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About Us

The New Guinea Singing Dog Conservation Society (NGSDCS) was founded in 1993 by Janice Koler-Matznick to ensure the continued viability & health of captive and wild New Guinea Singing Dogs (NGSD) through research and education. The NGSDCS funds field research and scientific study of NGSDs in their natural habitat on the island of New Guinea.

The NGSDCS supports only the breeding of International Species Identification System (ISIS) listed New Guinea Singing Dogs. NGSDCS registered NGSDs with known pedigrees, and other NGSDs proven genetically pure through the test offered by Embark (provides state of the art DNA testing of dogs and is affiliated with Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.)

NGSDs in North America descended from the original singers at the Taronga Zoo in Australia. Two original pairs along with a couple of unrelated singers added at a later date are the founding NGSDs for the entire U.S. captive population. Therefore, it is vital to breed prudently to avoid health problems due to inbreeding. (Read more about this on the New Guinea Singing Dog Conservation Society breeding plan page.)

OUR  MISSION

The New Guinea Singing Dog Conservation Society was established in 2001 as a Section 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization formed for the following purposes:

  • Promoting health and genetic diversity among captive New Guinea Singing Dogs

  • Advancing the conservation of wild New Guinea Singing Dogs and their habitat, in cooperation with the New Guinea people

  • Encouraging scientific study and public education about these primitive dogs 

NGSDCS Board of Directors

ACTING PRESIDENT & VICE PRESIDENT

Shannon Hiltner

TREASURER & SECRETARY

Tracy Rehmel

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

Seb Be

ZOO LIASION

Robby Bricker Voyles

RESCUE COORDINATOR

Deneen Ansley

HEALTH ADVISOR

Mindy Liebau

Meet NGSDCS Founder

Janice Koler-Matznick, MS, ACAAB* founded the New Guinea Singing Dog

Conservation Society (NGSDCS) in 1993, working to establish it as a 501c3

non-profit in 1995. Janice developed the hypothesis that the dog (*Canis

familiaris* L.) was not descended from the gray wolf (*Canis lupus*L) as most

believed, but from a naturally evolved ancestral dog that was smaller than any

wolf. Her formal education concentrated in organismic biology and animal

behavior.

Janice has extensive hands-on experience with canids, as a trainer, breeder,

exhibitor, and board-certified behaviorist. In 1995, she began to maintain the

Singer stud book, started by I. Lehr Brisbin, Ph.D. She has written extensively

about New Guinea Singing Dogs with several books and other publications to her credit.

For twenty years, Janice has corresponded with citizens of Papua New Guinea trying to work toward protection for the Singers. As far as the future of our beloved dogs are concerned, Janice says:

“There is so much more to learn about the Singers, their physiology, the illnesses that are

becoming more common, and their range and behavior in the wild. I know there are scores of pet

Singer owners in North America and my hope is they will cooperate with the Society to secure

the future of these remarkable dingoes by participating in information gathering and donating to

research.”

Selected Publications:

J. Koler-Matznick, et al. 2003. An updated description of the New Guinea Singing Dog (*Canis

hallstromi* Troughton 1957). Pp. 109-118 in The London Journal of Mammalogy.

J. Koler -Matznick, et Al. 2007 The New Guinea Singing Dog: it's status and scientific

importance. Pp. 47-56 in Australian Mammalogy 29.

* ACAAB:  Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist 

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Meet Our Previous Board Members

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