04/04/2025
**Happy 11th Birthday, my beloved Copito, my little piece of heaven – Copo's Legacy!**
Today I celebrate the life of my most precious and invaluable treasure, my baby Copito, who turns 11 today, filled with pure love. And I say celebrate life because it’s painful to see time go by and watch those we love go ahead of us on this journey.
Yesterday, April 2nd, was the 3rd anniversary of the passing of my oldest brother, Víctor Eduardo. He taught us never to lose our drive, motivation, and goals to live—no matter the circumstances.
On December 10th, 2023, we lost Ónix (2yr 9mo) in an accident. Ónix was Copo’s first permanent brother. It was a very difficult time for all of us. Then, on January 23rd, 2024, we lost his neighbor-brother Lucky (10 yr). We fought cancer for a year, but we lost the battle. A few months later, in 2024, his second permanent brother, Canek (half-brother to Ónix), joined the family. The adaptation process wasn’t easy at all, but today we’re very well adjusted. He also has neighbor-siblings Bandido (11) and Cindy (13), who’ve also been through many tough situations.
That’s why I try to focus on the good things and not think too much about the day I might lose Copito. Recently, he’s had a few concerning episodes, and according to the cardiologists, I could lose him at any moment—whether peacefully in his sleep or suddenly while being active.
Since he was just 2 months old, Copo has been surrounded by all kinds of dogs and people. He’s helped care for and rehabilitate over 27 foster dogs in Mexico and here in the U.S., all of whom we’ve found loving homes for. He’s been part of building little houses for his furry brothers and participated in walks advocating for dog rights. Thanks to the dog-loving community, we’ve also helped treat some dogs through donations, both monetary and in-kind.
Copo came into my life in 2014, when he was just 2 months old, and since then, life has been one wild journey. Here are just some of the things we’ve been through together:
He was stolen just days before I held him in my arms for the first time—we had to pay a ransom to get him back (that’s a story for another time). We had to move constantly in Mexico, and he was lost for a week before arriving in Austin in November 2018 (another story for later). At age 4, he was diagnosed with a heart condition common in boxers. His cardiologist told me I could lose him at any time. Three months after the diagnosis, while already on treatment, his heart stopped beating for a few minutes while I held him in my arms—thankfully, we were at the clinic, and they were able to bring him back immediately.
He’s been rushed to the ER due to spider bites and serious intoxications. He has a sensitive stomach, and his gastroenterologist diagnosed him with pancreatitis. For two years, he could only eat prescription food.
At one point, doctors suspected he had cancer in his knee and might need an amputation, but his rheumatologist determined it was just arthritis. He’s injured his eyes five times, and his ophthalmologist says it’s a common issue in boxers.
In August 2021, at age 7, during a routine check-up, his cardiologist told me Copo’s heart was in very bad shape and that I should say goodbye. Of course, we pursued more studies and treatments, and after three months, they managed to stabilize him—we went through a very hard time.
Last year, in 2024, he underwent two skin cancer surgeries to remove some masses—among many other situations we’ve faced.
Despite everything, we’re still here, celebrating 11 years of life—defying all odds. Considering he’s a white boxer (which statistically live between 8 to 10 years), Copo is relatively healthy and full of energy. When people see him, they think he's younger than his actual age. We’ve seen many young boxers and other dogs cross the rainbow bridge due to illness, age, or accidents—even when their humans did everything possible to save or prolong their lives.
It’s true that we go to the vet often—just today we had an appointment to rule out cancerous masses. He takes meds and supplements every 12 hours, and his diet is as clean as possible—I love cooking for him. We try to give him the best quality of life we can, and currently, his health is stable.
I give thanks to God, my family, my friend and business partner Eric and his family (who have helped me so much), to friends, doctors, to his trainer and every person who has taken care of Copo for a few hours or even several months, especially during times of moving and job transitions.
Thank you so much to everyone who has kept Copo’s well-being in your thoughts, for all your good vibes and wishes. Here’s to many more years together on this journey, so that Copo can continue leaving his legacy in life!
**Happy 11th Birthday, my beloved Copito, my little piece of heaven – Copo’s Legacy!**
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