The summer has been a hot one, especially in our hometown of Atlanta and in Brunswick, where we have Sea Island Girl safely docked for the hurricane season. It has been a busy time. Carolyn continues teaching the preschoolers at Dunwoody Prep, while I have been passing the time away completing a couple of boat projects and training Coco, the newest member of our family.
It didn’t take long before we realized how attached we had become to having a dog. Maggie had been with us for 18 years, and with her passing in June, we wanted to fill the void.
Adopting a rescued animal was the only choice for us. We didn’t want a puppy, and as it usually turns out with rescued animals, a mixed breed would be just fine. Petfinder.com was a big help. We could search by breed and size, read some very sad stories regarding the dog’s circumstances, and find the contact information for the respective shelter or rescue organization. Sadly there are tens of thousands of pets in need of adoption.
It was not until we had spent hours searching the internet and days visiting the local shelters that the picture of Coco popped up on the screen, and she was (as we southerners say), “the spittin’ image” of Maggie.
She was a three year old Border Collie-mix in good health. Montrose Animal Hospital in nearby Marietta had been caring for her since she was a pup and when circumstances changed for the owner, they were helping to find her a new home.
She was a three year old Border Collie-mix in good health. Montrose Animal Hospital in nearby Marietta had been caring for her since she was a pup and when circumstances changed for the owner, they were helping to find her a new home.
Since then it has been an exciting time for us. Coco is very smart, playful and she loves to be around children and has made a lot of four-legged friends at the Dunwoody Dog Park. She has a voracious appetite and with a little help from her Bil-Jack liver treats has learned to recognize her name, come, sit, and lay down. Currently we are working on her stay and fetch commands.
It came as no surprise that she was lacking nautical skills, which obviously was important for her cruising parents. Coco appeared overly enthusiastic upon arriving at the marina for the first time, but when it came time to walk down the dock toward the boat, she stubbornly dug in her heels, as if to say “no you don’t!”
Much like an Elizabethan queen, Coco was carried down the dock and placed on board to begin a new chapter in her life, one that is often reserved for cats or Great Danes. Since that first visit she has adjusted very nicely, and when we say “want to go to the boat Coco?” her eyes light up like Christmas trees.
We slip up every now and then and call her Maggie, but in time that will change. Maggie gained her sea legs at an early age, and we expect the Coco will adjust and enjoy our crazy six months on, six months off cruising lifestyle equally as well. Stay tuned.
