USSPWD Officers and Directors

USSPWD Club Officers

President - Meg DeFore Fort Pierce, FL Phone: 772-519-2585 Email
I am excited to take a turn at heading our Regional Club. My history in the breed began in 1994 when I got my first PWD after spending two year on a wait list . Sereia, now a beloved memory, taught me to love this breed because of her eagerness to learn and willingness to over come my training mistakes. To me this club is a long awaited dream come true and it is my quest to share the excitement of events, training and my knowledge of the breed. I currently compete in Obedience , Rally and as an owner handler in Conformation. I recently started to training Tracking with two of my dogs. Sereia and I trained for Agility. I was the Agility Director for Gold Coast K. C. in Davie, FL for 7 years. I am an occasional breeder and the states PWD Rescue Coordinator. I serve on the Breeder Development committee for the PWDCA and am a Director for the Treasure Coast Kennel Club, a local all breed organization.



Vice Pres. - Barbara Cawley Williston, FL Phone: 352-528-6711 Email
I am a true PWD lover. I got my first pup in August of 1996 when my husband, Roy, and I decided that we wanted a dog to go with us on our frequent boat trips. When Picard arrived from Colorado to be our pet, he was perfect and the smartest dog I had ever seen. He and I enjoyed many years of agility training and trials (he made it to Excellent level before PRA took his sight) and he and Xena, our foundation bitch, had many wonderful trips, aboard our boat, to the Bahamas and around Florida. We also traveled in our motor home around the USA, attracting attention everywhere we went with such strange looking dogs. Today we have eight PWDs, most of which are either Xena’s offspring or down line from her, and are actively involved in all aspects of the Portuguese Water Dog community. We have bred eleven AKC champions in four beautiful litters of PWD pups, we are showing our special, Terry, who is currently rated at number five all breed PWD in the country, we are founding members of the USSPWD club, and Roy was Chairman and I was Treasurer for the 2003 National Specialty. I enjoy meeting new members of our club and hosting the annual Spring Fling at our farm in Williston. Thank you for allowing me to continue to serve you on your board.



Secretary - Jane Nelson Phone: 772-299-3726 Email
I am a Paralegal Specialist and spent 10 years with the local District Attorney in Colorado Springs and 10 years with the United States Attorney's Office in Alexandria, Virginia. I spent one year working in a law firm specializing in intellectual property. Needless, to say, my specialty is criminal law. I was also the president of our Homeowners Association for 2 years. I look forward to working with the board of our Porty club.


Treasurer - Mike McLelland, Melbourne, FL 32940 Phone: 443-690-5476 Email
Originally from Maryland and moving to Florida in 2006 my family and I were long time boaters on the Chesapeake so we were considering adopting a new family companion and I must admit I had never even heard of the PWD breed until three years ago. I began searching for a breed that would love the water as much as we do. Since our boat space is modest, a medium size dog seemed best. I did a lot of web surfing and showed my wife a picture of a PWD, saying “this is the dog I’m thinking about. It’s a Portuguese Water Dog.” My wife, being quite proud of her knowledge of AKC breeds, responded “A WHAT??” After considerably more research, we were very fortunate in finding Cam and Ron Salvary only a few miles from our home in Melbourne and we fell in love with one of her 4 week old puppies we named Misha. At eight weeks we took Misha home, and she is an amazing girl. A year later we took the plunge and adopted our second girl “Shelby”. We are now proud parents of a 21 month old PWD champion girl. I currently serve as comptroller for a software company and volunteered to serve as the clubs treasurer. I’m looking forward to working with Meg and her team, and seeing everyone at the various PWD events.




Club Directors
Lou Allingham Stuart, FL Phone: 772-288-2258 Email
In July 2004, I adopted my first PWD, Roxy, and fell head over heels for this fun-loving and willful breed. I enjoy competing in conformation and have been taking classes at my local all breed club to compete in obedience . I take my dogs out on our boat and hope someday to train for water trials. I bred my first litter this year and kept a puppy out of the litter, Gusto. My wish for him is to be my first home bred Champion.






Judy Leather Colbert, GA Phone: 706-788-9734 Email
My husband, Tom and I brought our first PWD, Miss Blueberry Muffin home to Florida in January 2003. Later that year at the PWD National Specialty in Memphis , we saw PWDs working in the water. We were hooked! The following spring we attended a PWD Water Camp and since that weekend have trained Water – my most favorite performance venue.
Max-A-Million joined our family in September 2004 and was swimming laps at seven weeks. Max and I have trained through all levels of water work and are currently working on Master Level exercises. At three years old he earned his Courier Water Dog and shortly after, his Courier Water Dog Excellent.
Not to be outdone, our little girl Miss Margaret and her dad earned her Working Water Dog title this past summer. Even though we are active in Obedience, Agility, Tracking and Water Work, Water is my primary love. It is our PWDs heritage and a super team sport. Both Tom and I love to share our love of water work with anyone who wishes to come and train with us. I am currently on the PWDCA Water Trial Committee and on the board of the USSPWDC and act as the USSPWDC’s Water Liaison. This past summer I chaired the USSPWDC’s first water trial at Callaway Gardens and I am looking forward to next year’s water trial and the National Specialty in 2011.



Pam Lesher - Oldsmar, FL Phone: 813-855-4342 Email
Paul Byrum III - Tampa, FL Phone: 813-286-8636 Email
Annette Claire Konga - New Port Richey Phone: 727-809-2769 Email
Bonnie Crabtree - Miami, FL Phone: 305-864-5078 Email



Newsletter Circulation

Meg DeFore - Fort Pierce, FL Phone: 772-595-1240 - Email



Regional Rescue Coordinator
Meg DeFore
Email Phone: 772-595-1240