After proving to be quite the escape artist in his original home, Cooper was relinquished to the Dumb Friends League San Luis Valley Animal Center shortly after the facility’s grand opening. Knowing that the beauty of Southern Colorado was just on the other side of the door seemed to fuel his high-energy and adventurous nature.
During his six-week stay at our Alamosa shelter, our team worked closely with the 1-year-old German shepherd mix to help satisfy his energy needs through physical activity, socialization, and mental stimulation. They saw Cooper’s potential right away, and through behavior consults and individualized attention, they gradually helped redirect his escape and destructive tendencies. As the days turned to weeks, Copper improved significantly and came to love his caregivers at the League. Long, calming walks were often his favorite part of the day.
It soon became apparent that Cooper was a dog who needed a job. Something to keep both his body busy and his curious mind engaged. Like all animals we shelter, he also needed the love and affection of a new family. Luckily, he found both in Tara, who uses a wheelchair, and her husband, Harley.
The couple came to our center looking to adopt a dog, and they had a few in mind right from the start. When no sparks flew during these initial visits, Tara remembered seeing Cooper on the League’s website. His designation as a long-term shelter resident (or “longest stay” animal) struck a chord, and she asked if they could meet with him. “We wanted to show him some love since he seemed to be having a hard time getting adopted,” she said. “I thought it might be a nice thing to do for him and [could] help him open up.”
The three clicked immediately. Cooper seemed especially fascinated with Tara’s wheelchair. “He loved it,” she said. Overjoyed by the connection, Tara and Harley decided to sleep on the decision of whether to adopt Cooper – only there was no sleep to be had. Visions of Cooper and the happy life they’d share together danced in their heads. The following morning, Cooper came home with his new family.
Having trained her previous mobility service dog, Tara began to teach Cooper how to respond to her needs by performing specific tasks, like helping her move from the wheelchair to the floor and back again. She knew how much progress he had made at the League and, like us, saw real potential in her new canine friend. It turns out this was just the job Cooper was looking for!
Tara and Cooper have a sort-of unspoken arrangement – each helps the other stay active. Every day starts with a long walk, where Cooper runs alongside Tara’s wheelchair. So much of his natural energy is now directed toward play and learning new skills during daily training sessions. Cooper has also become quite the favorite among residents in the San Luis Valley. He can often be found exploring nearby trails or by Tara’s side as she plays in her local softball league. Through all their shared activities, Tara and Cooper have forged an incredibly loving bond. “Cooper picked me as his best friend,” Tara said. “The Dumb Friends League helped make it possible for him to pick us, not [just] for us to pick him.”