City girl goes coon hunting and founds USSA!

[Brigid ODonoghue]

This little pup has a special place in my heart. Growing up in Milwaukee I never really got exposed to hunting and honestly didn’t have much interest in the sport. In the late 90’s, Pete Normington stopped by with a funny looking hat on and some real tall boots to match. He wanted to take my kids and me hunting; coon hunting to be exact. I had just returned from working out at the gym and I told him I didn’t want to wear all that silly looking stuff. But, Pete had a gift of always knowing the right thing to say, and after 15 minutes he talked me into going along with them. I thought I would be bored to death as we drove out for my very first hunting trip; later to learn I was truly mistaken!

Pete had a muscled little female named Tammy that was out of a dog called Silver Dollar Cracker. We let her go into an oak woods near a big corn field and it wasn’t long we heard her bark. The kids and I didn’t know anything about it and asked a bunch of questions as we walked quickly to what Pete called “the tree’’. My son shot the first coon out and Tammy and the big coon chewed on each other for a minute before she finished it off. To say I was hooked on hunting that night and coon hunting in particular is an understatement! We shot coon out of 6 trees that evening and I can honestly say this was a defining moment that directed me toward founding of USSA’s national hunting and fishing charity.

We call this pup Silver Dollar Crockett after Cracker’s dad Tree Talking Crockett, and because he is out of Cracker and Stone on the mother’s side. He is bred Wipeout Clayton and Triple Threat on the sire side. He’s a bold pup that’s into anything he can get his jaws around (including my leg; ouch!!).

The opportunity for a young man or woman to get a well-bred pup and raise and train it is truly a unique positive experience as the PKC's youth programs and opportunities will attest to. The bond between a human of any age and a dog is really unique. Recently, 2 young boys (5 and 9) lost their mom to brain cancer and their dad was incarcerated on the same day. The boys came out to visit and see the puppy. That rambunctious pup help 2 quiet kids laugh and play again as he feasted on fresh sets of fingers and shoe laces! It’s is truly amazing seeing how a pup can help children cope with any hardships. God bless you all!

Brigid O'Donoghue,
CEO and Founder
United Special Sportsman Alliance
http://www.childswish.org

[Brigid ODonoghue]

[Brigid ODonoghue]

[Justin Adkins]

Beautiful pup but even more beautiful story! May god bless you!

[James E. Kilburn]

Great story!! Real good lookin pup, really like his breeding too!

[Brad Pinkerton]

That is a really cool story and a real pretty pup

[James A Jones]

Great story,nice looking pup

[Brigid ODonoghue]

Some years back I had the pleasure of meeting Darrell Newton at the PKC World Championship in Aurora. I shared with him how a tough little Cracker female had a lot to do with introducing me into the great sport of hunting. I described how that one night changed my life and not long afterwards would inspire me to get the USSA charity off the ground.

Darrell seemed quite interested in USSA and it wasn’t long afterwards he was onboard. I told him about a 15 year old young man in Indiana battling Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) who really wanted to go coon hunting!

Eric’s wish was granted and his coon hunt was a great success! To top it off, Darrell gave him an official PKC coat, SD Stone pup, and his friendship for life!


Although Eric lost his long hard battle the compassionate actions of many will remain in our memories forever. “He was not ours, but God's alone; He loved him best and took him home.”

God bless!