A Tail of True Love

-Dr.Christi Camblor, DVM

Love comes in all shapes, sizes, colors and....yes, species. Take Mickey and Calabaza, for example -- two scruffy Mexican terrier crosses who wound up on death row in animal control center in Juarez, Mexico last October. Volunteers found them huddled together in a large pen. They were pulled as potential candidates for our international rescue program and promptly separated into individual cages for observation and examination.

Once separated, they immediately begin to whine, cry, and howl. Calabaza began pacing and became so agitated volunteers actually had to take her out to make sure she was not injured. Once out, they realized she was trying to scramble out of their arms and get to Mickey. They reunited the scraggly pair and once back together they both were put at ease.

When the time came for them to go into foster homes, they were separated once again - each going into their own individual house where they could be closely observed, socialized, and watched over. Calabaza soon became very depressed - in fact, she became so heartbroken she refused to eat and barely got up to move around.

Thankfully, her clever foster mom recognized Calabaza for the lovesick pooch she was and insisted on reuniting her with Mickey. Upon seeing one another they reportedly were ecstatic, licking each other's faces and jumping around for several minutes before settling into their dog bed together - where they slept side by side very night thereafter. Each morning, Calabaza would give Mickey his morning greeting by cleaning his eyes and licking his face. They would play and romp all day, never straying far from the other. They were, quite simply, inseparable.

When I first met the dynamic duo in person I found them to be absolutely irresistible. The overwhelming charm of each one was magnified by the other. Calabaza was a complete clown, very outgoing, silly, and playful. Mickey, on the other hand, was quite reserved - a distinguished gentlemen who held his head high and his tail even higher. Together they were simply too cute to put into words, proving that opposites really do attract - even in canine circles.

The entire drive back from Mexico last December, they snuggled closely in their carrier and walked side by side at all the rest stops. When it came time for dinner they ate out of the same bowl, even though each was offered their own. It was a display of affection unlike any other I have witnessed in all my years in rescue.

Needless to say, we made it a top priority and unquestionable requirement that these two precious beings be placed in a home together - never to be separated again. Small Dog Rescue, our fantastically tireless rescue partner, agreed to take the pair and find them the perfect home - which they did within weeks of our arrival.

Micky and Calabaza are now living life on easy street up here in northern California - a permanent honeymoon for the love struck meximutts.  For those of us lucky enough to have been part of their romance, it was an experience that we won't soon forget.