Cora Roxana Cavanaugh
November 1, 2011 –
April 29, 2013
Gifted to me as an early Christmas present my first
Christmas in Ecuador, little Cora was only a few weeks old and a tiny little
ball of fur when she came to me. Saving her from being killed by owners who
didn’t want her, the nearest volunteer gifted her to me to save the little pup
with a heart-shaped spot on her side. The name Cora quickly emerged from the
spot, standing for “Corazon,” or “heart” in Spanish. Cora quickly grew into my
heart and the heart of the kids in the community.
Being so tiny, Cora went everywhere with me those first
few months. She was conveniently pocket-sized and caused many looks of surprise
when she popped her head out of my purse in the grocery stores and internet cafes
when we went to in Azogues on Saturdays. She and Nayeli quickly became good
friends and the three of us spent all of our free time together, trying to
train Cora, playing fetch and tag, or just parading her around town on her
leash.
Cora certainly didn’t stay little for long! After just a
few months she was too big to carry up and down the stairs to my room, so she
had to learn to brave the mean dogs at the door by herself. Beginning to take
up too much of the bed, the little baby also had to learn how to sleep alone on
the floor. There were exceptions of course, such as when my mom visited and
Cora felt too left out to stay on the floor, so she came into the bed with me
and my mom so that everyone could get a good night of sleep!
When Cora and I moved to Chibuleo, she instantly became a
star and helped me integrate into the new community. All of the kids loved the
clean, friendly puppy that liked to play. I think everyone knew her name before
mine, but they talked to me out of curiosity about her and I quickly felt
comfortable in the new community. Cora also settled in easily, becoming best
friends with Precioso, my host family’s dog, and the duck, Mr. Pato.
Cora became a free dog in Chibuleo, running around on the
basketball court, chasing soccer balls with the kids, eating lunch at the
foundation, making trips with the host family to milk the cow or move the sheep,
or following the grandpa on his walks. She wandered all over, enjoying her
freedom and friends, but never failed to be at the door with her shiny eyes and
wagging tail when I got home.
One of Cora’s favorite games that she picked up in the
last few months was playing fetch. Unlike an American dog, however, Cora wanted
nothing to do with the fancy tennis balls and squeaking balls that people brought
her from the States. What did she want? Rocks. Cora loved nothing more than to
chase little rocks and pebbles along the road when we were walking to or from
the foundation, a game that my host family, all the kids, and random passersby
would join in!
Cora and Precioso both passed away on the 29th
after a bad encounter with poison. While everyone is sad that she is gone, I
would not have changed any of my time with Cora. We were both there for each
other in our greatest times of need and I will forever be grateful for what
Cora did for me in our short time together. Rest in peace my little Corita
<3
