About Deborah Carter:

My passion, love and devotion to animals has always been a part of my life. I am the daughter of a Veterinarian. I have dedicated over 30 years to the documentation of medical research in the Labrador Retriever. I am married to a now retired career naval officer. Due to frequent relocation's during my husband's naval career, I was most fortunate to work for many Veterinarians here in America. During these frequent changes of duty stations, I had other Labrador breeders sharing medical problems with me that were surfacing in their pedigree lines. I created a database that now spans the globe. After a lifetime of effort, this medical research is the backbone of my breeding program. This collaborated research studies the inheritance factors involved in many of the congenital diseases affecting the Labrador of today: i.e. crippling hip and elbow dysplasia; cardiac arrhythmia's; blinding Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and many other congenital eye diseases; severe temperament and behavioral problems; and seizures resulting in epilepsy.

As a member of both The Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac (LRCP) and The Spirit of St. Louis Labrador Retriever Club (SSLLRC), I follow a strict Breeders Code of Ethics. All animals used in my breeding program are registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC). They have been certified clear from hereditary crippling hip dysplasia through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). Also, they have been annually certified clear of hereditary eye diseases by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology (AVCO) and are registered with the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF). My reason for breeding is to improve the breed. Since my emphasis is placed on breeding animals for quality and not quantity, waiting lists are common. I strive to maintain excellence in soundness of temperament, type and structure of the breed standard and back this with medical integrity. (Links to the above mentioned organizations may be found on the Canterbury links page.)