9 minute read
Rico – Off the Streets and Out on the Bay
RICO
off the streets and out on the bay
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By Carie Broecker
Rico was one of those lucky strays who was in the right place at the exact right time. Rico was born on the streets of Ushuaia, Argentina. Ushuaia is a tourist town that claims the title of being the southernmost city in the world, and is the gateway to cruises to Antarctica.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NANCY BLACK
Rico, possibly an Irish Wolfhound mix, was about six months old when he “ran into” Nancy Black—a fortunate turn of events for the scrawny stray that would change his life forever.
Nancy is an animal lover, adventurer, and marine biologist from Monterey, California. Nancy owns a whale-watching company and is a well-known expert on cetaceans in Monterey Bay. In addition to her expertise about and love of killer whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and the rest of the beautiful creatures in Monterey Bay, she loves to travel the world to learn about and admire the beauty and wonder of animals on other continents.
In 2013, Nancy had just finished a trip to Antarctica. She was in Ushuaia with a few hours to spare before boarding the plane to Buenos Aires and then back to California. She decided she had time to visit a gift shop in town. Coming out of the
gift shop, she ran straight into Rico. Their paths crossed as if by kismet. Rico was thin, and his eyes and nose were goopy. He did not look well. Her first thought was “poor guy.”
Nancy had traveled enough that she had seen plenty of stray dogs over the years. She knew she couldn’t save them all. She had already rescued numerous dogs from various situations closer to home. There were plenty of strays in Ushuaia, but they were all in packs. This poor, young stray, yet to be named Rico, was all alone.
Although she was pressed for time due to her flight leaving soon, she decided to take the sweet stray to the vet and get him vaccinated
and cleaned up as best she could. She was told there was a vet a mile away. She encouraged Rico to follow her, and he did. About halfway to the vet, he laid down in the grass and didn’t want to keep going.
She tried tying her jacket sleeve around his neck like a collar and leash to tug him along. But he didn’t want to budge. She wouldn’t give up on him. She persisted while the clock was ticking, and finally, he started to follow her again. But when they arrived at the vet clinic, he refused to follow her through the door. She figured he’d never been “inside” before and he may have been shooed out of many doorways during his young life. He allowed her to pick him up and carry him in.
The vet examined him and said he had a respiratory infection. He gave him an antibiotic injection and vaccinated him. Nancy inquired about what would happen to him now. Was there a shelter or rescue group he could go to? No. Could the vet keep him? No. What would happen to him? He would need to be turned out onto the street. Nancy asked everyone in the waiting room if any of them could take Rico and give him a proper home. No one volunteered.
Nancy began to cry. She just could not put him back on the street. He was so calm and sweet and gentle and trusting. He deserved better. There was a reason their paths crossed. She
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The captain and crew of Monterey Bay Whale Watch have extensive knowledge of marine life—and they also know how to make sure MBWW dog-friendly cruises are the best experience for you and your dog. (Please note: It’s important that your dog is well behaved, socialized and you’re confident your dog will not be stressed out by the ocean experience.) It's always a good idea to make a reservation in advance. Morning cruises are recommended since the seas are generally calmer then. Most trips last around four hours, so please be prepared! Be sure to give your dog a walk and a chance to potty before boarding.
WHAT TO BRING:
FOR YOU: It can be 10–15 degrees cooler out on the bay so dress in layers, wear sturdy rubber-soled shoes, and bring a rain jacket if there's even the slightest chance of rain in the forecast. Also, use plenty of sunscreen and wear a hat. If you wear glasses or sunglasses, it's always a good idea to use an eyeglass lanyard when out on the water.
Each boat has a galley where you can purchase drinks and snacks, or please feel free to bring your own.
FOR YOUR DOG: Although we can provide water and a bowl, it might be handy to bring along your own. (A travel set like the Lyderpet Dog Water Bottle and Bowl combo would work well on a boat.) You may also want to bring a blanket or small bed to provide a cushioned spot for your dog to lie on. We do not provide personal floatation devices for dogs, so if you have one, we recommend bringing it along for your dog to wear. And don’t forget to bring pick-up bags just in case. Also, it’s a long trip so keep some treats on hand!
SAFETY TIP: Your dog should remain on leash throughout the cruise, and we recommend the leash be attached to a harness rather than your dog’s collar.
Check the weather and the marine forecasts and the MBWW website for recent marine-life sightings.
If you’re prone to sea sickness, we suggest taking a nondrowsy motion sickness medication before you board the boat (usually 30–60 minutes prior). It’s also a good idea to spend some time outside prior to departing in order to acclimate yourself and your dog.
For reservations call 831-375-4658 or go to montereybaywhalewatch.com decided she would get him back to Monterey to live with her and become part of her pack.
She still needed to get to her flight. Time was short, but luckily, she was notified that her flight to Buenos Aires was delayed. She had extra time to make arrangements to get Rico to Monterey.
The vet agreed to board Rico for a week while she could get the paperwork for him to enter the United States. She thought she might need to come back in a week to bring him home, but she found a South American pet transportation company that promised to handle everything. She had to trust that all would be well. She said goodbye to Rico, hoping he would have a safe trip and would be reunited with her in about a week.
When she arrived home in Monterey, she found out there was a snag. There were very specific dimensions for the crate Rico would need to travel in to board the United Airlines flight as cargo. The pet transportation company could not find any crates in Argentina that were the right size. Nancy scrambled for a solution and was able to commission someone to build a custom crate.
Soon Rico was on his way to Houston for his first stopover. Once he landed in Houston, the transportation company took possession of him and took him for a walk and a rest before boarding another plane headed for San Francisco. Nancy was there to meet him, and he was very excited to see her.
Nancy had been worried about Rico because he was so calm for a six-month-old puppy when she met him on the streets. Maybe he had an underlying health issue? But, much to her surprise and glee, it turned out he has boundless energy and enthusiasm for life. The depressed, calm dog she had met was just stressed, sick, exhausted, and hungry from living on the streets.
Rico fit in well with the rest of her dogs, but he was untrained— and at 60 pounds, an untrained puppy is a lot of work! She sent him to Deleta Jones’s board and train facility, K9 Ambassador, in Hollister, California, to give him some structure and foundation for basic commands. He learned the commands sit, stay, and come, which are all vital to a dog’s safety. The training worked wonders! Of course, Nancy had to continue his training herself, but with the basics under his belt, he was eager to learn more, although he does still have a few quirks. He goes nuts if he sees or hears a motorcycle. Doorways still scare him. And he doesn’t like people handing things to Nancy. She doesn’t
know what that is about, but he’ll bark if someone reaches to hand her something.
He loves to be cuddled and he loves Nancy. Since Nancy owns Monterey Bay Whale Watch, Rico gets to go out on the boat regularly, and he loves it. Nancy’s boat is always dog-friendly. Most of the dogs don’t notice the whales when they’re out. But not Rico. He is fascinated by the whales and is sometimes the first one to spot them.
Donations in memory of Rico can go to the californiakillerwhaleproject.org a non profit dedicated to the study and conservation of Killer Whales along the California Coast.
In Memoriam RICO
Just three weeks after meeting Nancy and Rico for lunch to do the interview for his story, tragedy struck. Sadly, on July 18 there was a fire at Nancy’s house and it was destroyed. Tragically, most of her pets were lost in the fire—including Rico. Our hearts go out to Nancy. We will never forget Rico with his big smile and gleeful greetings. Rest in Peace sweet Rico.
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