This is the story of a rescue dog living her best life, and her very first holiday and adventure in the outdoors.
We adopted an adolescent dog (exactly 1 year old) earlier this year, in mid-February, from Paw Prints Rescue and Rehoming in Hillcrest. She was the last of the litter to be adopted – the construction site litter, so named because of where they were found and rescued. Previously named Charlie, she was renamed Kudos in the hopes that she would make a happy running partner to her new human mom (me).
The Name: Kudos means public praise, honour, or recognition that a person (or dog) receives for a specific achievement, effort, or success. Congratulations are typically offered for life events or milestones, whereas kudos are specifically given for an action, performance, or accomplishment.
The family voted, and Kudos seemed fitting. She survived the construction site, she held onto hope when all her siblings found homes and left her behind, and boy, can she run!
Side note: Of course, like any other well-loved family pet, she has many additional nicknames, such as Dobby the House Elf (a story for another time), Snoot Patoot, Shakey Bumbums… Ah, I digress.
Seven months with our doggo, and she has enjoyed trips to the beach, accompanying us to the mashie golf course, car rides for school pick-ups, a 5 km Trail Run, and a weekend away with her family (a house stay). But THIS was her very first outdoor adventure getaway, and off-lead!
Having tested her in familiar home-turf environments first, she earned our trust to be off-lead at The Hatchery. (There were no other dogs during our stay, but she is very well socialised with other dogs – thanks to Paw Prints.) She loved this experience of being with her humans and, whilst staying close, having so many new outdoorsy smells to smell and new places to see and run.
Highlights for Kudos at The Hatchery:
- Zoomies along the shoreline of the lagoon.
- Supporting the boys on their morning and evening fishing ventures.
- A SUP board ride across the lagoon, followed by adventures through the grass and up and over dunes to a whole beach for more zoomies and races with the boys.
- Chilling on floatables in the splash pools.
- She even had a breakthrough with one of her fears! She quite enjoyed lying near the campfire while we enjoyed our braai (something she usually avoids).
This was such an incredible experience for our new four-legged family member. We will definitely be returning. The Hatchery has it all! Adventure, beach and bush, open space and fresh air… You should bring your dog!
Kudos to The Hatchery!
Article by Terri Cawood
