Allow me to introduce myself... My name that my first people gave me is Cocoa. I am a 3 1/2 year old Shepherd/Boxer mix. My first people adopted me and loved me. Unfortunately, like most people, she didn't know a lot about how to take care of me. I was neutered and did get my rabies shot, but that was all--and my people never paid the poor vet for the service he did to me.

Oh, well--money was never my strong point anyway. All I know is that I loved my people. But one day, my people got sick and had to go to a hospital. I heard her little people tell another one that she has cancer and is never going to come home. I will miss her, but I love her little people and will be happy to live with her.

What is this? I can't live with my people's little people? Where is she taking me? Oh! All these other dogs are barking and carrying on so horribly... She is putting me in a cage! The ground is so cold. No rug to lie on--just bare, hard stone. And this food is awful. Oh, I'm so cold--inside and out. My peoples left me. She is walking away! Where are you going? Oh... I'm so cold. I'm so lonely. Why won't you turn around and come back to get me?

I'm tired. I'm cold. I'm lonely. I'll just lie down here in a tight little ball. What is this? Who is this man? He is wearing a cowboy hat and a leather jacket. He talks nice to me and I try to wag my tail at him, but I'm SO cold... I got the tip of my tail to thump at him. Maybe he'll take me to where it's warm and I won't be hungry and someone will love me--but he's turning and... NO! He's leaving. I curl back up in my tight little ball and sleep...

What? OH! The man in the hat and coat is back and he's got LITTLE PEOPLES with him! And a LEASH! He's opening MY cage! He's putting the leash on ME! Oh, YES! I'm HAPPY! I'm BOUNCING! I'm going to where it's WARM! A short ride in the car and--oh... What are all these other dogs? Is this another nasty place? No... There is a rug, not stone. Okay--it's not so bad, after all... WAIT! He's taking me in a room and... AAAGH! RUNNING WATER! HE'S GOING TO RUN WATER ON ME! AND IT'S... It's warm... He's just bathing me... This isn't so bad. Ah! It's over. And he's rubbing me down with warm towels and talking softly to me. He's being nice to me. And now... FOOD! Oh, glorious food! And I don't need to shiver, it's so warm in here! And the little peoples love me, too! And I love them! Curl up on the floor in front of a nice, warm fire and nuzzle up to them... They're putting their arms around me and nuzzling up to me--loving me back! Oh, heavenly!

'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'

And all too soon I will have to break Cocoa's heart once more. Why? Because I am just his foster family--not his permanent home. I understand this and know to not get to attached to this little furry personality that I've rescued from Death Row (Owner Turn In at Animal Control gets until the next morning before termination). But how do I make him understand when another family comes and takes him away from me? Perhaps they'll be the perfect family for him, perhaps they'll be idiots that talk up a good storm and manage to snow us into letting them adopt him--either way, there will be the turmoil as he drives off with strangers--for better or for worse...

Help me out. Come adopt Cocoa and give him the loving home he so richly deserves before he bonds too much more with us. Make his life come to fruition by accepting his precious unconditional love. Take him into your home, your heart and your life so I may go rescue another one...

Postscript -- Cocoa was finally adopted out to a family who's 5 year old daughter absolutely adores him.

This page is © 1999, 2000 by DS G ra p hi x. Last updated 02 January 2000.

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