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:
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Promoting health and genetic diversity among captive New Guinea Singing Dogs
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Advancing the conservation of wild New Guinea Singing Dogs and their habitat, in cooperation with the New Guinea people
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Encouraging scientific study and public education about these primitive dogs
NGSDCS Board of Directors
ACTING PRESIDENT & VICE PRESIDENT
Shannon Hiltner
TREASURER & SECRETARY
SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
ZOO LIASION
RESCUE COORDINATOR
HEALTH ADVISOR
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
Meet Our Previous Board Members