Being a Rescuer... I didn't go looking... I didn't ask to be... at the time, I had no expectations of becoming... I'm a homebody... a loner... quiet... shy... I was simply me...
My first "Pit Bull" mix... Freedom... did I free her or did she free me? Ten years ago this week... I was living at my parents... I had moved back to Florida from Tennessee in February of 2001... began working immediately when I got back to Florida... fast forward to September... I was out playing basketball with my best friends son (my parent's next door neighbor)... the ball had rolled up the driveway of a known vacant house for at least one or two weeks... had the basketball not rolled up the driveway bouncing off the garage door... we would have never known... Freedom along with a calico kitten were inside the house... no food, no water... frightened, underweight... in turn, one must think... if the events of that day... would I be doing what I'm doing today? I admittedly, was ignorant (and still am to a point... pending on the subject). Knowledge is power... I'm continually learning new things daily... sadly, I do make my share of mistakes... it's part of human nature... I learn from them... My dogs, have taught me not to rationalize over the mistakes, incidences, and the likes... to continue moving forward, day to day... to take whatever everyday life tosses at me... my dogs have saved me...
Even after being saved by Freedom... my life as I knew it had changed... my new life, began with Freedom and thanks to her... She had played a tremendous part... in forming the man who I've become of today. At this time, ten years ago... I was and still am a loner... homebody... a simple man... I'm an observer... a thinker... My mind does not have an "off button"... the gears are continually moving and shifting... nonstop... I'm a tense individual... my dogs are saving me...
I ultimately decided to start my own Rescue... Pit Bull Happenings, Inc. Reason is simple... the Dogs. However, starting the Rescue... I was not thinking nor took into account... I would become a public figure of sorts... a Nonprofit Organization... this has been and continues to be completely new to me... as I'm a very private and independent person... I'm a loner... who's been thrusted into the spotlight... I had no idea... I've never liked being the center of attention... I've never been one of a club scenes or large crowds... I'm the guy who is sitting in the corner... remaining quiet, isolated, observing my surroundings... I seek no glory. I seek no fame. I've done nothing to earn either of the two... the true heroes are... my dogs saved me...
I have and will continue to make enormous sacrifices for my dogs... I love my dogs... I don't have special training... no certifications, no rewards, no special schooling... I'm a simple man. Just recently, it came to me of the sacrifices that I have made for the dogs... The dogs are my life... When I bought my home a few years ago... the top two reasons, I bought the house I did... in all actuality... was for the dogs... I'm single... The house I bought is a three bedroom house... Why would a single guy need a three bedroom house? I have dogs... I've given them their own Dogs Room... I wanted a house with a large backyard... for me? No... again... I have dogs... I wanted a house that wasn't on a main road... I wanted it to set back some... limited on traffic, preferred minimal.. on a road where speeders are nonexistent... the house is on a road that makes a complete circle... the house is on the turn... hence, any speeders would more than likely run through one of the houses... my dogs safety is always a top priority... that held true on the big decision of becoming a homeowner... Looking back... I'm seeing a consistent system... I'm subconsciencely doing things... and making many sacrifices... all in the name of and for the dogs. This is something that I cannot help... it comes natural... There have been times when I have gone years without cable... money was tight... cable tv is luxury that many take for granted... I'm having the cable turned off again... as it's too distracting... and is taking away from my dogs... I'll go without eating before I allow my dogs to go without... my dogs are my life... my dogs are saving me... from me... from today's society... They are my heroes... They deserve the glories and praises... not I.
Jumping into the Rescue work... has opened my eyes a lot... with pretty much everything in society... you have your good and you have your bad... Sadly, when I made it official... and Pit Bull Happenings, Inc was born... my persons, who had a minimal haters, enemies, and whatnot... well, unfortunately it had skyrocketed... I've had some pretty malicious accusations tossed at me... there's been a lot of rhetoric said about me and Pit Bull Happenings... from adopting out intact dogs, to being a dog fighter lover/supporter, being pro-breeder, among many other... and the gossip, lies, and hear ce continue to this day... Thanks to my heroes, I took everything with stride... I don't rationalize why stuff happens anymore... my focus is on my dogs... they are my teachers... they are my greatest teachers. Starting PBH, we're starting from the bottom and we are building PBH... we are growing... despite all the hate and evilness... many have placed obstacles in front of me, us, my dogs... many have tried causing us to fail as a Rescue... they failed! We are fast approaching our one year anniversary... we are still here! Reason is simple... my dogs and I don't rationalize... we live life day by day... My dogs and I have a very strong bond... it happens quickly... it happens naturally... it's meant to be... I'm living a dog's life... we are one. I'm only briefly touching on the reality of the hate and evilness within the so-called "Rescue Community"...it's broken... PBH hopes to lead by example... our biggest weapon, has been our silence... and will continue to be our silence... as we aren't here for the humans, we aren't here for the emotions... we are here to do right by our dogs... with all the outragious and malicious accusations against my persons and PBH... we have given no reactions... so, haters take note... you'll continue to receive no reactions from myself or Pit Bull Happenings... There was a major and extremely hurtful accusation (at the beginning of this year) byway of a serious insinuation... that I had killed Bodacious (RIP 12/2010), my American Bulldog... my reaction? None! I took it in stride... and kept my focus on building PBH and doing what I can... for the dogs... my dogs saved me. The hate and evilness is horrible in the Rescue world... it saddens me very much so... it's so bad, that someone had the gall to even go into the Pet Supermarket, New Port Richey location... one of our regularly scheduled monthly event locations. One day, I was talking to the General Manager... just chit chat... well, our conversation back and forth... reminded him... that someone had came into the store one day... and an individual "had nothing nice to say about you or Pit Bull Happenings" I admit, I was very curious who would go into our regular adoption place and talk trash... then I thought of my dogs... and didn't press for more details and told the GM, that I didn't want to know anything more about this disgraceful act (from a so-called animal advocate) as it's irrelevant to me... remember, I have the greatest teachers of all, my dogs... my dogs are saving me...
In anycase, Pit Bull Happenings is here for the long haul... we aren't here to appease the "Rescue community" we aren't here for our egos, we aren't here for the drama, the hate, the evilness of humans... we don't kiss ass... we don't seek fame and glory... we do what we do for the dogs, and the dogs alone... my dogs are heroes... my savior... my teachers... my life... I've been freed... saved.
In all honesty, I don't take to compliments very well... I don't know what to say or how to react... I don't know how to handle them... I'm learning... but still have ways to go... I'm a simple man... the true rescuers are my dogs... They have given me purpose... they have given me life... they are teaching me to better socialize... they teach me compassion, love, forgiveness... they are teaching me not to hide my sensitive side... they are teaching me to be truly free... they have converted my being close minded to being open minded... they have taught me to love myself... they are teaching me to lower my levels of independence... to open up my life and to allow others to enter... to allow others to help... I still have ways to go with accepting help... but the dogs are training me... and I'm just as bull headed as they can be... so, it's no easy task... but they are doing it... they are saving me...
We, as a Rescue... need help... our dogs are helping free our minds and hearts from the sadness and evilness of today's society... they freed me... you can be free from the worries of these hard economic times as well... learn from the dogs! They will free you from all the evilness of humans, if you allow them to... if you give them the chance to. Volunteer for the dogs, regardless of the Rescue or Shelter... get involved... pay close attention to the dogs... they are speaking to us... they are teaching us... they are freeing us... They are very majestic creatures... they are Angels on Earth... Don't dread today's world... my dogs have taught me not to rationalize what is out of our control... they can teach you the same... if you allow them... they saved me... they can save you as well! They are the true rescuers... not I or you... they deserve the credit... they deserve the thanks, they should get the credit... they are the real heroes... the dogs of Rescues and Shelters need you, they want you... don't allow your personal emotions, the many different views, and whatnot to take the focus off of what truly matters... the dogs... No matter the obstacles that are put in your way by other humans... keep the focus on the dogs... be like the dogs... let them teach you... my dogs saved me...
Volunteer today! You shall be freed from the evilness of Today's World. If they can free me... they can free you... my dogs have saved me. They can save you too!
Signed,
Eric Emminger
President of Pit Bull Happenings, Inc.
Eric@PitBullHappenings.com
http://www.pitbullhappenings.com/
