11/28/2024
Pavo, the Melter of Hearts, Slayer of Squirrels, Overlord of the Couch, Prince of Prance, and Unrivaled Hearer of Chip Bags in the Dead of Night -
The Story of Pavo and Thanksgiving
Six years ago, Thanksgiving took on a whole new meaning for our family. That was the day a little stray found his way into our lives.
The first time I saw him was on the streets in la peñita, Mexico. His fur was so matted that it looked like a solid, tangled shell. It was pulling at his skin, making it hard for him to walk properly. He moved with a stiff, awkward gait that made my heart sink. I tried to approach him, but he darted away, disappearing over the hill before I could get close.
Two weeks later, on Thanksgiving Day, I saw him again. He was hiding under thr taqueria truck at the bottom of the hill near my condo rental at los compadres. I was carrying groceries and couldn’t stop, but later my mom texted me saying, “The dog is coming up the hill.”
I quickly grabbed some food and went outside to wait for him. Sitting on the cobblestone street, I held out the food, hoping he’d trust me. Slowly, he crept closer. Eventually, he laid down in front of me, exhausted and ready to give up. Gently, I pushed the food toward him. He ate a little, then let me slip a leash around him without any resistance. It was as if he knew we were there to help.
When we got him up to the Refugio , we discovered he was covered in thousands of ticks and weighed only 13 pounds. He was weak and frail but didn’t fight George and I as we started cleaning him up. He ate, drank, and slept for nearly 24 hours straight. When he woke up, he ate some more, went outside, and then slept another 12 hours.
In the weeks that followed, as he recovered and grew stronger, his sweet and quirky personality started to shine. I had originally thought I might find him a new home, but I quickly realized I couldn’t let him go. He had already become part of our family.
Now, six years later, Pavo has brought so much joy into our lives. Thanksgiving will always remind us of that special day when he came into our world. Happy birthday, Pavo, our little Thanksgiving miracle
