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American
Staffordshire Terrier
Tribute to Hershey
Linda Baker is guest columnist this month (DOGS IN CANADA - July 2009 - pg. 43)
'Hershey' passed away on March 26, 2009. With Hershey's passing another sweet soul is freed from the restraints of being a banned breed in Ontario. Hershey may not have been a registered American Staffordshire Terrier, but she was a great one - a gentle, loving girl who asked for nothing and gave so much of herself to everyone she met.
Hershey's life started many years before the ban, but she was a victim even then - of human greed and inhumanity. Her life really began when she was no longer useful as a
puppy-mill breeding machine; her luck changed at last when she was rescued and adopted into a loving family.
It took months and months to show Hershey that she could stand up, wag her tail and play. Her physical injuries included an unattended broken jaw and neck trauma, the pain of which would last her lifetime. But that didn't stop Hershey from spreading her love and
sweet nature. She loved every living creature from horses to rabbits.
But most of all, she adored human beings.
Hershey had a distinguished career with the St. John Ambulance
Therapy Dog Program and brought joy to seniors and children alike. She was the proud recipient of an award from The Toronto Humane Society for her services as a therapy dog. At the peak of this therapeutic
career, Hershey endured yet another blow from the human race - breed-specific
legislation. Once the breed ban came into effect in Ontario, Hershey lost her job ... yes, she was fired because of her looks. Still she kept busy attending functions and fundraisers to help other dogs in rescue, and was featured in numerous articles regarding the ban, in various forms of the media from print to television. She was busy on the home front, too, showing young foster dogs the ropes.
Hershey spent her life working as an ambassador for the breed and best friend and companion to her family.
She is running muzzle-free right now, smiling with her mouth wide open. They're not making them like Hershey any more - at least not in Ontario.
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Thank you, Linda - Diane Duffy,
American Staffordshire Terrier Club of Canada, 3182 Goldstein Rd., Washago, Ont. L0K 2B0; e-mail:
dduffye898@rogers.com
Remembering Hershey
(DOGS IN CANADA -
August 2009 - pg. 9)
LINDA BAKER'S FITTING AND TEAR-PROVOKING TRIBUTE TO
American Staffordshire Terrier 'Hershey' ('Breedlines', July
2009) reminds me of my own Am Staff, 'Shiba' (1988-1999) who never so much as ripped a tennis ball - although she never missed finding one, either, anywhere, anytime.
When the breed fancy acquires a critical mass of responsible breeders and owners, all BSL-affected dogs will emerge as trustworthy. Viva all good Bullies
everywhere.
- GLORIA
FINNIMORE, VIA E-MAIL
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