| UPDATE 3/19/05 Coco left today with her new mom, Stacey, for her new home in Atlanta GA. Coco will have a new playmate named Tedde.
3/20/05 Note from Stacey: Coco has yet to sleep or even lie down in her bed. I put it in the bedroom last night but she slept in the living room most of the night. She kept going in and out the dog door, so I didn't sleep very well. Every time I heard her go out I would wait to hear her come back in. I could not coax her to come in the bedroom and sleep. I walked both of them twice today. They have played some today. Most of the time they just lie around, Tedde on the sofa and Coco on the floor. Coco does go out on her own more than Tedde. I think she really likes the big backyard and the fact that is available all the time. She did lay out on the deck in the sun today too. It was a beautiful day here.
Coco is so funny with toys. She rolls over on her back holding them in her mouth and paws. She loves her tummy rubbed too. She is really food oriented. I did put her in the bathroom to eat so that Tedde could eat. Coco did not mind at all. She was just sitting there when I opened the door to let her out, not a morsel left in the bowl.
I hope things will continue to go smoothly so that I will feel comfortable leaving them when I have to go back to work.
1/23/06:
Cindy,
I was watching television one day last week and Coco came up to me and pawed me as she does from time to time. I petted her and scratched her belly for a few minutes then she walked away. She went to the end of the sofa where Tedde gets most of the time. Tedde was not on the sofa at the time. Coco rested her head on the sofa for a second then jumped up on the sofa and laid down. I was so surprised. All these months she has never seemed to want to get on the sofa. I wish I could figure out what finally made her do it. I could look at it as she has finally become comfortable living here. Tedde hasn't seemed to mind, but sometimes Coco takes up almost the whole sofa if she lays in the middle and there isn't much room for Tedde. Tedde and Chino used to share the sofa so it really isn't new to her. Coco still goes to her bed during the day and has been sleeping there almost all nights. One night though, she was on the sofa when I went to bed and she apparently stayed there all night. I did not hear her snoring during the night. I now wonder if she will ever get on the bed with Tedde and me. She wakes me up many mornings by putting her paws on the bed but she doesn't remain there long.
I had a question about Coco that I had never thought about before but my mother brought it up. When you had her spayed was your vet able to tell if she had ever had puppies? My mother thinks that because she is always licking Tedde's mouth after she eats that she is mothering her. She licks Tedde's face other times too. On rare occasions Tedde will give Coco a lick or two. Tedde can still go up to Coco and take away any toy or bone she has in her mouth. Coco never growls or shows any aggressive behavior at all, just gives it up. On the other hand, Tedde will growl at Coco is she tries the same thing. Tedde and Chino used to to this too. They would growl at each other. They do get rowdy at times and chase each other around the room. There is evidence of it sometimes when I come home from work. Tedde will be sound asleep on the sofa sometimes and Coco goes out the dog door and Tedde will jump down and follow her or at least see where she went. The back yard has lost its fascination for both of them. They don't go out much except to pee or poop. I can't even entice them out when I am working in the yard. Makes it hard to get outdoor pictures. They are truly 'house dogs'.
Stacey, Tedde and Coco
Tedde and Coco
Cindy,
Today, March 19, marks Coco's first year with us. She has been such a pleasure to have. From the first days of exploring everything around the house, inside and out; the digging in the yard (doesn't do it anymore); the biting of my hands (still does it but now I know it's affection); playing with Tedde and her toys (Tedde is the boss); rolling on her back with a toy in her mouth (never had a Shar-pei that would do that-so funny); sleeping in her little bed (when she disappears I know that's where she is); the snoring (worse than a human); and finally, I knew she was home when she jumped up on the sofa with Tedde. Coco filled a void in our lives and will continue to bring happiness to both of us. Thanks for rescuing her.
Love,
Stacey and Tedde
10/23/06: Hi Cindy,
I have been meaning to let you know how we are doing but work has been busy. Went on a trip to Naples, Florida on business, the first time in twenty-five years at the hospital. It was a very nice conference at a very nice resort. I really enjoyed it as the weather was perfect for the beach. Of course I had to put Coco in the kennel but she was just fine. She rides so well in the car, just hops on the back seat and lays there. Tedde was not good in the car. I still miss Tedde so much. She was my sleeping partner and now there is no one. Coco has taken to sleeping on the sofa and, for now, forsaken her little bed. I still leave it out at the foot of my bed but so far she likes the couch. I think she is doing okay. I was never able to decide if Tedde really missed Chino and now it's the same way with Coco. She did not wander around the house looking for Tedde. When I started feeding her in the spot where I fed Tedde, she wasn't quite sure if it was okay but once I convinced her it was okay she took to eating there. She does seem to be more mellow, finding her own way. Tedde was the boss and now no one is bossing her. I think that is why she goes to the sofa now. That used to be Tedde's place and occasionally Coco was allowed up there. I walk Coco at least three times a day if I am off work and she loves it. I am thinking about taking her to a park close by so both of us can get more exercise. We need it. She likes the other dogs but doesn't engage them in play, just sniffs. Tedde was the one who wanted to play with other dogs. Coco finally started playing with some of her toys again. She dug out a chew bone the other day and carried it out on the deck. Back in May, for twelve weeks, I had a new deck put on the house. The two guys who did the work gave Tedde and Coco so much attention while they worked. I am so grateful Tedde got that attention because she was feeling so good then. They spent a lot of time out there with the guys.
I can't get over how many of your rescues have died so young but they had a hard beginning. I still can't believe that I only had Chino for two years and Tedde for five. That has been really hard for me, but I know I gave them the best because that is what I do for the animals I love. I think Coco is pretty healthy, except for being a little on the heavy side, which is my fault. She did lose four pounds when I took her in for a check-up so we are on the way. She loves her food. As the weather is turning cool she is going out more in the back yard, starting to dig again but I haven't found the spot yet. Halloween is coming up so Coco will be celebrating her sixth birthday. I'll try to get some pictures to send you. Stacey and Coco
5/11/07: Very sad news today. We learned this morning that Coco passed away last night. She had surgery yesterday to remove a large lesion in the roof of her mouth. During the night she coughed and her trach occluded and she collapsed immediately. The doctors tried to save her, but just couldn't. We know the pain Stacey is feeling.
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