Life in the Costa Rican rainforest brings its share of surprises—both beautiful and challenging. One recent surprise was an unexpected visitor who showed up on our front porch: a young American Foxhound who had no name, no home, and, it seemed, no family. Yet, his presence immediately touched our hearts.
A Familiar Stranger
I had heard whispers of him through the local community WhatsApp group. Pictures and messages flooded in over the week, asking if anyone recognized the hound wandering around. He looked out of place, yet no one knew where he came from or how he ended up here. It broke my heart to imagine him, alone in the dense rainforest, navigating through an environment that poses dangers at every turn—venomous snakes, spiders, scorpions, and even the lurking pumas and curious coatis. Despite the dangers, he had somehow survived, but I hadn't seen him myself until that day.
When he finally appeared on my porch, skinny to the bone and starving, he was eating the compost I had left out for the chickens. Despite his rough condition, there was something undeniably strong and resilient about him. It was as if he had already faced the worst and was still willing to trust and hope.
A House Full of Hearts, Yet Full of Worries
I was filled with relief that he had found his way to us before harm could come his way, but with his arrival came a wave of worries. First, he was a male dog, and one of our recent rescues, a sweet female, had not yet been spayed. We needed to be careful.
Second, the young hound was filthy, covered in ticks and fleas. There was no way we could let him into the house in that state. Our other dogs would have to wait to meet him until we could clean him up.
The third concern was compatibility. We have a pack, and introducing a new dog is never easy. Would he get along with them? Would they accept him as part of the family? We decided to take it slow, introducing him to the others one by one through the safety of the fence. At first, there was a lot of barking and posturing, but we made them spend time sniffing each other, easing into familiarity.
Then, the magic happened. As soon as we let him in, it was as if he’d always been part of the pack. The playful energy was instantaneous, and our fears melted away. He was home.
Philippe’s Touching Gesture
That first night, the living room was where he chose to rest. He didn’t seek out a hidden corner or try to escape—he simply lay down in the open, exhausted but safe. Philippe, seeing him there alone, couldn’t bear it. He quietly joined him on the floor, curling up beside him despite the fleas and ticks. It was a simple but profound act of love and acceptance. In that moment, Pinto became one of us.
The Old Man in a Young Dog’s Body
The next day, our first priority was to get him treated for ticks and give him a deep shampoo bath. He was surprisingly patient through it all, almost as if he understood it was for his own good.
We quickly learned that he was young—barely a year old—but there was something about his demeanor that made us laugh. If the community hadn’t already named him Pinto, we might have called him Mr. There’s a playful, joyful spirit in him, yet he has a serious, almost wise look in his eyes, like an old man who has seen a lot in his time. It’s a funny contradiction that makes us love him even more.
A Perfect Fit
From the very start, Pinto adapted to the house rules faster than we expected. He seemed grateful, in his own quiet way, and found his place among our other rescues without any fuss. It feels like he was meant to be here, like he was searching for us just as much as we were hoping to find him.
He may have come to us as a stray, but he has already made our family feel more complete. His journey brought him through the wild rainforest and into our home, and we couldn’t be happier to have him here.
Welcome Home, Pinto!
Pinto, our little old man in a young dog’s body, you are already so loved. We can’t wait to see what adventures await with you by our side. Welcome to the family, sweet boy. You are home now.
Comments