Cindy Mendonca grew up believing she would one day own an Old English Sheepdog, just like the dog in the TV series, “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies.” Then, in 1991, while stationed as a weather detachment commander with the US Air Force in England, she met her first OES at the same time she met her first Bearded Collie. The Beardie captured her heart. She has since been owned by six Beardie bitches and helped rehome three Beardie dogs to her parents.
From England, Cindy moved back to Bellevue, Nebraska in August 1993. While taking an obedience class with Baillie, she was excited to hear there was a local Beardie club and breeder in Omaha. She joined the club in January 1994 and over the next two decades, she served first as a director and then as Treasurer and herding trial chair as well as on various committees for the 2005 Bearded Collie Club of America (BCCA) national specialty. During this time, she became heavily involved in Herding, training and handling the first Beardie bitch to earn an AKC Herding Championship. She also participated in Conformation, Rally, and Therapy. In addition, she became an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator and was an AKC Herding judge.
Cindy joined the BCCA in late 1997/early 1998, served as Recording Secretary for two years and as Herding Committee Co-chair until 2009, before stepping back as a committee member until retiring from it. While not currently on the committee, she acts as historical advisor when needed. In 2015, Cindy was a founding member of the all-breed Central Plains Herding Club. She served as director and trial chair for AKC and AHBA trials, after helping the club earn status with those organizations.
Cindy has bred eight litters under the kennel name, Cynamen. Her dams were registered in BeaCon’s health registry and puppy buyers were encouraged to register as well. Cindy feels it was, and is, extremely important to keep communication with the puppy owners, in order to share information. Out of 45 puppies bred, she lost contact with only one buyer.
Despite having earned a Community College of the Air Force Associate degree in Weather Technology, a University of Nebraska at Omaha Bachelors degree in Geography, and a Creighton University Masters degree in Meteorology, Cindy went back to school after retiring from the Air Force to obtain an Associate degree in Veterinary Technology. During that time, she shared her schooling experience with several Beardie internet lists and continued to share her knowledge after completing requirements to be licensed as a Veterinary Technician. In addition, she wrote articles on various subjects for BCCA and BeaCon, as well as educational handouts for her veterinary clinics.
Since earning her LVT, Cindy has pursued countless hours of continuing education in numerous areas of veterinary specialties, usually completing two to three times the number of hours required to renew her license. In all of her clinics, including her first job at an emergency practice, she has been the “go to” person for whelping/reproduction and hospice/quality of life. Because of her breeding experience, interest in dog training, and previous part-time job as an instructor at Omaha’s Bonafide Dog Academy, she has also been the “go to” person for puppy training and socialization. Because of this and her special interests, she continues to amass classes in various subjects, including health, training, and general information, through organizations such as Fenzi Dog Sports Academy and other online learning avenues.
Cindy is now semi-retired as a licensed veterinary technician, but continues to volunteer with her church, primarily with fourth grade math, and to keep up with her Beardies. She is honored to work with BeaCon’s Board to support a healthy future for Bearded Collies.