by Curt Decker

"I thought Fossil Rim works with species in peril? Last I heard, dogs aren't on the endangered species list. Why do you have a dog?"

Good question.

There are many ways to generate public interest in global conservation efforts. A living breathing animal can grab the attention of people in away slides or television programs can't. At Fossil Rim, we are part of conservation programs for many species, one of which is the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus).

Pilot's Peak Kodiak, "Kodi" for short, is at Fossil Rim to act as an ambassador for the cheetah and the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). Kodi is an Anatolian Shepherd, a breed of dog that has a long history as a livestock guardian. Originally from Turkey, Anatolian Shepherds are now being used in Namibia. The CCF is placing some of Kodi's relatives with ranchers to protect livestock. The dogs chase away potential predators. This reduces ranchers shooting animals previously considered a threat. For details on this particular program, I encourage you to take a look at the CCF website, www.cheetah.org.

Pilot's Peak Kodiak ("Kodi") was born Jan. 29, 2001. He came from Pilot's Peak Farm in Indiana at 8 weeks old, and weighed 20 lbs. at that time. Now in his tenth week, he weighs close to 30 lbs. His paws are as big as the palm of my hand. He's a big'un!! He may get up to 140 lbs. as an adult.

Kodi is headstrong and independent, but intelligent like most members of his breed. He's a handful when it comes to training. The biggest obstacle is keeping him interested in what we are doing. I would not recommend Anatolian Shepherds as a pet for everyone. These dogs were bred for guarding with very little interaction with humans, requiring them to be independent thinkers. You should do extensive research on this breed to see if they are right for you.

We are still in the training stages, but soon Kodi will be doing programs and making appearances to promote wildlife conservation at Fossil Rim and beyond. Look for him when you visit Fossil Rim! He’ll be glad to see you.

Thanks for reading,