Thursday, April 14, 2011

Opening our hearts to Coco

Hi! I'm Coco.

As you know, we were Romeo's guardians at times when our daughter, Linda was unable to take him with her for certain business engagements and functions. From the time she adopted him, he was never, ever left alone, not at her home or at our home. He was either with her or with us. Our own dogs, Bonny, Heathcliff and Toby grew to love him so much and each 'reunion' was met with boundless joy on all sides. Romeo had been accompanying the big dogs for their daily run on the field when visiting us from the time we all felt it was 'safe' to take him i.e. after he'd completed his puppy vaccination programme and had grown a bit. At first, either Linda or I would accompany my husband and Romeo was kept on his leash at all times. Once the routine had been 'learnt' and Romeo knew the drill, we allowed him to run unhindered, as the field is safe and we were always right there to keep him in check. The Sheps spend their time chasing after and retrieving tennis balls, which my husband whacks hard and far with a tennis racquet. It's a game they love and it gives Toby, our 1 year old German Shepherd an excellent workout. Heathcliff (our own rescue dog) and Romeo would have great fun running about, sniffing and exploring, but always under the attentive and watchful eye of my husband. Romeo loved the freedom of being able to race and jump and dig, kick and dive headlong into the grassy mounds. He was a natural athlete and it was on the cards that he'd be taken to agility training once he was a bit older. Eventually we all seemed to have the routine down to a tee and my husband took over on his own, just as had been the case before Romeo joined our family. The big dogs would run up their ramp and travel safely secured in the canopied bay of our bakkie, while Romeo would sit up front with my husband in air-conditioned comfort, which he absolutely loved. Although our canopy windows have safety bars on the windows to prevent the big dogs from being able to hang out, the width was a little too wide to risk letting Romeo travel in there, too. We were not prepared to take any chances that he might have been able to push himself through the bars. The routine worked so well and they all had so much fun together, our little close-knit pack of four. They would return home ready for a swim on hot days, followed by breakfast and they'd all settle down for a nice nap afterwards. 

To continue this post, please click the Read more button below... 
On Tuesday 12th April 2011, something went horribly, irreversibly wrong. The dogs had had their after-exercise cool-down and were all standing next to the bakkie, where they'd been given their water. This was all part of the usual routine and they all knew the drill. My husband popped Romeo into the cab and left the door open as usual, as it gets very hot standing in the sun while they are busy on the field. It is safe on the field, and they park well away from the busy main road running adjacent to the field. The dogs were tired and knew it was time to head for home. My husband popped round to the back of the bakkie to load up the ramp and close up the bay to secure the big dogs. Just as he'd done so, Romeo suddenly leapt out of the cab and went scampering across the field towards the trees on the far edge. My husband called and blew the dog whistle, but Romeo just kept going. There is a fence separating the field from the busy main road that runs at some distance from and parallel to it, so my husband quickly gave chase, not for one moment imagining that Romeo would squeeze through the fence and get near the road. He thought it would just be a matter of nabbing Romeo, and running back with him to the bakkie. However, despite the calling and whistling, Romeo just kept going, shot straight through the fence, up the steep bank and into the road. By this time, my husband was already there and witnessed Romeo's tragic ending. The car that hit him didn't stop. My husband says he doubts the driver even registered the collision, it all happened so fast. The saving grace is that Romeo was killed outright. I cannot tell you how hard this was especially as this horrific occurrence took place on 'our watch'. We are so careful and attentive and the safety of our dogs is paramount to us. This should NOT HAVE HAPPENED, yet it did. This beautiful, lovable, wonderful little pup should still be alive, but he is not. This is something that no amount of second-guessing can undo. What happened on Tuesday morning will effectively live with us forever.

Linda was at that precise moment in the car on her way through to us from Cape Town where she lives, so very excited to be coming to spend a couple of days here and to fetch her puppy whom she had missed greatly in the 4 days he'd been staying with us. I need not tell you how heartbreaking it was for us to have to tell her this news or how absolutely devastated she was to hear it (and still is)!

I am not going to go into the whys and wherefores. Believe me, we have agonised over this deeply and we have tried to find the lesson to be learnt. Clearly, no matter how safe and careful you might think things are, no matter how responsible a pet owner you might be, no matter how much love and thought and care you might put into ensuring the safety of your pet 24/7, there are things that, in a matter of seconds, are out of your control. One cannot ever be TOO CAREFUL! Having a dog is as much of a responsibility as having a child.

Romeo was the first puppy Linda had ever owned on her own. He was lovingly chosen and she gave him the very best home. She trusted his care to no one else but us. He travelled everywhere with her when possible and he was with her 24/7 apart from those times when she needed to rely on our help. He loved life to the full. He possessed boundless energy and was an exceptionally intelligent pup. He was by far the most loving and affectionate puppy I have ever personally known. A real little Romeo in every sense of the world. Linda had looked forward to having him share her home and her heart for the full extent of his natural life. This was denied them both. The two of them were a team and were going places, together! She said he was her inspiration to 'go it alone' and run her own business, so they could be together as much as possible. He was devoted to her and she to him and we were given the immense privilege of sharing in this pup's life. He connected deeply and profoundly with us all and everyone who met him was drawn to him. The sudden and tragic way in which his life ended so prematurely has torn through all of us. We are struggling to come to terms with it.

Linda felt she could not allow Romeo's life to go unrecorded and so she has taken on the challenge of setting up a fund in his name and will tirelessly commit herself to raising much needed funds for the Animal Rescue Shelter where Romeo was first taken. She has offered her services free of charge to Furkidz, a wonderful organisation that advertises all the abandoned and abused puppies, dogs, kittens and cats waiting for new homes in South Africa. Linda is on a mission and she always accomplishes whatever she sets out to achieve, so we have no doubt that she will make a difference.

My husband and I made a donation to the shelter yesterday, when we went with Linda to choose another puppy. We were deeply saddened (appalled!) by the very difficult conditions under which both the animals and their carers have to live and work and we too, felt we needed to make a difference.

Linda felt she needed to adopt another pup, as soon as possible, in order to give a home to another rescue pup and thereby try and give some meaning to Romeo's tragic death. She and we will grieve Romeo for a long time, but by doing this, we are dulling some of the immediate pain and focussing our energy on helping to make a difference, albeit only a tiny drop in the vast ocean of abandoned and abused puppies and dogs worldwide. Romeo, a little pup with a vast heart has been the catalyst for this and we salute his soul, for he brought so much love and joy into the world in the few months he was in it.

The new pup that Linda adopted yesterday is already at home with us all. Linda has named her Coco and, in the 24 hours she has been here, she has already found her special place beside Linda and in our physical and emotional space. She seems to have just slotted right in, it's uncanny!

Coco's mother and father were rescued along with their litter. The parents were desperately emaciated and it was decided that they had to be euthanised. The puppies, very small at the time, were equally weakened and it was doubtful that they would pull through. Had it not been for an Angel of Mercy named Helen, who volunteers at the shelter every day, on weekday mornings and who works tirelessly to rescue and foster as many pups as she is able to, asked for a stay of execution. She hand-raised the three puppies herself and Coco is the second to have been adopted. She is gorgeous, healthy, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. She owes her life to Helen and the animal rescue centre. Romeo, likewise, owed his life to Helen. She took him home and hand-raised him there until Linda adopted him. Now that Coco has found a home, Helen will be on the lookout for the next pup/puppies for whom she can offer a better chance of life. Without people like Helen (also a wife and full-time Mother to her school age children) who see a need and act on it in such a generous and committed way, many more animals would have to be put out of their misery or suffer in appalling circumstances as abandoned street dogs. They are the unsung heroes of this world! I could not do what Helen does. Apart from the awful stench that emanates from the municipal dump adjacent to the shelter and that hangs cloyingly in the air and every nook and cranny, there is the equally serious problem of flies. Although they clearly do the very best they can with the resources at their disposal, they are working under tough conditions.

In honour of their commitment to making a difference, may I suggest that you visit an animal shelter in your own area if this is possible.  If you are able and feel drawn to do so, then please make even the smallest donation of funds, food, dishes, towels, blankets, bedding, toys or your time, as your humane contribution to lending assistance to these gentle souls that share our lives and our planet. Even better, if you are wanting to get a dog, consider adopting a rescue animal. They will repay you in love and devotion in immeasurable ways.



31 comments:

  1. Welcome Coco! We expect your professional portrait over and over now as you grow!

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  2. You are such wonderful people....to take in another pup...
    I wish there were more people like your daughter....Ollie, my cat, was left in a bag somewhere in a park....the police found him and took him to a shelter....that's where i found him....Adopting a rescue animal is such a easy thing to do....they need us, they need our love.....i hope coco will stay a very long time in your life....
    Love and hugs Bianca xx

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  3. Reading Romeo's story made me very sad. You described him as such a great and energetic puppy, that I was still hoping a bit that the story would have a happy ending, although I knew what had happened.

    I'm looking at Aschiuta napping and I know what you mean about them being like children. It's our responsibility to protect them from danger, because they often just want to lunge headlong into anything.

    You and your daughter took great care of him and I'm very happy that you are also helping the dog shelter. I hope more people will take your example. I know in my country, stray dogs need help very badly.

    Coco sounds like a lovely girl. I hope she will bring joy to your hearts and sweeten the memory of Romeo's accident.

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  4. Owwwwwwwww...Coco is the sweetest dog ever!! i hope she enjoy you all.......big smile on my face now........give your daughter a big hug from me...she shall need it !!....love love Ria.....xxx...

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  5. Sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved Romeo. I'm a real dog lover myself, although because of my circumstances I haven't been able to own one for quite some time. They need lots of love, care, and attention...which you all were lovingly giving. I'm sure the new pup, Coco, will find a happy loving place in your family as well.

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  6. So very sad to read the details of Romeo's death. Your poor husband! How awful it must have been to witness the tragedy. I'm happy that Linda found Coco to help mend her broken heart. What an appealing face!

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  7. I'm so sorry for the loss of Romeo. Coco is a very cute dog.

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  8. So sorry about Romoe, But weclome to this cutie Coco. Im sure you all will be blessed with this new love to help mend your broken hearts. Romeo will always have a specail place and Coco will win a new spot too.
    Way to cute of a baby.
    Blessings

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  9. Coco is gorgeous! I hope she is a blessing to you all.

    On many levels, I would love a dog, but on the days that I work, I am out of the house for around 10 hours, so it wouldn't be fair!

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  10. A sad story and I can sense how you are all grieving.
    Coco is adorable and I hope she can fill the gap created by your loss. People working in animal shelters are unsung heroes. If we ever get another dog it will be from a shelter. We don't have any fences so we can't have a dog. We travel a lot too and it is unkind to leave a pet. But if I'm ever left alone and stop travelling I will get one but it will have to be an inside dog.

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  11. There was definitely a reason for Romeo coming into your lives and him having been part of your family will make difference for all other furbabies. He may no longer be here in furbody but I'm sure he is right their in spirit beside your daughter and helping her to continue to make a difference. ~ Coco is adorable and can't wait to read more of her adventures as she settles in with your family!!! xo HHL

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  12. A very sad thing to happen. It's like everything in life, you can only do your best - we cannot foresee. Romeo was very fortunate in that his life, though short, was full of puppy happiness by virtue of your kindness.

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  13. Coco looks so loving and sweet. I am sure Coco will offer the kind of love needed at this time for all of you.

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  14. Oh this is so sad, Desiree and my heart goes out to Linda, but especially to you and your husband who are such animals lovers and would do anything for that terrible accident not to have happened. Oh I am so very sorry and send you all a great big cyber hug over the blogger waves. I love the look of Coco and well done to Linda and you both for assisting in her new mission. Is the shelter called ARO or is it Furkidz? I subscribe to ARO (only in Cape Town) who do so much for settlement animals. Bless you all at this terrible time. (((hugs))) Jo

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  15. So sad to hear of an accident like that. You always berate yourself thinking that you should have been more alert. But these things happen unfortunately and nothing we can do about them.

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  16. oh no! sadness...grief...my heart goes out to you...your daughter....your family!
    at least Romeo had the best life a dog could have!
    and now...WELCOME Coco!! you don't know how lucky you are, Coco!! but you will surely find out!
    >hugs<

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  17. Welcome Coco, not to replace Romeo but to put joy back in your hearts.

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  18. Coco is a beauty and lucky to have found you all. Pets break our hearts and mend them.

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  19. After giving the news to Sweet Pea about her rabbit I know the terrible feeling it is to give your child bad news about their beloved pet. I really am so sorry. Coco sounds like she already is a lucky girl and even luckier to be adopted by your daughter. I'm sure she'll be spoiled by all the love she'll get.

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  20. Coco is adorable! Sounds like it was a good idea to get another dog right away. I hope she has a long and happy life with you and your daughter.

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  21. Coco, you are a lucky puppy to be chosen by such nice people, have a great life and I am looking forward to photos

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  22. That's exactly what we did when I first heard the news about Romeo- made a donation in his name at our local shelter.

    Coco is precious! Tucker sends kisses and hugs to all of you!

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  23. Everyone:

    Thank you all for coming by and leaving your exceedingly kind comments. I want you to know how very much every single one is appreciated!

    Coco is doing so well. As with all new furbabies, she needs lots of attention and we are trying to get her fully house-trained before our winter rains start, so it's a full time job right now. She is very affectionate and is warming to us more and more. It is hard to believe she's only been with us for two days as she really feels as though she belongs here already!

    I wish you all a happy and relaxed weekend doing whatever it is that brings you joy.

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  24. I am so sorry to hear of your family's loss. Romeo sounds like one of those incredible souls that you rarely are blessed enough to know. Love to you and yours and welcome to Coco.

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  25. There are no words for my sadness at your loss, or my admiration for the good your whole family is creating from it. Sometimes in life, no matter what we do or how careful we are, bad things happen. But Romeo's death could possibly save the lives of countless other dogs. I hope you find comfort in that.

    Coco is a cutie. Looking forward to watching her grow into your family.

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  26. What a gorgeous little pup. How blessed she is to be able to share her life with your daughter and you.
    She's perfect!!!

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  27. Losing a pet is so upsetting I feel your pain. Coco is beautiful and will love her new home.

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  28. My sweet friend..I am so sorry this has happened to you. My Mele got away from us just a few weeks ago. Somehow she slipped through the back garage door when the front garage door was open. The back door is difficult to close at times and it must have come open and Mele just walked away without being seen. A call from a passing neighbor in her car, called us that she thought she saw Mele several blocks from home headed toward the highway...at first I didn't think it could be our Mel..but upon a frantic quick check I confirmed she was gone and the my dear neighbor picked her up and brought her home. Things like this happen. Dogs can see something we don't see and can be gone in a shot...like Romeo was.
    Even the most diligent of us can have those things happen.

    My heart goes out to you Desiree. God must have wanted this little guy and called him home.
    Again...I am so sorry. I just held and hugged my Mel...

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  29. Hello Coco and welcome to your new home. I know from everything I have read and learned of your family, that you will have a wonderful and beautiful life to look forward to. Romeo cannot be replaced, but his memory will always be there.

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  30. Coco's face reminds me of our Heidi's. Our previous yellow lab had died in an October, and the people we got her from asked us to take another one that December. They had given her to another family, who had said it wasn't working out to keep her. They had mistreated her, and she came to us with some issues. She is still insecure at times, but we get by.

    I am so sad for what you're going through. I'm glad your daughter got Coco, and that things are going well with her.

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  31. You have certainly been busy in the most honorable way! There's a special place in heaven for those who are kind and dedicated to animals in need.

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