History of the Polish Tatra Sheepdog Club of America
The Polish Tatra Sheepdog Club of America (PTSCA) was formed in 1984 to encourage and promote the breeding of the purebred Owczarek Podhalanski (OP) and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection and to guard against the commercial exploitation of the breed. In 1988 the PTSCA was incorporated as a non-profit organization.
The PTSCA made a conscious decision early in the 80’s to examine their breeding dogs by radiographic evaluation by the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals; www.offa.org) for dysplasia (hips and elbows). Within the population of the PTSCA, only OFA certified HD free OPs are bred with in the USA.
The Polish Tatra Sheepdog Club of America, Inc. had maintained its own stud book records since the early ’80’s and offered registration services to domestically bred pups as well as to OPs who had been imported from other FCI countries. In accordance with the PTSCA’s Code of Ethics, breeding dogs and their progeny were DNA typed, tattooed and microchipped for purposes of permanent identification when registered. One of the Club’s early objectives in the mid 80’s was to learn the whereabouts of the entire OP population in North America. With the fall of Communism and the opening of Poland for freer trade in the early ’90’s, many OPs have been imported into North America without our knowledge. Our Club believes that due to the extremely limited gene pool it has become increasingly imperative that we locate as many OPs as possible and encourage them to register with the UKC database, now our permanent registration service. The PTSCA worked with the United Kennel Club to develop the current United Kennel Club breed standard and the Owczarek Podhalanski was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1995.
The PTSCA organizes and attends annual events to further educate the public on the breed. Included, but not limited to some of these events are: Milwaukee Polish Fest; St Jude’s Showcase of Dogs; and the Polish Festival Spring and Fall in New York.
The Polish Tatra Sheepdog Club of America, Inc. currently has four (4) Officers, and (4) Board Members and developed a mission statement in the early 2000’s as follows:The purpose of The Polish Tatra Sheepdog Club of America is to protect and maintain the natural instincts and working abilities of the purebred Owczarek Podhalanski, also referred to as Polish Tatra Sheepdog.
The PTSCA recognizes the Polish Tatra Sheepdog, first and foremost, as a working dog, and adheres to a strict code of ethics to preserve these traits. The quality and reputation of the breed rests squarely in the hands of the breeders, who work to bring the natural qualities of the Polish Tatra Sheepdog to perfection in accordance with the breed standard.
The board of the PTSCA is comprised of LGD owners, breeders, show enthusiasts and pet owners. Our board exists to fulfill the PTSCA by-laws and the wishes of our membership.To keep the entire OP Community connected, the PTSCA publishes ‘The Guardian’, the official PTSCA publication. It is distributed to all PTSCA members and it is also available to non-members on a subscription basis on a quarterly basis.
2019 – 2020 Polish Tatra Sheepdog Club of America Officers and Board Members
President
Tom Von Lehman
412-855-0203
Email: t.vonlehman@verizon.net
Vice President
David Wishowsky
302-584-1705
Email: tatradog@aol.com
Secretary
Jody Ogle, Webmaster
309-472-6144
Email: greekgrl78@gmail.com
Treasurer
Ted Traczewski
660-259-4342
Email:tracz@iland.net
Larry Hanson
253-861-5908
Email:prairieranch@comcast.net
Erin Edler
815-325-8716
Email:ekepuma@gmail.com
Colleen Locke
920-723-3437
Email:colleenlockeinwi@gmail.com
Chad Morsch
630-207-3340
Email:chadanddia@yahoo.com
Ron Osowski
414-334-3492
Email:osowski-r@hotmail.com