Joaquin traveled from Mexico to Loveland for Christmas in search of a new home, of a happy ending that his travel partner, Dana Dallabetta, calls "from tragic to magic."
The terrier mix pup, believed to be a year old, was a stray that Dallabetta, who grew up in Loveland, rescued through a nonprofit she is setting up in Rosarito, Mexico.
She was heading home for the holidays and brought along the 15-pound pup with copper-colored eyes, a goofy mustache and a sweet heart in hopes he would find his forever home here in Loveland.
Family friend Steve Schroeder, also a Loveland native, donated money to bring Joaquin to Loveland in honor of his daughter, Josie Rocky Schroeder, who passed away in Loveland on Oct. 4 at the age of 20.
"It's just something she would have really wanted," said Kari Hinzmann, Josie's mom, who splits her time between Loveland and Minnesota.
"We get to feel that she's proud. She's his angel," she said, adding they were happy to help Dana fund the process of bringing the puppy home.
And, in honor of Josie, Dana plans to name her animal rescue group Josie's Angels.
She is just in the process of setting up her rescue through Project Nova International, which is dedicated to helping animals anywhere in the world. That, Hinzmann said, is a mission her daughter, who loved animals, would have been proud to support.
Though it is just starting, Dallabetta said her group, which she refers to as "the Nova Center" already has 13 dogs that need homes. Joaquin was number 14.
About five weeks ago, Joaquin was one of many street dogs wandering around Rosarita, Mexico, without a home, a name or a family. Then he followed a friend of Dallabetta's home, dirty and suffering from worms. She took him in and to a veterinarian, who treated the pup, vaccinated him, neutered him and gave him a clean bill of health.
He also has been to see a veterinarian in Loveland and is already housebroken.
Joaquin loves people, particularly women, plays with other dogs and is a jolly, loving pup who loves to snuggle and play. He is staying with Dallabetta's sister, Tanya Eckroat, and her two dogs, Dexter and Freddie. The new pup loves to wrestle and play with Dexter, a 2-year-old pit bull that also loves his new little friend.
Eckroat said she will keep Joaquin until he finds his forever family, and Hinzmann said she and Schroeder were happy to help in honor of Josie.
"This puppy came all the way from Mexico," Hinzmann said. "Josie is helping save this puppy."
Pamela Johnson: 970-669-5050, ext. 526, johnsonp@reporter-herald.com, Twitter.com/rhpamelaj.
(12/28/2015) News Source: http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_29318066/pup-travels-loveland-from-mexico-search-home?fb_action_ids=10206656856032472&fb_action_types=og.likes