Meet Cooper, a charming nine-year-old dog. He was once part of a loving family but was surrendered to a shelter when they had to move away.
Cooper soon found himself spending more time at the shelter than he ever expected. As people came and left, he felt neglected, with no one stopping by his kennel to shower him with affection.
Fortunately, his luck changed when a kind woman spotted him and decided to take him into her home.
Foster Home
That day, Cooper’s soon-to-be foster mom came to the shelter as a volunteer. She inquired about which dogs had been there the longest.
“I visited the shelter to lend a hand and asked, ‘Which dogs have been here the longest? I wanted to take them out for an adventure.’ He was one of them, and the moment I saw him, I knew I had to bring him home,” shared Victoria Vazquez, Cooper’s foster mom, with The Dodo.
Now an 11-year-old boy, Cooper is described by Vazquez as an “old man meets toddler.”
He adores being with his favorite humans and soaking up the sun, (he especially loves to nap and play with his toys).
While Vazquez and Cooper share a strong bond, he can’t stay in his foster home forever.
Cooper has some issues with the current living situation. His foster mom has another dog that he isn’t too fond of, and she often works long hours—something Cooper finds difficult.
Although they manage to get by for now, it isn’t an ideal long-term setup.
“While it’s definitely a far better circumstance than the shelter, I know he would truly thrive in an environment where he has full access to the home 24/7,” Vazquez remarked.
Vazquez is doing everything in her power to find this lovable pup the home he truly deserves. Throughout his nine months with her, she has successfully found seven potential adopters.
Sadly, every one of those adoptions fell through at the last minute.
“He resembles a beagle, and even when I explain he’s not — standing tall at over 70 pounds — people are often surprised. Some expect a short chubby dog. Essentially, he’s like an elongated beagle! Adding to that, unfortunately, many don’t want to form an attachment to a dog who’s past their prime,” she explained.
Moreover, because of his history and the fact that his previous owners left him, Cooper has developed separation anxiety, adding to the challenges of his adoption.
“His owners had him for his entire life and left him at a shelter at nine years old. After being there for a lengthy time and transferred among foster homes, it’s only natural for him to feel anxious. Many dogs face similar issues due to such changes,” lamented Vazquez.
New Tactic
After some time, Vazquez decided to adopt a new strategy.
She created a video compiling the rejection messages Cooper had received and shared it on TikTok to illustrate the heartbreak of his situation.
@woofnwellness 8 months… Eight months of trying to find Cooper a forever home. We just got our 6th formal no today. The message isn’t included with all do these cause I’m having a hard time even reading it. It was the best meet & greet he’s had. He cuddled, licked her, settled down quickly, took a nap, and she even got my hopes up. Talked about how amazing her yard is, how they’re home all the time, how her other dog is so great. I can’t stop crying. My heart breaks for him and I can’t understand why nobody wants him!? They apply for him and meet with him. But, they never go through with it. There has to be someone out there who wants to open their home to a senior. He’s so sweet, so cuddly, and of course he has his quirks like any other dog but, it’s what makes him HIM. Tired of the no’s and the let downs. I’m just glad that he doesn’t know about the rejection… he’s had enough of that in his life already. Sorry for the rant. I’m just so tired of potential adopters breaking my heart but, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right? And it’s definitely making me stronger for the long haul of working in animal welfare. I’ll forever be a voice for the voiceless. #AdoptableDog #SeniorDogs #Rescue #DogRescue #SeniorDogRescue #SeniorDogsOfInstagram #DogsOfTiktok #VoiceForTheVoiceless #AnimalWelfare #DogMom #FosterMom #DogFosterMom ♬ original sound – 𝑛𝑒̀𝑙𝑙𝑎ଓ
Vazquez remains optimistic, believing there’s a perfect home out there for this lovely pup; they just need a little patience.
“Cooper’s ideal home would definitely be a cat-free environment—as he enjoys chasing them. He gets along well with children, though I think he would prefer older kids. He needs someone who is home often, either working remotely or a stay-at-home parent. He just wants to be around family; that’s when he feels at peace. He’s pretty flexible with activity levels. He would love to go on adventures if someone is keen on taking him hiking or walking, but he’d also be equally satisfied lounging at home watching movies. He’s a laid-back lovebug who enjoys eating, sleeping, sniffing, potty breaks, and repeating the cycle,” she concluded.
If you or someone you know is interested in adopting this lovely boy, please contact Victoria Vazquez for more details.
