Coya

Our amazing Coya passed today at a little over 15 years of age. Thanks so much to the amazing staff at the Animal Humane Society who helped her go with dignity and grace, and allowed us all to be there with her.


When we lost Geronimo, I was low-key looking for another keeshond, and became involved with several keeshond groups online. Most had coalesced around closing down a notorious New York puppy mill, but I made friends all over the country (and in Canada) who cared about the breed. You are all amazing people and I care about you so much.


When Wendy found out about a backyard breeder in Western Wisconsin who had a dog on Craigslist, so grabbed Bill (who had Sapphire, one of the puppy mill dogs) and they went to rescue her. Once they got her out of there, Wendy needed a home for her, and so 4-year old Coya came to us. Her pedigree papers called her "Lacoya of Seven Bridges," but to separate her from that we called her Coya, after Coya Knutson, Minnesota's first female congressperson.



She settled right in.


Over the past 11 years (more than half our marriage), she has been the calm, loving anchor for our family of pets.


She has cuddled, on her terms, but she always knew when you needed the love.


Every single night when you fed her, she pranced and leapt and was so happy about her food.


She loved the cabin.

                                                        

And she quietly but wholeheartedly loved her family, and would do anything to protect us and take care of us.

Her pain started ramping up in the summer, and we got her some meds, and it was better for awhile. Patrick was a hero in taking care of her many needs. But finally, it got too all be too much for her, and in the last week, it was clearly a lot more bad than good. So we did what you do when you really love someone, and made the arrangements for her to pass on her terms. And my family was amazing at it. There we all were (Patrick, Beatrix, Ximena, and me), stuffed into a tiny room at the vet, feeding her chocolate so she could have it once in her life.

It's been a rough go of it the past couple of years, with Mimi, and Brutus, and now Coya. And I fear I will never have a keeshond again — they are not common dogs, and I am afraid as I get older I won't be able to lift one to take it outside if needed. But despite how much I am ugly-crying right now, I would not have traded the past 11 years with her for anything, and I know the rest of the family feels the same.

We love you so much, Coya.





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