Life is fascinating. How does a beautiful Swedish woman, Maria, who moves 4,600 miles from home, adopt a dog, Marley, from the Caribbean, an additional 4,000 miles away? It was not easy, yet, their love and devotion are evident in their photograph.
Marley, a very-smart Cunucu (countryside dog) ‘rescued herself’ in Aruba, which is off the coast of South America.
“For three years, I watched ‘Sgt. Pepper's Friends’ rescue before I found Marley,” said Maria. “Volunteers flew her to Boston, then shipped her to Seattle. I made a six-hour drive to pick her up. After 12 hours on a flight, you would think the dog’s first concern would be to relieve herself, but not this dog. Once you have been starved, food becomes your life-long motivation. Marley is the same, she would not move until I gave her food, then she agreed to relieve herself.”
Maria created an Instagram account for her new pup (@marleythecunucu) and unbelievably, a woman in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada recognized the dog! The woman and her husband were driving in Aruba when Marley suddenly jumped into their car.
They drove her to their Airbnb and the host agreed to rehome the dog. That’s when its cruel owner arrived demanding ‘his’ dog back.
He took the dog away, then, again, Marley wisely ran away back into the streets where Sgt. Pepper's Friends found her. The man was charged with animal cruelty and Marley became available for international adoption.
Being from a hot climate, Marley had no idea what she was in store for! Her new mother loves hiking and skiing and she was hoping that the dog would too.
“The first time she saw snow, she wouldn’t get out of the car,” said Maria. “She stood frozen, staring out the window wondering what had happened to the world! When she finally jumped out and experienced the snow, she went crazy with joy. The more powdered the snow is, the happier she is, and she loves chasing my tobogganing friends down hills.”
You never know what traits a rescue arrives with and this Caribbean canine was about to show off her best assets.
“She’s gentle and patient,” said Maria. “She’s amazing with children and puppies, a real ‘mommy’ to them, and if there’s another dog that isn’t being nice to a pup, she defends the pup right away. She goes up to the kids to give them kisses and then she steals their crackers. It’s all about love and food with her.”
But the dog also has her wild side intact!
“When she really wants to play with another dog, she turns into Usain Bolt (world record holder sprinter),” laughs Maria. “She’s so fast that she outruns most dogs. Once she caught up with a whippet and she’s outrun an alpha-Husky.
She’s known to steal food and hearts!
If she sees an open door, she happily walks into any home and searches the entire house for food. No wonder she survived on the streets, she’s cunning and a real hunter.
Her best friend is a 160 lb. Newfoundland who she desperately tries to flip while playing. She succeeded once, but he wisely discovered her method, so it hasn’t happened since.
Also, the couple from Halifax still keep in touch with their car-jacking rescue.”
Imagine the power to change a life and give an animal happiness.
A rescued animal has a memory, they know where they have been and what they currently have. Now you understand Marley’s face in the above photograph.
“I have the perfect dog,” said Maria.
And, obviously, Marley has the perfect life.
