What a Little Dog Named Coco Taught Me About Life

Many years ago, a little Papillon named Coco came into my life. She was six months old and had been left at a backyard breeder.

At the time, I didn’t even know what a Papillon was.

“What’s a Papillon?” I asked.

I was told to go to the library and look it up. Yes, this was before the Internet!

Coco weighed a whopping 3.5 pounds, including her collar and flea collar. She looked a little like a Gremlin. I picked her up, she immediately fell asleep in my arms, and that was it. I was hooked.

When I took her to the veterinarian, he looked at her and said, “Somebody gave this up?”

Yes, somebody had. And lucky for me, they did.

A Very Little Dog with a Very Big Spirit

We were living in New York at the time and moved to Boca Raton not long afterward. It was then that we began discovering just how many health problems this tiny dog had.

Over the years, Coco dealt with kidney problems, heart problems, bladder stones, luxating patellas, pancreatitis and cancer. You name it, Coco seemed to have it.

What she also had was an incredible spirit.

I became her primary caretaker, and the two of us developed a bond that is difficult to explain unless you’ve experienced it with an animal yourself.

I knew when something wasn’t right. I knew when she was hurting. I knew when she needed something from me. Sometimes all it took was a look.

And Coco was tough.

At her heaviest, she was only about 6.5 pounds, but there was nothing fragile about her personality. No matter how much the veterinarians poked and prodded her, she rarely complained.

She simply carried on.

Sometimes We Don’t Know How Strong We Are

As Coco’s health problems increased, so did the things I had to learn.

I learned to give her injections and daily fluids. I hate needles. I didn’t think I could do it.

But she needed me to do it.

So I did.

Looking back now, I realize Coco taught me something that has become even more meaningful as I’ve gotten older: sometimes we don’t know how strong we are until someone we love needs us to be strong.

We don’t necessarily volunteer for the difficult things in life. They arrive.

We take care of a sick pet. We care for someone we love. We deal with loss. We adjust when life doesn’t turn out exactly as we expected.

And somehow, we find a way.

The Unexpected Gift of Friendship

Coco gave me another gift I never could have anticipated.

In the mid-1990s, the Internet was just beginning to become part of our lives. Remember AOL?

Because I had a sick little Papillon and seemingly endless questions, I joined a Papillon message board. There were breeders, people who showed dogs and ordinary pet lovers like me.

People generously shared their knowledge and helped me when I needed answers.

Even more remarkable, some of the people I met through those early message boards became real friends. We visited one another and stayed connected through our shared love of Papillons and dogs.

All because of one little 3.5-pound dog.

It reminds me that we never really know where friendship will find us. And as we get older, I think we appreciate those genuine connections even more.

Caring for Her Was a Blessing

Coco lived to be 13.

Considering everything she dealt with, that little dog had a remarkably good life. She was loved, cared for and probably spoiled more than a little.

For years, I thought about everything I had done for Coco.

With time, I came to understand it differently.

Coco had done just as much for me.

She taught me patience. She taught me responsibility. She taught me that I could do things I was certain I couldn’t do.

Most importantly, she taught me that caring for someone who needs extra help isn’t simply a burden. It can also be a privilege.

My life was richer because Coco needed me.

The Lessons Our Dogs Leave Behind

When Coco died, even her medications went on to help other dogs. I sent her kidney medication to a friend in Hawaii who needed it, and her heart medication went to a rescue group in Virginia.

It seemed fitting.

Coco had been given a second chance as a six-month-old puppy and, in the end, a little piece of her helped other dogs get theirs.

I’ve had other dogs since Coco, and I’ve loved each one for exactly who they were. No dog replaces another. They simply make another place for themselves in your heart.

I think that’s one of the things I’ve come to understand more deeply with age.

Life brings us love, friendship, responsibility and eventually loss. We don’t get to keep everyone we love forever.

But we do get to keep what they taught us.

Coco taught me that I’m stronger than I think I am. She taught me that some of life’s greatest blessings arrive disguised as responsibilities. She taught me that a tiny dog can change the direction of your life and even bring people into it who remain there for years.

And she taught me one other very important lesson.

She now allows her sisters to sleep on the bed.

Coco also played a part in something I never could have predicted all those years ago. My love of dogs eventually became part of my real estate business. Today, I help buyers find pet-friendly homes and communities throughout Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach. I know firsthand that when you’re moving with a pet, you’re not simply looking for a house that allows dogs. You’re looking for a home where every member of your family will be welcome.

If you’re thinking about moving to South Florida with a dog or two or three, I’d be happy to help you find the right place for all of you.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you had a pet who taught you about life? What lessons have stayed with you? If you’d like to have a conversation or you need help, let’s talk about it!