It's been awhile since I have been on my page.  I decided to check in and view any new posts.  Another update is that I still have Tank and Chunko, Coco's sons, now 10 years old and they are doing great.  Sad new is that their mother Patches has passed away due to lymphoma.  Please feel free to add any comments.....

Coco We Miss You!

Coco honey it is approaching that time and it is so hard to sit here and type or watch your slide shows and keep the tears from falling! It is going to be 2 years since you left us because of someones outright ignorance and I can not bring myself to forgive! We will never be able to forget either! When we walk through the yard I find myself picturing you running around wanting to play. I picture you standing at the gate watching for us to come home! Inside the house I picture you climbing onto the bed and waiting for the covers! Even now that still makes me laugh! Even though you were a dog and our pet you were so human-like it still amazes me! Coco honey I wish you were here right now and even though I know that's not possible I still have to wish for it! I have so much hate and anger inside of me that I live with throughout the year, but when its the anniversary of your death all those emotions of that night come flooding back and I am reminded how much I truly hate that man and the other officers involved! Maybe if he would have ever admitted he was in the wrong or admitted that other actions could have been taken maybe we could feel a little more peace but he ran from all of that and blamed you for his actions! Coco just know that you are always missed and we just keep trying to do what we can for other pit bulls so that you can be proud of us! We want you to know that it is all in your memory! Just so you know your sons Tank and Chuncko are so much like you! I wish that you could see how they enjoy the outside and how they run around and play! They are so good with the kids too! Tank is just like you and he has to cuddle up with dad and he wants lots of covers! LOL! Well I am going to say bye for now, but you know we will talk again soon! The boys came out to talk to you before the went to bed, I know that you heard them! They miss you like crazy, and Austin always says how no dog plays tennis with him like you did! LOL! Coco, please stay warm on these cold nights and continue roaming around the green grasses of the rainbow bridge!! I know how much you enjoy running in the cool air! We love you Coco!!! Bye for now! <3 <3 <3 <3

Change is Needed!

In the recent days we have been once again hearing of so many dogs being shot and killed here in Lee County. Each situation differs, but the end result has been death of the dog. There has been one of them that lived, but he was severely injured from the shots and is still struggling to have a complete recovery. We are so saddened to hear these stories and are doing our best to keep our heads level in order to continue the fight while taking the high road. This is not always an easy situation, but we will continue to do it. Our heart and thoughts go out to the owners of Harley, Dakota, Hank, and so many more. The officers seem to be crossing lines and they are not being held accountable. It is going to take many people to stand up and voice their concerns and their opinions in a way that Lee County and even higher up officials will hear it and help us bring about change. Sheriff Mike Scott has allowed his department to feel above the "law" that they are sworn to uphold. It is ridiculous and citizens like you and me are tired of it. We work too hard for our families(pets included)to continue to allow things like this to go on. Change will not happen over night and neither will accountability, but we can only hope that if we continue to cause a big enough stir that someone will finally listen and then this outrageous behavior by these officers will stop. We need your help! It won't be easy, but nothing that is worth fighting for ever is. Think about the animals that we love so much, they need a voice that is louder than their bark! We have to do it for them! So let's do it together. Please join or facebook group by searching JUSTICE FOR COCO. We would greatly appreciate it. In joining our group you not only show your support for our cause but you will be able to keep track of things that are going on and you will also be able to comment and voice your own concerns or suggestions. Let's make a difference ONE DOG AT A TIME!

It's been 1 year!

As I sit here and think of what to write and how to say it, my mind is flooded with memories of happier days. I feel my eyes starting to fill with tears and wiping them away seems to be something I don't want to do. So I will let the tears fall and I will continue to miss you just as much now as the day you went away! Coco, it doesn't get easier as time goes on, and I find myself having those days that I just wish you would walk through the bedroom door and jump up on the bed and cuddle with me just like you always did! You were one of the most amazing dogs that I have ever met and if you remember, I'm not the one that was big on dogs! LOL! Look how that changed. I hope that you know that we have never given up hope that we would one day be able to get you the justice that you deserve. I hope that as you are looking down on us you see all the good that we are trying to accomplish and I hope you know its in your honor. Coco I just want you to know that you will never be forgotten and your memory will continue to live on in our hearts and our minds. The boys often go out to your grave and talk to you, I hope you know how much they miss you. Its not the same playing tug a war with the other dogs, they give up too easily! LOL! I hope you are having fun at the Rainbow Bridge even though I know you would rather be here! Well I am going to leave this for now, but remember WE LOVE YOU and that will never change! Continue to rest in peace Coco and know that your memory and honor lives on!!

Things like this sadden me

Lately in the news I am hearing to many stories about dog being killed, and it seems that almost always it is a pit bull. I will be posting a few links that you can read and see some of the stories that I am referring to. I am so saddened by this and I know that our situation is not entirely the same as some, but the end result is death of a family pet, and it is that end result that has got to stop. Coco is not with us today because of ignorance and fear of a police officer. That statement is mild compared to what I would really like to say, but I do have to keep in mind that we want to take the high road! We miss Coco every day and the more times I hear about pit bulls being shot the more I wish I could hold him just one more time.

Today I was contacted by the people who owned this pit bull and also by someone that was at the incident. My heart goes out to them because I know how they feel. They are going to be engaging on a journey for justice just as we did. I do not know all the facts and I am not in anyway putting fault on any party, but I am saying once again an pit bull is dead because of an officer who could not think of another way to handle his fear(keep in mind alleged fear!)
http://www.news-press.com/comments/article/20101109/NEWS0101/101109044/Cape-Coral-police-officers-cleared-in-shooting-death-of-dog

Asking for the support of fellow dog lovers!

Please read the story and watch the brief video clip and you can form an opinion for yourself. If you live in our area and think what the vet clinic did was wrong and should have been handled differently please come out and protest with us in front of Lehigh Animal Hospital tomorrow at 2PM.



LEHIGH ACRES, Fla - Rain couldn't silence the cries of some who say what vets at Lehigh Acres Animal Hospital did was heartless. Protesters gathered outside the animal hospital a day after two dogs were put down because its owners couldn't pay a $2,000 boarding bill.

Deputies escorted workers to their cars Friday afternoon.

The animal hospital insists they did nothing wrong. They provided us with copies that show the hospital mailed several letters to the dog's family warning they would give up ownership of the dogs if the bill was not paid.

No one at the hospital would go on camera for an interview, but they did admit to taking donations from viewers who reached out to help even after our story aired and the dogs were euthanized.

On Friday, they released this statement: "The dogs were put down because they didn't have a safe stable home to go to nor did they have any financial income to be cared for correctly."

http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2010-08-20/Angry-protesters-camp-outside-Lehigh-animal-hospital#ixzz0xDb4wxWh

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LEHIGH ACRES, Fla - A Lehigh animal hospital refused to answer questions about whether it put several dogs to sleep because the owners can't pay for boarding them.

Vets at Lehigh Acres Animal Hospital had nothing to say to our cameras after we asked whether it was okay to euthanize two dogs because its owners couldn't pay more than $2,000 in boarding fees.

Taylor's Tears Animal Rescue in Fort Myers tried to step in and help.

The group reached out to the hospital and said they would take in the dogs until some sort of payment plan was worked out, but were turned down.

Animal Services says the whole situation is a civil matter.

Legally, the hospital has to serve papers to the family saying they have until a certain date to pay the bills or they give up ownership of the dogs.

The family says they have not received any paperwork.

Coco's Rescue in full swing!!!

We are off and running with getting Coco's Rescue up and running. We are always in need of blankets, kennels, shampoo, towels, dog toys/chews, and food. All of your help and support is greatly appreciated.
We have been taking in dogs(only pit bulls)and making sure they are taken care of until they are ready to find their forever home. We are seeing a variety of dogs come into our home. Some are very well taken care of and the owners had no choice but to get rid of them. Others come to us needing a lot of care to get back on track with eating, interacting with other dogs, and just learning how to be a family pet. We are working hard to make sure that each dog that comes to us enjoys all that our home has to offer before we adopt them to new owners. We have set up an application and an adoption contract to ensure that these dogs are placed in good homes and we are hoping to minimize the chances of them ending up back in a shelter by placing a clause in the contract that says the adopter must bring the dog back to us if for any reason they need to surrender the animal. We have purchased kennels/cages for each dog that we have. They eat well 2x daily and they love the time that they get outside to run around and play in the yard. The yard offers them a sense of freedom that many of them have never had. Each dog that has come to stay with us has become a part of us and we find it harder to adopt them out after they have spent a length of time here. We try to keep them long enough to be able to know their good qualities as well as the things that make them tick. We want to make sure that when we adopt them out, we are able to offer the person adopting the dog as much information as we possible can. We really just want what is best for these dogs and we are going to do our best ONE PIT BULL AT A TIME! We know that Coco is looking down on us and smiling each time he sees a dog get a good home and a second chance at a life.
We currently have 3 dogs available for adoption. These dogs can be seen on our new website at http://cocosrescue.blogspot.com/.
Max is a red nosed male pit bull. He is about 2 1/2years old.Great temperament, loves to be outside, great with kids, good with other dogs once he gets to know them.He is crate trained, and house broken. Max was rescued almost 4 1/2 months ago and just needs to go to a good home where he will be taken care of and get loads of love.Max has not been neutered, but needs to be. He is very loving, and eager to please. When outside he is protective of the yard and lets you know if someone is there that shouldn't be:-) Max is a little tall and is filling out nicely. He was skinny when we got him,and had a major issue with his skin on his face. it has healed nicely and you cant even tell where it was, and the exercise and good food is agreeing with him :-) He looks a 100% better, and we finally feel like he is ready for a new forever home.
Rebelis a very playful dog that just wants lots and lots of attention. He loves being outside, he is not fully housebroken. He is kennel trained. Rebel also needs to get neutered as well as get all of his shots. He came to us almost 3weeks ago. He is still very much a puppy. He will make a great addition to your family. He is still young enough that you will be able to train him the proper way.
Kingis just a little over a year old. He is full of energy, very playful, and also loving. He was raised around 5children, so he is great with them. He was also raised with a female dog, so he gets along well with others. Not to sure about male dogs. He is not neutered, and we are unsure if he has shots. We picked him up about 2weeks ago from a family in East Fort Myers. King just needs someone that has room for him to run, and who will give him lots of love. He is housebroken and kennel trained. He does well on a leash when you take him outside. If left in the backyard, he likes to find a shady spot for a nice nap :-) King is going to make a great addition to the right family.
We also just took in a male brindle pit bull named Romeo. Romeo came to us from the Clearwater area. He will be available for adoption in a few months. We want to make sure we are able to get to know him and give him a little self esteem back. He spent way to much time in a shelter. He is a great dog.