A Cooper by any other name . . .

My name is Cooper, or Copernicus if we’re being formal or fancy! Before this, I had lots of other names. I’m a lucky dog today, but wow did I have a long road to get here and lots of different people put names on me on the way!

Back in 2013, not too long after I was born (as near as anyone can figure), I was left alone somewhere outside of Houston. I don’t remember if I had a name back then, I just have some fuzzy memories of being put in a car and driven away and left. Cars scare me now – I am starting to trust a little more, but whenever my people ask me to get in the car, I really, really don’t want to in case we go somewhere and then I get left behind again.

I remember being hungry and scared but not for how long. After awhile, a truck picked me up in Houston and I came to BARC. They weighed me, bathed me, and fed me and realized I was too skinny and figured out I had heart worm. Yuck! They also named me Bailif. But sometimes I was Bailey on paperwork. I was so sick but they just kept helping me and believing I could get better and find a better home. I got lots of food and walks and medicine. Later, they found me a nice foster home to keep getting better in. I stayed there, learned how to be with people, and I caught balls that their little girl threw every day.

I knew it wasn’t my forever home, but it still made me sad when it was time for me go. I heard the words “transferred for adoption.” I didn’t know what that meant to the people saying goodbye to me but they seemed sad and excited at the same time. I was in a car again so I was nervous. I came to a new place. It was sunnier but also less hot and humid. The person with me told me it was Colorado. I just saw sun and mountains and the faces of my new family.

I was such a very good boy. Sometimes when I’m nervous that means I am a little shy, but that also means I don’t jump up on people or get too rowdy when I’m anxious. I showed my best, best manners but they only kept me for one night. It still hurts my feelings when I remember them calling up the people who took care of me in Texas and asking if they could, “give him back. He has an ugly head and we don’t want to keep him.” In the end, it all worked out for the best but no one likes to remember name-calling. I’m pretty stoic but that one stung.

Well, I was already in Colorado so the Houston people started calling in favors and found me a spot at Blue Moon Akita Rescue – hah! I’m a wondermutt for sure, but I definitely have zero ounces of anything long haired or fluffy like an Akita. But, it was a bed and a bowl of food, and by this time, I was resigned. I had another new name: Scout. There were lots of nice people there who all devoted themselves to caring for all of the doggies there. That rescue is friends with a lot of other rescues, and also lets vets and service people who help their Akitas have a “silver bullet” certificate to bring another animal to them that needs help. I was there with a bunch of other not-Akita dogs, and some cats too. Sometimes Blue Moon even has lizards in on silver bullets!

They walked me lots, and kept me fed and exercised and started training me too! They also realized pretty quickly that I’m a people person and needed more people-time so I became their special front office buddy. They put a sign up saying, “I’m available for adoption! Ask about taking me home!”

What happened next was interesting. These two nice people came into our kennel yard. I could tell they were nice because of the quiet, soothing way they talked to all of us doggies. They had another dog out to walk and play with him. He’s a nice guy but I wanted a turn too so I stuck my nose up to my fence and talked at them. I didn’t bark, but I have some pretty distinctive other noises in my vocabulary. The man walked right up to me and said, “Hi Scout! We’re talking to you next!” He knew my name! He looked at the lady and she said, “He’s gorgeous – pictures did not do him justice. And he’s not too big!” They had seen pictures of me? Someone had been showing me off!

After they finished interviewing the other dog, it was my turn. I walked nice, and played a little. I looked hard at these new people and realized the man is like me – he can speak up but is often a little shy and quiet. The lady is like me too – she likes to play! So when we all sat down to talk, right as the rescue lady was saying either of the dogs could go home for a “trial” I put my head on the man’s lap to let them know it should be me.

After an hour, I knew I was happy and feeling playful but I was still shy for a bit. They were nice but it’s hard to trust after being passed around and moved around and given up too many times. After a week, we all knew it was my home. They bought me some special treats to celebrate and told me I was joining the family. Then we went and played in the yard.

It’s been 6 months and the things I’ve seen and done would surprise that sad, sick puppy starving and sick in Houston. When I was adopted, I went back to Blue Moon and they said, “who is this?” when my lady and I walked in. She said, “this is the artist formerly known as Scout!” I thought, “wow, working out really must make a difference!” I get walked several times a day and I have a huge yard – my people play with me all the time. I get 4 or 5 times of doing laps and playing games with them every day! I love to play catch but recently doggie kickball has been my favorite. Sometimes I bring my people my toys and then we all get silly and chase around the house together! I also went to a special class, and my people got trained there to do awesome games with me that help me focus and check in with them. When we’re all playing right, I get special treats. This past year, I had a home for Christmas, so I got presents! New toys, and a coat! Just in time, because winters in Colorado are a whole other kind of enchilada and I had some learning to do to play in the snow and cold.

Best of all, every day, my man says, “Hey, Cooper-puppy. I like you lots.” My lady makes sure to tell me I have a handsome head and a magnificent head every day so that I erase my bad name-calling memory. When we go in the car, someone gets in back with me for a minute to remind me that, “you are here to stay. We will never leave you.” And every day my lady sits down next to me and pets me and says, “You are the best Cooper ever. I love you. Making you happy makes us happy.” She also made up a Super-Cooper theme song for me!

I’ve been feeling very lucky and have been giving lots of snuggles and putting my head on my people’s laps and feet to let them know I’m feeling close. I know that all my hard times were helped by rescues, shelters and foster homes, and so my lady and I have been collecting things to send to my rescues and shelters so that other dogs have a chance and a better stay on their way to a forever family. I’ve been there – I know it takes a lot of people and time and supplies so we want to help too.