Walking Cerberus

Ricky, Tori and Emma

According to mythology Cerberus was the three headed hound that was set to guard the gates of the underworld to ensure no one was able to escape back to the land of the living. In my case, Cerberus is a three headed, three bodied crew that has set upon a mission of eliminating the layer of winter insulation some might call "fat". For anyone that has met us on the trail just recently, we represent a striking image of entertainment. The chaos that surrounds a 110 pound woman, walking 150 pounds of Pit Bulls is quite amusing.

Most expert trainers advise having dogs, including multiple groups of dogs, walking at your side. I use a coupler and take all three of my dogs at the same time. Trying to keep this mass of muscle at my side defeats the purpose of trying to enjoy the beautiful weather and the chance to escape the confines of home. Yes, that is me that looks like a chariot driver coming down the path. I find that allowing them to be out front may look funny, but it is the most effective means of getting the much needed exercise and maintaining my sanity.

There are theories surrounding Cerberus, that also parallel my own situation. It is thought that Cerberus was depicted as having had three heads to represent past, present and future. That is an adequate description of my personal dog pack.

Ricky is my 12 year old retired show dog. He was born under the most ideal circumstances any purpose bred dog could wish for. When I first approached the Pennsylvania breeder about getting one of her puppies, we spent hours on the telephone discussing our philosophies regarding Pit Bull ownership and the responsibilities associated with this ownership. We also hammered out a seven page contract covering everything from his being finished as a champion, to the rights and expectations of his possible use as a stud dog.

Tori is my five year old rescued female. She came to me beaten up and physically used up. Despite a rough start, she is one of the most remarkable dogs I have ever met. Her power to draw people to her is astonishing. It is not that she is the most attractive dog. I assure you, she is not. Her magnetism comes from a power deep inside her. This power, and her ability to adapt to any situation, makes her a formidable ambassador for the Pit Bull breed as a whole. She knows no stranger and never turns away from the chance to share her love with people.

Emma is my two year old rescued female. She is a true power house. With Emma, I am constantly being challenged to think outside the box. She has taken 30 years of experience and set it on its ear. Her drive is phenomenal, yet I have not figured out how to keep it focused or harness it to achieve everything I envision she could do. Her calling seems to be tracking. No matter what else I do with Emma, she will be titled as a Tracking Dog (TD). We are equal in our tenacity. I think everyone is in agreement, no one else could stand to live with Emma. As cute and sweet as she can be, she is equally tough as a piece of old shoe leather.

These three dogs represent the most comprehensive pack I have ever assembled. I bring in foster pups that I feel are special and may need a little extra boost to make them desirable as companions. I have Ricky the socializer, Tori the nurturer and Emma my temperment guage. They all seem to know instinctively that when we bring in a stranger it is for a purpose, not simply another mouth to feed.

Just like Cerberus, they also represent my past, present and future.

Ricky represents everything that brought me to this time in my life. Tori puts a face to the issues facing Pit Bulls right now. Emma represents the future of Pit Bulls beyond the hype and hysteria. Together they set the example for responsible ownership of this most misunderstood breed and, hopefully, will close the gates of ignorance that threaten to destroy these dogs.

There is an upcoming public presentation of the various issues facing all animals in this new climate of animal activism. The discussion will be hosted by the Cape Girardeau County Farm Bureau on Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 7:00 p.m. at the University Extension Center, 684 West Jackson Trail, in Jackson, Missouri. The presentation is titled "Understanding the Animal Activist". This discussion will be from a completely different perspective than that of most of the highly visible groups the public is accustomed to hearing from. This is the first opportunity for all of the animal interest groups to come together in an exchange of information and ideas. I can not stress enough the importance of participation in events of this type.

We have spent a great deal of time discussing the need for solidarity among the groups. Ignorance, misinformation and irresponsibility are the enemies of all animal activists. It is irrelevant what your particular calling may be. We still fight a common enemy. We can no longer afford to divide our attention between our individual agendas and fighting amongst ourselves. This is no longer just a breed issue or an agriculture issue. This is concerning our basic right to continue enjoying the human animal bond that spans all recorded time and beyond.

For myself, I will attend this meeting as a Pit Bull advocate. I already know the legislative issues being discussed at the state level that have the potential to affect my dogs. I have enough experience to discuss these unique issues.

Pending and existing legislation can be found on the Missouri State Government website. I encourage all shelters, rescuers and purebred fanciers to educate themselves to the impact proposed changes could have. Attend this meeting and any future meetings of this sort, to insure your rights are protected.

My past has been a fight to protect my dogs from genocide. My present is a climate of cooperation with others fighting for the same rights. My future is the preservation of the dogs I love. Whatever your individual cause may be, your agenda is not much different from mine, the farmers, the commercial breeders, the shelters or the rescues. Education is the key to our survival.