https://www.facebook.com/rooyori/photos/a.1251291448309511/2899078366864136/
We all have had that one pup that waltzed into our lives and changed everything for the better. For Andrew Yori, it was his Pit Bull, Wallace.
Yori has had a lot of experience as a dog trainer and shelter volunteer, but it was just different with Wallace. Maybe it’s because he’s his first Pit Bull.
The Minnesota native narrates that Wallace was indeed a handful, and getting the Pit Bull to work on something needed a lot of focus. But later on, he discovered that the canine loved playing frisbee, so they channeled his energy on that. They would join competitions while raising awareness that Pit Bulls weren’t as scary as they seem.
https://www.facebook.com/rooyori/photos/a.1251291448309511/2815781855193788
Unfortunately, Wallace died in 2013. Although he left a lasting memory through the Wallace the Pit Bull Foundation and a book by Jim Gorant, this left his owner lost. Yori didn’t know how he would go about to continue his work.
Three years later, the answer came when Yori was tapped to compete in American Ninja Warrior, an obstacle course TV show. So he gave it a shot and submitted his application.
His first season in the show filled the void that Wallace left. It also gave him another platform to continue his advocacy for dogs. According to him, it wasn’t the way he had envisioned to help, but it was petty amazing that it worked.
https://www.facebook.com/rooyori/photos/a.835218593250134/2750392585066049
Yori has now competed in four seasons of American Ninja Warrior and is now known as “K9 Ninja.” This is because each season, he makes pledges for conquering obstacles and then supports neuter clinics and adoptions through it. His popularity through the TV show also allowed him to speak at events and schools.
The ninja warrior says that he does all this so that when people think of adding a dog to their family, they would think of shelter and rescue animals too. He adds that a lot of these dogs waiting there are good dogs, and all they need is a chance to show it.
Source: Roo Yori – K9 Ninja via Facebook
