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Ivana - Top winning
Mastiff Bitch in History
We have over 20 years of successful experience
breeding in the dog and cat fancy. My experience as
a dog handler, trainer & handler for Therapy Dog
International, educational programs in schools, Obedience
work, breeder of dogs and cats,
exhibitor, dog rescue coordinator, veterinary medical
assistant, working member of breed clubs, founder of Kitty
Angel Foundation - feline therapy work and schutzhund &
service dog work.
All these experience have
given me a unique perspective on breeding. After 20 years of
successful breeding & working & handling animals in many
different aspects, you learn a few things.
Coming from a background of
breeding working dogs, balance, form and function has always been my
mainstay in my breeding program. I know from experience that
anytime you go extreme in any direction it's not a good
thing. Qualities of any breeding program should be based
on soundness, health, temperament and balance! These are
the qualities that make a sound foundation of a breeding
program.
Our goals today with the
Siamese are similar. We are
focusing primarily on preserving and
improving the health of our bloodlines. We are carefully researching to find
lines that are pure, sound, and healthy; and work towards breeding to ensure vigor and health.
We do not believe in breeding to any extremes.
Our goal
is never to see how many kittens we can produce or how
many champions we can have our name on, but to produce a
sound well-balanced healthy cat. It's always been our
goal!
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When we take it
upon ourselves to plan and produce living
entities, we must also accept the
responsibility to ensure that they are sound
in mind and body and are cared for by
ourselves or other conscientious guardians
for the rest of their lives. This means not
only breeding sound animals, but what
methods do you use to place non-breeding
quality cats in appropriate homes and what
is your method of ensuring that non-breeding
quality kittens are not unintentionally or
intentionally used for breeding to over
populate the population of unwanted cats in
shelters.
Myself, I
take this responsibility very serious. I'm
a ambassador for the Siamese. I'm just here
for a short time in the history of the
Siamese cat. I hope that if anything I have
done for this breed, it would be to leave it
a little better off before I came along.
Giving back, our Pet Therapy & Service work...
Our
Service working dog...
Vom Zepplin
2010 & 2011 we have been working and
training our new dog Zep.
Zep is trained in Schutzhund, protection and service work.
We have had a great year and
lots of fun working with Zep.
Kitty Angel Foundation, Inc.
Founded by Mary Alexander in 2010.
Kitty Angels foundation
is one of a kind solely working and training with cats.
Kitty Angels Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit
charitable corporation.
Our
mission is to enhance the quality of human life by
providing well behaved and trained felines for
visits to nursing facilities, hospitals,
rehabilitation centers, schools, libraries. We
create opportunities human-feline interactions and
recognize their therapeutic value to the disabled,
elderly, ill or young as they recuperate,
rehabilitate or simply live life.
Kitty Angels does not charge for its services. We are
funded entirely through the
generosity of donors, grant monies
and proceeds from fundraising
events. Learn more about our program
visit our website.
Kitty Angels Foundation,
Inc
www.KitttyAngelsFoundation.org
Coastie, the Coast Guard Safety Dog…
 The story of Coastie starts with our pet Mastiff a registered therapy dog we had named Promise.
Promise had an injury as a puppy and I was told she would never be able to show -
much happiness this brought my competitors in the show ring!
But I knew there is much more to a dog than any show title and I had to find what that was.
Looking back, over 20 years
now, this event is still set in my mind. Actions speak much
louder than words. This is a value that is till with me today, one that I'm
very proud of.
I personally trained Promise to earn her Canine Good Citizen Test (CGC certification) and (TDI certification) with Therapy Dog International, Inc.
We started visiting nursing homes and we met with much
enthusiasm by the residents. Still looking and thinking of ways to share with the world the great gift our dog had, we came up with a educational safety program which was devised to help keep kids safe through the use of the Promise (aka Coastie) and a new coloring book. The program became a big hit and was eventually picked up by the Coast Guard and the Coastie Coloring Books are now available worldwide - just go
to download a copy.
To read about the story of Coastie written by the
USGC go here.
The
program was also introduced at the Boston Children's museum as part of the museum's "Boats Afloat" exhibit. Promise never did earn her Champion title from the AKC, but she did earn the love and respect of everyone who knew her and she taught me so much about life. Promise is no longer with us. She has passed over the rainbow bridge into doggie heaven and we still miss her very much.
Chris Alexander visiting a local nursing home with Promise.
Promise was trained by Mary Alexander and received her
Canine Good Citizen Test (CGC certification) and
(TDI certification) with Therapy Dog International, Inc.
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Ironclad
Mastiffs...
Retired from breeding Mastiff a few years ago, we are
very proud of our accomplishments and impact we had on
the breed.
We bred and shows our Mastiffs for 20 years under the
kennel name of Ironclad Mastiffs. Member of the Mastiff Club
Of America for 21 years.
We are breeders
of multiple Best in Show, Best in Specialty winning Mastiffs.
And all time record breaking Mastiffs. Including multiple Westminster Dog Show Best of breeds.
The year
of 2003 Ironclad's Ivana (pictured above) broke all the
records for the Mastiff breed. Ivana in the
photo above pictured Winning the largest Best in Show a Mastiff had ever won, defeating over 2,500 all breed dogs
in one show!
Some of our Mastiffs that we have bred have gone onto earn not only championship titles, but have also earned (CD) obedience (CGC) canine good citizens and (TDI) registered therapy dog International, working dog abilities in Carting, five star health tested and a MCOA Gold Health Awards.
As ambassadors for the
Mastiff breed. Outside of showing our Mastiffs we have
worked very hard on educating the public on this great
breed. Via educational programs in schools, Boston
Children's museum and Therapy dog work in hospitals and
nursing homes.
We are the recipients of the 2008
Orthopedic Foundation Animals
Champion Award. We are specially proud of this award
from the time, years, and dedication it took; to not only
breed a beautiful animal that broke all the records for
the breed, but that also produced five star health
tested National winning and multiple Best in Show, Best
in Specialty Show winning offspring. This was no easy
task. It took many years of breeding, hard work and
dedication to the health and love for the breed.
Breeding beautiful dogs is not a guarantee for health and
soundness, but it can be done.
Click
here to visit our Mastiff website
Mary - breeder/owner
showing off her CFA one show grand and RW.
My other
hobby...
Click here to view my water
gardens
 Just
Like In The Movies ...
I was born and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia, very much raised as a traditional charming southern bell.
Meeting Chris in my early twenties was like “Officer and a Gentleman” when we eloped and married while Chris was in Naval flight school.
The Sky's The Limit ...
Chris was born and raised on a farm in southwestern Ohio. He was accepted into the United States Coast Guard Ac ademy in Groton, CT in 1984 and graduated with a bachelor of science in electrical engineering. He served on a cutter for his first 3 years of duty until he was accepted into flight school. He attended Naval Flight Training in Pensacola, FL.
After two years of flight training he was qualified and assigned to fly the Falcon Jet, HU-25 at Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, MA. Chris has served 15 yrs of service has attained the rank as a full Commander.
Chris's routinely flies on homeland security missions and fisheries law enforcement, and Search and Rescue (SAR) flights.
Chris retired
from the USGC in 2007 as a full commander, and now works
protecting our homelands.
 The
photo of the ship on the right is the Braque Eagle, the
Coast Guard training ship that Chris spent his summers on
while attending the United States Coast Guard Academy.
The Aircraft flying above it is a Coast Guard Falcon Jet that Chris currently flies.
Chris also serves as a civil rights officer for the USCG and Boston
committees.
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