Capiro – My Journey Home

Hi guys! For those that may not remember me, my name is Capiro. I was rescued from the NYC AC&C back in December after appearing on “the list.” The past few months have been filled with ups and downs, stops and starts and quite a few tears…. but there were smiles too. I promise you, there were lots of smiles! Today, I start an exciting adventure… my newest journey… my next chapter… MY NEW BEGINNING 🙂

To say that the road leading to today was a bit bumpy would probably be the understatement of the year! When I became an “URGENT” dog (and arrived at Canine Counsel,) I did not make a good first impression. To be honest, I think I almost caused “Kay Urgent” to have a nervous breakdown. She swears that her hair was not as gray before she met me but I don’t believe her. Anyway… somewhere VERY deep inside, she must have caught a glimpse of my potential because she decided to give me a chance. She entrusted me to the care of Tuncay Adem (“T”) and then sat back to watch my progress (probably with a HUGE bottle of vodka.) I will tell you more about him in a minute….

to see video of my arrival, watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-jUKZ9ZMmw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

A little back story on me first, for those that may not know my history 🙂 I started my life in the Bronx. I lived with my former owner for 2 years while he taught me how to protect him and his home. One day, he met a girl and they decided to have a baby. All of a sudden, all that stuff he taught me to do was “bad,” and they decided that I could not be a part of their new family. That is how I ended up at the shelter. I was a dog that was taught to be “bad,” and that left me with very few options. That is, until a woman decided she wanted me and convinced Urgent to let her have me. Unfortunately, I was not a fan of the woman’s boyfriend and after a few days, she called “Kay Urgent” and told her that I had to leave NOW. I was once again being thrown away for acting the way I was told to act 🙁 I am a protector yet nobody wants me to protect them. That is how I was lucky enough to end up with a man they call “T,” but to me he is “dad.”

to read more about my story, visit this link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.530236693655881.128358.152876678058553&type=3

The first few weeks with “T,” I have to admit that I did not want him near me. I was a stressed out pup with no one to trust or protect. I decided that the only thing left to do was protect ME… and I put my heart and soul into it. So many said that I was “too far gone” or “too damaged to ever place,” but “T” kept assuring Kay that I could be rehabilitated. She kept smiling and nodding, but inside I know she was saying many many bad words 😉 “T” did not give up though, and day after day he pushed me to let him in. He gave me a ball and a bath… my two favorite things, and finally one day, I decided to give him a chance. I let him in.

“Our first hug”

Several months went by and not only did I have my “T,” but I also had a new friend, Kim. She worked with “T,” and she decided all on her own that I was a special dog and deserving of her love. Everyday, we played and trained. They saw how good I was at hide and seek and how no matter where my ball hid, I could find it! They told others about my “skills” and I started to learn that all those things people said were “bad” about me, were actually good if displayed in the proper settings. “T” and Kim helped me learn when to turn on the “charm,” and when to keep that “charm” to myself! I started meeting a lot of Police Officers that were looking for partners, but for one reason or another,none were a good fit. Just when I was about to give up on getting the job most German Shepherds only dream of, my luck changed. Someone looking for a K-9 to train in narcotics came to see me, and THEY WANTED ME!!!

I am a big ol’ handsome teddy bear!

So, today I travel to my new home. Kay is happy because she has a lot of family in the same area! She warned me that if I ever meet them, I MUST be nice 😉 “T” is also happy because a good friend of his will be overseeing my placement. Kim is not so happy… but it’s just because she loves me and didn’t want me to leave her. It broke my heart to see her cry as I drove away today. Poor Kim 🙁 I love you too!!

<3 Love Kim <3

I know these past few months have been really hard on “Kay Urgent” and the few that supported me. She tried to do the right thing. Not many agreed with her decision about me, and very few supported it. Even though I was a “Death Row Dog,” not many donated to my training, not many offered to help with the vet bills (when I suffered some medical set backs,) and very few even shared my stories and pictures on Facebook. So many people told her “you could have saved a dozen dogs with the money you spent on just one.” True yes, but I have something to say about that. I may be “just one” but I deserved to live too. Kay did not know how my story was going to play out when she agreed to help that woman adopt me “for 72 hours.” She had no idea the “adopter” would return me to her. She made a commitment to a “death row dog” and she saw it through. Tears were shed, many fights were had, but in the end, we won. I WON. I AM ALIVE and I AM GOING HOME! It saddens me that Urgent may never be able to help a dog like me again, but she said it’s too hard without the Urgent Community’s support. I hope that my story changes their minds a bit because there will be another “me” and he will need you just as badly.

My friend Dom. The dude always had a ball hiding on him somewhere 🙂

I am Capiro. I am capable of love and I do feel pain and loss. I thrive when those I adore are near me, and you can see the joy in my eyes when I play with my ball or roll over for belly rubs. I am alive. I have a purpose. Thank god I was given this chance and not tossed away because I was “too much work.” I am going to miss “T” and Kim with all my heart but I will do them proud. They said I have a job and that they believe in me. I will do this for them 🙂 I have to because I owe them my life.