Health Survey Analyst

Dr. Elsa Sell
Our Health Survey Analyst

The Foundation is delighted to have Dr. Elsa Sell as our Heath Survey 2004 and 2010 analyst. She was chosen for her experience in analyzing and reporting data from other breed health surveys, her background in medical science and canine health studies, and her lack of involvement in the Kerry breed. Together, they insure an unbiased analysis, confidentiality of the data, and integrity of the reporting.

Elsa is a physician, retired from clinical neonatology practice in Tucson, Arizona where her research focused on newborn development and later outcome of infants receiving newborn intensive care. She published numerous research papers on these topics and provided training in NIDCAP® (Newborn Individualized Developmental Care Program) in the USA and internationally.

She has been a member of the BCCA since 1987, served as Health Committee Chairperson for 3 years during which time the second health survey was done (1996-1998). She received the BCCA Member of the Year Award in 1997. She started The Bearded Collie Foundation for Health in 1999 and currently serves as president, treasurer, web master, and open health registry database administrator. She has been a member of the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America since 1990, served on its ad hoc IT committee in 2007 and as health information coordinator since 2007.

Her dogs’ conformation titles include 4 champions (1 Portuguese Water Dog, 3 Beardies). Her dogs’ companion and performance titles include: obedience (novice 3, open 3, utility 3, U-CD 1) and herding (2 HT, 3 PT, 2 AHBA JHD, 2 AHBA HTAD II-s, 2 AHBA HRD II-s, 3 HSAs, 1 HSAd, 1HIAds, and 1 HXAs). She is has served as secretary, president, and newsletter editor for NGABHDA and is currently secretary and a director. She served on the BCCA herding committee 2008-present, and as chair from 2009 to present.

Since moving to Georgia in 2000, Elsa has become a member of several local cattlemen's groups, the Georgia Cattlemen, National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the American Angus Association to further the farm's beef production work. Elsa and husband Bill were named Agricultural Producers for 2005 in Pike County, Georgia. In April 2006 they received a top 5 pen award for their pen of 3 commercial heifers at the GA Beef EXPO. Their cow/calf operation uses registered black Angus bulls. Replacement heifers are kept for the farm herd, steers are custom grain fed and sold to local customers, and Angus bulls go to a development program. K-Line irrigation for half the farm pastures was initiated in 07 because of long standing drought.

The current dog household consists of a 5 ½ yo Beardie, a 11 mo old Beardie, and a 11 mo old PWD.