This Holiday, I’m Building Something Just for Me—And It Has Four Legs

Eight years ago, I was at a crossroads. My son Andres was growing up and starting his own journey, and I found myself craving a companion. Something just for me.

I’d grown up with dogs, Cocker Spaniels, specifically. I still remember getting our first, Simba, and then deciding he was lonely so we got Nala. Then Simba and Nala had puppies, and we ended up keeping two: one for my sister and one for me. I named mine Shakespeare. They taught me how much work dogs are but also how much love they give back. Though I’ll admit, my parents took the lion’s share of the caregiving back then.

But as an adult, I’d always dreamed of having my own fluffy white dog.

Then one day, a former colleague from my CBC days mentioned that a breeder he knew had a new litter of Maltipoo puppies. Was I still interested?

Absolutely.

I booked an appointment immediately. I remember getting in the car with Andres and giving him very clear instructions: “Please don’t put me in an awkward position. We’re just looking to see if this is the right fit. Please don’t put me on the spot.”

He agreed. He was fully locked into the plan.

We arrived. I opened the door. And as I stepped inside, this tiny white fluffy blur came running straight toward me.

I can only describe it as love at first sight.

He was playful, adorable, and my heart absolutely melted. In that moment, we chose each other.

And I was the one who said, “He’s coming home with us.”

Andres just looked at me: “Mom. I thought you said you weren’t going to do that.”

We still laugh about that story. But that day, Pepe became part of our family.

Fast forward eight years

Pepe has been the king of the castle. Spoiled, adored, and very comfortable being an only child.

But I’ve been thinking about getting a second dog for a while now. On and off, browsing rescues, wondering if the timing was right. I knew that this time, I wanted to rescue.

Then one night, scrolling through listings, I saw him.

Pointy little ears. Tiny cute face. And a story that broke my heart.

He and his littermates had been found by a police officer in Texas during a late-night patrol. The officer saw something moving near the road, got out to check, and discovered a pile of newborn puppies—dumped there, brand new to the world. He brought them to Three Little Pitties Rescue.

Here’s what I’ve since learned about Chihuahua-Blue Heeler mixes: breeders sometimes create this cross intentionally because the Chihuahua temperament can make the high-energy Blue Heeler more manageable in size and demeanour.

But there’s a darker side to this.

Blue Heelers have surged in popularity thanks to the children’s show Bluey. Everyone wants one. And when a litter doesn’t look “Heeler enough,”, they’re deemed unsellable.

So they get dumped.

I can’t say for certain that’s what happened to Coco and his siblings, abandoned on the side of a Texas road. But it’s highly possible.

And honestly? It makes me love him more. It makes me more certain that rescue was the right path.

This little Chihuahua-Blue Heeler mix, once named Piglet, had to come home with me.

I filled out the application, provided references, did a video meet-and-greet with his foster mom. And once again, it just felt right.

His name is Coco

I love short names with a little alliteration, Pepe and Coco felt perfect together.

On December 19th, I’m driving to Syracuse to pick him up.

Everyone told me not to do this. “You’re too busy. You travel too much. One dog is enough.”

But my heart cracked open the moment I saw his face. And I’ve learned to trust that feeling.

Here’s the thing about me: I’m a storyteller

It’s what I do professionally, leading marketing and communications at Dejero, I spend my days crafting narratives about technology and innovation.

But this story? This one’s just for me.

I’m documenting the entire journey: bringing Coco home, introducing him to Pepe, navigating the chaos of training a rescue puppy while my 8-year-old Maltipoo adjusts to sharing his kingdom.

It’s going to be messy. It’s going to be real. And it’s happening right before Christmas, which feels like the greatest gift I could give myself.

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If you love dogs, storytelling, or just watching two brothers figure each other out, I’d love for you to follow along.

📺 YouTube: Ivy Cuervo | Life with Coco + Pepe 📸 Instagram: @pepe_coco_bros

The journey begins December 20th. Join the pack.