Info for Owners | Projects | Donations & Funding | Database |Links | Home

Copyright (c)2008 FINNISH SPITZ HEALTH NETWORK INC All Rights Reserved