Two years have passed since the Russian Branch of the International Society for the Preservation of Primitive Aboriginal Dogs (R-PADS) began its work. At the time of its foundation our goal was to unite people interested in the aboriginal dogs of Russia, regardless of whether they lived in the Russian Federation or beyond Russia’s borders.  We hope that communication, exchange of information and coordination of efforts to preserve these valuable dogs of our ancestors and to assure their survival for future generations as unchanged and capable dogs as they were in the past. Looking back, we wish to state that our goals have not change. We welcome new members who are interested in the preservation of this unique heritage of Russia - her aboriginal dogs. We remain an informal organization, without any restrictions or requirements. We would like to attract dog breeders and professional scientists. Everyone who is willing to share his experience and knowledge of dogs and who is interested in the unique aboriginal dogs of Russia is welcome.

We would like to mention that our view does not always support the opinions expressed in published articles. Despite this, we avoid corrections to the text of articles, because we believe that diversity of opinions should be acceptable in a group involved with such complex and diverse material and problems. Our dogs are very different and include sheep guarding dogs, sighthounds, laikas and scent hounds.  The goal of all of us remains the same and this is the preservation of the unique gene pools of these dogs and the prevention of their conversion into sofa toys retaining only the appearance of their proud ancestors.  These dogs deserve respect, because for centuries they assisted people to survive in a harsh environment and shared with them the hardships of “uncivilized” life.

Simultanously with information about Russian breeds, we publish articles about aboriginal breeds of other countries, former republics of the Soviet Union. Genotypically, these dogs are close to now popular Russian purebreds and their histories have much in common.  Besides, for educational purposes, we publish original articles about aboriginal dogs of the other parts of the World, about which in Russian cynological literature there is little reliable information. These articles are sent to us by other members of PADS who are working on their preservation in different corners of the world.

In the process of forming our organization, we went through certain difficulties, such as building the website, delays in sending the Newsletter and other difficulties, but all these problems are solved and we hope to expand the volume of published issues and their range and to enhance communication between our members.

The preservation of aboriginal breeds of dogs cannot be done by single individuals; it takes a collective effort of passionate people. R-PADS is a result of our joint effort and it is our merit. We welcome everyone who is willing to actively participate in our work.  Now, the R-PADS Newsletter has an Editorial Board and we offer information about its members in this issue.

Hoping to continue close cooperation in the future.

Editorial Board of Russian Branch of Society

for Preservation of Primitive Aboriginal Dogs.

Vladimir E. BEREGOVOY

Advisor of PADS, Curator of R-PADS and Member of Editorial Board of R-PADS Newsletter.

In 1960, Vladimir Beregovoy graduated from Perm State University as a biologist.  He defended his dissertation in 1964 and was awarded a Degree of Candidate of Sciences in the Institute of Biology, Uralian Branch of Academy of Sciences of the USSR, where he worked as a zoologist. He was teaching at the Kuban State University, Krasnodar. During his work as a zoologist, he traveled in Ural, West Siberia, Volga River region, Kazakhstan and North Caucasus.

In 1979, he immigrated with his family to Vienna, Austria and in 1980 to Oregon, USA. He worked on series of research projects in North Dakota State University and in 1989, he accepted a position of Senior Agriculturist in the Department of Entomology, Oklahoma State University, where he worked until retirement in 2000.

From 1991 to 1996, he imported five West Siberian Laikas, three males and two females, which became the foundation stock of this newly introduced breed in North America.  Currently, he is retired and lives with his wife, Emma, and their favorite Laikas on a small, 90-acre farm in Virginia.

Vladimir had different dogs during his life, but his favorite dog was West Siberian Laika named Aliska.

Vladimir published a series of articles in popular magazines and two books «Primitive Breeds-Perfect Dogs,» Don Hoflin Publ. in co-authorship with Jill Moore-Porter; and «Hunting Laika Breeds of Russia,» Crystal Dreams.

Sir TERENCE Clark

Member of Editorial Board of R-PADS Newsletter

Sir Terence Clark spent most of his career as a British diplomat in the Middle East, where he acquired his first two Salukis. He returned with two Salukis to Britain, where he regularly hunted with them, as Chairman of the Saluki Coursing Club.

In retirement he renewed his study of Russian, which he began to learn [more correct would be "which he had previously studied at university. Together with his study of the language Sir Terence also renewed his interest and contacts with Russia and in winter 2005 visited the All-Russia Sighthounds Competition in Tambov, as well as field trials of Laikas in Moscow.

Sir Terence Clark has co-authored three books about Salukis, as well as many articles about these hounds.

1. The Saluqi: Coursing Hound of the East, edoted by Gail Goodman, published by Midbar Inc, USA, 1995
2. Al-Mansur's Book On Hunting, Aris and Phillips, Warminster, UK, 2001
3. Dogs in Antiquity, Aris & Phillips, Warminster, UK, 2001.

Marina G. KUZINA

Member PADS, Secretary of R-PADS, a member of the Editorial Board and a publisher of R-PADS Newsletter

NEWELL, Gregory and Denise

Members of Editorial Board of R-PADS Newsletter.

Gregory Newell has a Bachelor’s Degree in political sciences and Master of Arts Degree; he specialized in foreign politics of USA and the former Soviet Union.  He has a rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of US Army, Retired.

He obtained his first Samoyed dog in 1970 and since that time he has dedicated to this breed using his dogs for skijoring and sledding sports.  Together with his wife, Denise, Gregory runs a small business producing sledding dog harness and other equipment and popularizing dog sledding and helping others to learn to train their sled dogs.

In addition to working activities, Denise enjoys showing their Samoyeds in conformation and bred her first litter of Samoyed puppies in March 2005.  She works part-time for the Christmas Valley Parks & Recreation District and is the editor of the town’s newspaper, The Desert Whispers. 

After retirement, Gregory and Denise moved to a farm in Christmas Valley, Oregon, where besides their 10 Samoyed dogs, they keep a few reindeer from northern Europe.  Thus, they created an environment closer to original roots of their favorite dogs.