By all indications 7-year-old Co-Co has had a good life. She
appears well fed, has an engaging disposition absent in most that have
suffered abuse or neglect. Why her caretakers chose to give Co-Co and
the rest of her four-legged housemates to an animal shelter is
something of a mystery.

People tend to see human qualities in animals, but science is pretty
sure one thing Co-Co didn’t do when she found herself in new
surroundings is wonder, “Why?”

Nor did Co-Co ask how it came to be that the human couple, along with
their canine companion, showed up at her new home and after some
talking, and petting and sniffing of butts took her in their car and
made her their own. She simply settled in and accepted her new
circumstances as if it were her abiding reality.

But Walt, Co-Co’s new canine companion, was perplexed.

Rescued a few years earlier from what by all indications was a
decidedly unhappy reality, Walt was ruled by fear. When that fear
manifested and Walt’s instinct forced a choice between fight or flight,
Walt would choose fight every time. But after those years with the new
companions, the drama of abuse and neglect receded into the realm of
dreams and waking life was notable for lacking such things. It was a
blissfully boring retirement from tension and anger. Walt is now a
friendly, happy creature who loves life rather than fears it. Structure
conquered his feral qualities and the flashes of anger and fear became
rare and rarer still.

And now this strange intruder invades the rhythm of life.

“Who is this little sausage of energy that jumps on my back and gets in
my face?” Walt seemed to ask. “Don’t you know I’m the top dog here you
little runt?”

The two share a common Teutonic ancestry, but their similarities end
there. Co-Co, is a dachshund whose ancestors’ small size and lack of
fear made them ideal hunters of badgers. Walt is a German shepard, a
breed is valued for its ability to enforce order and discipline in
people.

Co-Co and all her 14 pounds immediately saw a friend, playmate and
maybe boyfriend in the 60-plus pound Walt. But in that first week, Walt
feared her energy, because he fears his own energy and what comes of it.

From the outset Walt has shared his home if not with eagerness then at
least with tolerance. Mealtime has presented no problems and he seems
only mildly annoyed that his walks now involve having to oblige someone
else’s businesses. Walt never lashed out at Co-Co unprovoked, but he
would get nervous when she invaded his personal space – jumping off the
couch when Co-Co jumped on; giving a low growl when he looked down to
see Co-Co licking his belly and once snapping in her general direction
when Co-Co tried to jump on his back as he passed by.

On walks, the pair makes an unlikely sight as Walt’s easy gait clashes
with Co-Co’s frenetic dashing to, fro and underfoot. Leashes get
tangled as they go about their own business often oblivious to each
other’s presence until one finds an interesting smell and alerts the
other that they ought to investigate.

The humorous juxtaposition of the tiny wiener dog and the lupine
shepherd has a disarming effect on passers-by. Co-Co’s silliness both
in form and function and Walt’s tolerance of his companion makes him
more approachable for strangers whose own fear and instincts would
otherwise tell them to cross the street.

It took less than a week for Walt to relax around Co-Co. The two now
share furniture and seem to be closing in on a genuine snuggle. Walt’s
hostility toward Co-Co’s public displays of affection has decreased. It
is not hard to imagine the two will soon become true companions and not
merely two dogs living in the same house.

It was a bad day for Co-Co when her owners dropped her off at the
animal shelter, but we’re hoping that was the last bad day in her life.