I HAVE BEEN VERY fortunate in my life. When I was about 18 years
old, I owned a number of large breeds and did a fair bit of
A.K.C. and Rare Breed showing.
 I laid my
eyes on my first American Pit Bull Terrier when I was picking
up a Mastiff. The little dog was Shivar's Toddy, a bad
to the bone son of Cotton's Bullet. I had to have one,
then two then I bought the entire yard. I ate drank and
slept dogs. The phone bill was ungodly. I spoke
with all the greats, Maurice Carver, Ralph Greenwood, Howard
Heinzl, Andrew Giroux, Jack Boellaard, Don Maloney and Irish
Jerry to name a few, and most of them really did their best to
help me.
I went through a lot of dogs to get what I wanted, a good honest dog. I hung around with a lot of good men in the North East.
Red Rhode, Jack Kelly, Albert Landry, Indian Eddy, Joe Goffert,
John Kicak, Captain America and formed friendships that I will
never forget.
Renee and Ralph Greenwood helped me the most and treated me as if I were their
daughter. They decided that it was time for the A.D.B.A. to sponsor dog shows.
The breed badly needed help. Since I had experience with conformation they
sanctioned me as one of the first A.D.B.A. judges. It was quite an honor.
I married Bert Sorrells in the 80's and took over the daily care and management of
the dogs. The 12 years I spent with that group of dogs, compounded with the years
with A.P.B.T's of other strains has taught me a lot. I am one of the few that really
knows how their dogs are bred. Life goes on and as I said, I am lucky. I met
my husband, Marcel Winchester, when I was judging a show in New Zealand. We have
started a new life together, with our son, Jon-Marcel.
 The
dogs are ALL bred from those good dogs I had for 12 years.
They are Sorrells dogs, dogs that I know forwards and backwards.
I know the dog's brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts and
uncles.
I have scores of people to thank for my successes. Those that have stood with
me through thick and thin, thank you all. The A.D.B.A. has played a special part in
my life. Without the dogs and the Greenwoods, my life may not have been so lucky.
.
Here I am receiving the DOG MAN OF THE
YEAR award from Kate Greenwood, also there were Frank
Rocca and Gary Hammond.
ADDENDUM 2006
In the year 2006 I
was lucky enough to receive the highest honor the American Dog
Breeders Assoc, and the fanciers can give. I was inducted
into the DOG MAN HALL OF FAME. All I can say is thank you
from the bottom of me heart.
2006 HALL OF FAME at the American Dog
Breeders Assoc. Convention.
Enjoying my success with those that made it possible, my husband
Marcel, my son Jon-Marcel
and Kate Greenwood, president of the A.D.B.A.
What happens now?
It only gets better from here!
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