Kiko in daffodils - Age 4.5

Posted by Tasha (Chicago, United States) on 28 March 2008 in Animal & Insect.

This is Kiko, my mother's current rottie. She is also the first dog my family raised after I moved out for college. However, she still knows and loves me - possibly because she was raised by my dog for a few months before he passed away.

She is also a therapy dog, and is young enough (and "macho" enough) to still be the star when she needs to be. She occasionally gets "the zoomies", and probably does more juvenile detention center work and less hospital work, just because she's so bouncy and happy. She also is fabulous at pulling a cart, and a pretty darn good tracker (though it's for fun - not search and rescue).

I remember a couple of years ago going to the detention center with Kiko, Bugsy and my mother on Christmas Day. I think those boys were very glad to have something like cart rides and dogs to play with on Christmas. It was certainly an interesting experience, though I was massively coming down with a cold and wasn't as alert as I might have liked to be. I didn't realize I was getting ill as I left, and I hope I didn't get anyone there sick.

As I think about it, Kiko may also be enthusiastic about my visits because it often means we're going someplace fun. Mom, Kiko and I have been on two week long trips out of state. A good time was definitely had by all.