Welcome to Opal Kennel. We have
been involved with the American Pit Bull Terrier for 5
years now. We got started in the breed by way of a rescue
dog name Lady 5 years ago. She was and still is a very
special dog. Most of you know by now that we have a
daughter with Angelman's Syndrome and a seizure disorder.
Lady was able to sense when Tai was going to have a
seizure. Lady would put herself in front of Tai and break
her fall from hitting the floor face first, no matter
where Lady and Tai were from each other. Lady is what
started the love of Pit Bulls for us. Lady is now deaf
and partially blind, but still raises 3 kids down the
street from us and is approx. 18 years old now.
I have
been in purebred dogs for over 15 years, starting with
NSD reg. Border Collies and then working into AKC. I did
demonstrations with the various breeds of herding dogs,
which included Border Collies, Australian Shepherds,
Kelpies, McNabs, Australian Cattle Dogs and even a
Catalhoula. When I lost my foundation Border Collie I
started doing Stockdog rescue. That is when Brian and I
met and then Lady came into our lives and introduced us
to our new found love, the American Pit Bull Terrier. Now
of course I couldn't leave me herding behind all the way,
so I herd sheep with our first UKC reg. APBT,
'PR'Nuclear's Maximum Black Opal, TT. Maybe someday she
will get her herding certificate.
Thanks
for stopping by Opal Kennels home on the web and please
come back often for our many upates. Please be sure to
visit our links page and all the friends we have made in
the few years we have been in this wonderful breed.
Pam,
Brian and Tai, the humans owned and loved by all the
wonderful APBT's at Opal Kennel
Here we are in the midst of 2005 and many things have changed
since my last update...Oh yes things have changed. We have lost a few of
companions her at Opal Kennel, sad to say that Max is now herding the flock
in heaven above... Essy is causing havock right behind her.. JayJay is being
the best of the best of compions and the most handsome of them all...and for
those I may have forgotten or may not know about, may you greet me at the
golden gate with lots of love, kisses and wags, as I will do the same...
On with a happier note.....We have moved to Carson City as most have come to
know. We really like it here and Tai is doing great. Carson Middle School has
done her a world of wonders. I have never seen her so happy.
Brian and I got married on Valentines Day 2004. YEA!!! finally after 7+ years..
And on January 1, 2005 we officially closed our doors, AGAIN!! I know, I know,
You have heard it before...but if you take a good look at my site you will see what
I have taken a turn to. I am educating and getting more into the health issues and
doing more than just "showing" my dogs.
In May 2005 I joined up with THERA-PITS and am getting involved with having the]
the dogs becoming OFFICIAL service dogs for Tai and all the senior homes in
our area.
APBT owner responsibility is a must nowdays. So I plan to do my part there as much
as possible, but for now, I am just loving and playing with the sweeties I have.
Hope you are going to do the same when you get done surfing my site.
Thanks for stopping bye...
Well hello again! Here we are in March of 2006. As you have surfed through the site to find
yourself at this point, you have seen we are almost done placing all the dogs. :o(
Tai is going up and down hill as she is getting older. Times are getting tougher and we are
taking a little less time with the dogs and more time with Tai. We were told Tai has Lennox
Gastout Syndrome(sp) so now we are going in a whole other direction of medical issues. Trips
to California and new doctors and new meds. So now we are down to placing
everyone but Dusk and Trace. They will live with us forever. I am no longer affiliated with the
local APBT Club. I am not breeding any more. And I will probably not show for a very long time.
So called friends in the breed have not even contacted me to see how things are. So I feel that it
has become a dog world for those who only are involved directly with the dogs. Even if you have
come to know them for over 8 years.. Sad really. Friendships revolve around what people can gain
from you, not what grows between you....I now know who my friends really are. Thank you for standing
bye my side through thick and thin.. And for those that cut ends, hope life treats you kind.
One thing I learned from the APBT world that differents from the herding dog world, is that
the owners are MUCH WORSE THAN THE DOGS!! Bad owners create bad dogs, yes. But
bad mentors can create bad breeders and that my "friends" can go down in history as what
makes or brakes it all. I am very upset that the scars that the APBT world has left behind.
Good times were had, but all in all, the politics really showed the true colors of so many people.
I hope that anyone who reads this doesn't take it out of context, as this is just my experience.
As well as a just a handful of others. So to those who continue, may you win and be happy.
And for those who decide to just love your pets, may you be happy because you won.
I am.......
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