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Candidate for TICA Maine Coon Breed Committee
Jennifer Sable - Broadsway Maine Coons
ELECTED
 My
love of the Maine Coon cat began in 1987. At the time, TICA held a huge cat show
at the famous Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, and Jean Thompson and I
decided to go. Despite our love of and experience with cats, we were simply
stunned by the biggest and most impressive cat that we had ever seen. By the end
of Saturday, this boy was “in the lead” for winning best in show, and while we
are not sure who first said “let’s come back tomorrow!” come back we did,
sharing the joy of MtKittery Katahdin of Donnahugh’s winning Best Maine Coon
cat, Best Long Hair cat and Second Best Cat in Show, all at just nine months of
age! Thus started our journey…we were hooked on Maine Coons, and Broadsway Cats
was created to fulfill our passion. The early years were dedicated to raising
and showing alters, during which time we met many Maine Coon lovers and breeders
and expanded our knowledge of the breed. Eventually, we wanted more, and
Broadsway Cats’ first litter was born in 1989.
Since that time nearly twenty years ago, I have bred, raised and shown Maine
Coon cats, participated in the production of many cat shows and have mentored
new Maine Coon breeders. Broadsway’s breeding program has resulted in the
development of consistent “type” and great temperament. We have been vigilant
with regard to potential health issues that affect pedigreed animals in general,
and we routinely screen for HCM, hip dysplasia and SMA specifically, utilizing
DNA testing, echocardiography and x-rays. I am a breeder member of the Maine
Coon Breeder and Fancier’s Association.
Broadsway has placed show and pet cats coast-to-coast, in Europe, Scandinavia
and Japan. Our cats have successfully competed to regional and international
titles. We are most proud of breeding OS IW SGC Broadsway Redding, who was 8th
Best Kitten and 8th Best Cat in 2004-2005. Most recently Broadsway Redding sired
LA SGC MTNest Midnight Cowboy, TICA’s Best Cat in 2007-2008, as well as IW SGC
MTNest Dark Side o’ the Moon, (“Floyd”).
The responsibilities of the Maine Coon Breed Committee are many. In addition to
improving our breed by fostering the participation of our breed group members in
proper animal husbandry techniques and health screening programs, we should
strive to make this technology more affordable and available to all. Some of the
health issues that affect our breed are known to affect other cat breeds and
species, including humans. Cooperation between our members could predictably
advance science and the well-being of all. As with all breeds of companion
animals, there is also a need for organized and collaborative rescue efforts;
our breed committee should participate, providing guidelines for the
establishment of such programs, as well as in the necessary fund raising
efforts. Last, but certainly not least, we need to remember that our love of the
Maine Coon has brought us together and that our goals and desires are far more
similar than not. Breed committee members need to work tirelessly to insure
proper communication and sharing of ideas, while being sensitive to the needs of
individual breed group members.
On a personal note for those of you who don’t know me, I live in Washington, NC,
having moved south after living in Nyack, NY for the past twelve years and in
the northeast for most of my life. Jean Thompson, the other half of Broadsway
Cats, and I own Cat Bamboo, a gallery that sells Japanese and Chinese gifts and
furniture, which we initiated in Nyack and transplanted to Washington, along
with our Maine Coons and our Australian Shepherd.
I thank you for your consideration of my candidacy for Maine Coon Breed
Committee. If elected, I promise to listen to your concerns and make certain
that all issues raised are properly and fairly discussed.
Jennifer Sable
If you have any questions for Jennifer you can
email her here:
broadsway@optonline.net
To visit the Maine Coons at
Broadsway click HERE
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