How did Hades get Cerberus?

Answer 1

Cerberus was born from an egg. He was one of the offspring of Echidna (part woman, part serpent) and Typhon (a giant who was serpent to the hips with a human upper body, some depict the head as human, some as dragon). When Cerberus was still a pup, Hades called on him and his mother offering a gift of gold jewelery. Echidna stated that she would accept the gift if it were a gift for Cerberus's birth, but not if it was a payment to take the pup. Hades left the gift anyway as a show of what serving him could bring.

One day Cerberus entered into a fight with a shark. When he came face to face with the shark, he saw it had a boat with a frightened girl in it. Cerberus killed the shark and pulled the boat away saving the girl who's name was Delia. Delia accepted Cerberus as a friend despite his frightful looks. One day when they were out together while Delia healed animals, a female approached persuading Cerberus to go see his mother. While Cerberus was gone, Delia was killed by Argus, a monster sent by Hades. Hades had constructed the whole elaborate scheme.

Cerberus was pained by the death of Delia, and struck a deal to serve Hades for a thousand years as a guard, allowing no soul to escape and no living human to enter the underworld. Delia's spirit would be given in return after his thousand years of service.