Debbie and Marv Thornton purchased their first Newfoundland from Lou Lomax of Tabu Kennels in Salinas, CA. in 1983. As it was to be, the dog did not turn out to be a "show dog". Debbie then purchased an adult champion female (Tess) from Lou and this bitch became Cypress Bay's Newfoundland foundation stock. During this time, the Thorntons moved from Monterey, CA to Newtown, PA. This move benefited the kennel as Peggy and Dave Helming's kennel (Pouch Cove) was only an hour away in New Jersey. The Helmings were most generous with their time and advice. The Cypress Bay kennel was about to start on a glorious adventure. Cypress Bay moved to Scottsville, VA, its current location, in 2001.
Over the years Cypress Bay has become a top breeder of Newfoundlands and has bred and finished more than 65 Newfoundlands; including dogs that have won dozens of Regional Specialty Shows, in addition to Best of Breed, Best Opposite Sex or Select awards at 7 out of 23 National Specialty shows.
In 2001 Debbie was encouraged to experience a smaller breed by Peggy Helming, a top breeder of Newfoundlands and PWDs. Hope, their first PWD, arrived and it was instant love of her and the breed. Cypress Bay Portuguese Water Dogs was formed and the Thorntons have been breeding PWDs AND Newfoundlands ever since. The PWD breedings have resulted in high quality breed champions and Group winning dogs.
Debbie continues her love of dogs by showing and breeding, as a Newfoundland Club of America mentor and as an AKC Judge of the entire Working Group (including PWDs), half of the Hound Group, Misc. Group, Junior Showmanship and Best in Show. She has judged in Australia, Ireland, Germany and Italy, as well as many of the top shows in the US. She is a member of the Newfoundland Club of America (NCA) and the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America (PWDCA). She serves as treasurer of the Hatboro Dog Club, is a past-President and current member of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Kennel Club, and is a member of the Dog Judges Association and the American Dog Show Judges, Inc.
In the spring of 2005 Debbie watched a number of sick, stray dogs on the beach in Mexico and decided to do something to help. In collaboration with renowned Acapulco veterinarian Dr. Eusebio Gomez Duque, she formed the Animal Care Association of Mexico. It was formally accredited by the Mexican Federal Government in late 2005 and became a 501-C Non-Profit Charity in the US in 2008. This Association is now spaying and neutering stray dogs and cats, educating the Mexican public as to the problem, and training new vets in the surgical process; all free of charge. The Association is funded through donations by concerned Mexican and US citizens, hotels and corporations. The Association's web site can be seen in the Links section.