Koko's Story
Koko was just a month over 7 years old when he came into my life in 1994. I was watching a local news program and the vet from the Toronto Humane Society announced that he was there. His owner had died and the wife didn't want him.
We went to see Koko right after the news program, as soon as the Society opened. He was very depressed, he had been there for 3 weeks. Someone had to my horror of horrors, kindly brushed out all his undercoat, which I am sure did not help his mood any.
My husband took to him right away, so off we went to get Keesha. If the introduction went well, Koko would be coming home with us. Koko and Keesha hit it off right from the start. It was the beginning of 4 wonderful years. He was just so incredibly glad to have a family to protect again.
Koko barely had time to get to know us as 2 weeks later I was in the hospital as there were some problems with my pregnancy. When I came home another 2 weeks later, we had a brand new baby with us. Koko and Keesha bonded well together and always kept each other company.
He took his job of guarding the family very seriously. He had to be the first one through the door to ensure that it was safe. If you got up in the middle of night, he had to follow. As he got used to being part of a family again, he mellowed considerably. He was not a barker, so if he did, you knew somethng was up. He always slept in front of the door, an ever-watchful senty.
For the first year, he was very agressive towards all other male dogs that he encountered. He ended up with arthritis very badly in a back leg that had been injured by an encounter with an Akita in his first months with us. For the last year of his life, he missed out on car rides as he could no longer make the jump into the back of the station wagon.
It was with great difficulty that we accepted Koko's lack of bowel control and beginning stages of kidney disease. He never complained - he just always wanted to guard his family. He didn't play ball or catch, chase squirrels or play with sticks, but he was a solid companion, always right there with you. He wasn't a food hound, although he did love his potato chips. So with sadness, we sent Koko to the Rainbow Bridge. Right up to the end, he did his job of family guardian - another one of the best friends you could ever ask for - and the reason why my husband is in love with Keeshonden today.
Keesha's Pictures |
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In Celebration of Keeshonden |
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