It was the middle of the night during a fierce tropical thunderstorm, I heard a weak scratching at the cabin door. I peered out the window but couldn’t see anything on the porch in the black night, even with the landscape erratically lit by flashes of lightning. We took inventory – all the pets, kids, and adults were inside. More scratching, a faint push. Who was out there?
We were in one of the rustic cabins on our property in the jungle. Three quarters of the property is surrounded by barbed wire, thick tropical vegetation, and a deep creek; the remaining quarter by impenetrable bamboo. The only way in or out is through the gated driveway, which really, any half-way agile person could easily overcome.
I wasn’t imagining a thief on the porch, though. My overactive imagination was pretty convinced that it was a ghost, or maybe a zombie. Arturo came over to back me up, we cautiously opened the door and saw some sort of tiny animal shivering on the stoop. “This is where I get glamoured into inviting the tropical vampire squirrel into our house,” I thought. I bent down to discover an impossibly small pile of skin and bones, covered in hundreds of fleas, looking up at me with pleading eyes. I got closer.
“It’s a puppy!” I exclaimed as Lea came running and snatched her up. “Pobrecita, she is almost dead!” She took her to the sink and started the first of many baths to clean off all the brown mud and kill all the fleas that were eating her alive. We weren’t sure she was going to make it.
The puppy recovered almost immediately and it became very clear to all of us that she is awesome: she listens and obeys, she prefers going to the bathroom outside, she hardly ever barks or whines, she plays well with everyone, the vet thinks she is one of the sweetest dogs ever, and she is healthy. All that awesomeness in a tiny 2-month old dog.
Meet Malacrianza Bartola, chihuahua mix, survivor, thief of hearts.
Arturo named her Bartola. He is from Mexico and tells me that Bartola is a slang word for an intelligent, refined Mexican lady that wears furs around her neck… or something like that. I named her Malacrianza. Malacrianza comes from the most badass killer bull in Costa Rica.
She made it very clear to us that she is staying. We already have a community cat, we might as well adopt this awesome community dog. But she can’t live in the wild like a cat. Who is going to take ultimate responsibility for her?
Lea and Arturo gave her a test run, but Phil Collins the Dog almost humped her to death. So, no.
Mali is now on a trial run at my house. Another dog was the last thing on my to-do list, but so far she is all pros and no cons. She is quiet, nice, and travel-sized. She has a positive influence on Mocha! She is low maintenance and has willing dogsitters for trips and nights out without her. She’s not uber-dependent on me like Mocha, so it would be easy to find her another loving home if I ever had to. Although why would I ever want to? I kinda wanna take her with me, everywhere.
This is exactly how I found my puppy zaguate/border collie Bolita. She was also covered in stinky mud and once I bathed her and fed her she decided to stay…4 years ago.
aww 🙂
Yes and yes! Never been to afraid of the noises at night. That is, the quicker I find out the better I am. I would scare myself to death wondering what is out side. Or another words less afraid of the known, then the unknown. Now tell me Erin, can you seriously look that dog in the eyes and say no? I’m in Indiana and he looks so cute, I would take him. I know I think to deep sometimes, but there is a reason he came to your door. He’s a gift to all of you. I just don’t see how you can turn something so cute down, especially since you guys were so kind in saving him. Besides he’s small enough you could easily carry him around, can’t eat much and the entertainment and love he gives you in return, you have to take him. That’s my two cents.
The smaller size is turning out to be so much easier to care for than giant Mocha puppy. I just have to be careful not to step on her :/
Yes and yes
I have a feeling you are going to be meeting this puppy sooner than later when she comes to visit your neighbors 😉
YES. Its a sign;it has true meaning the way he showed up.Keep him forever and you will be repaid in pure love,
She’s been showing Mocha love, too, which is awesome. She’s too young and full of love to realize that Mocha is a mean, crotchety old lady lol
Absolutely. I have a belief that sometimes animals “find you!” Whether by luck or instincts… I think she found her perfect home! Congratulations-she is awfully cute!
Sha had to go through hell to get to us, poor thing. She’s a brave little pup. …now if I can just not step on her we’ll be in business…
This is breaking my heart! She is so cute! Lucky lucky! My husband and I had a dog before moving to Costa Rica but the University we are working for would not let us bring her with us. Scoop her up and hold her tight. Dogs are the best!
aww sorry. That’s surprising – I find dogs are generally more accepted here. 🙁
She certainly did pick the right door to knock on! One word- serendipity!
yeah she got lucky! 🙂
You are very lucky it was a stray dog. When my wife and I answered the door while living in Costa Rica, we ended up duct taped and laying on the kitchen floor for two days. we were so lucky the cleaning lady found us.
That sucks. Many people find that guard dogs help to prevent home invasions in Costa Rica, but you have to be a responsible owner so they don’t wreak havoc on the neighborhood.
Oh wow – she is SOOOOO cute!!!
yeah she is and she is super sweet, too 🙂
Wow, what an absolute awesome story! Cuter than could ever be! Looks like there’s some Jack Russell in there somewhere.
She is starting to look like a terrier in the body and she has been running and jumping and flipping – she is like an acrobat! Maybe you are right about the Jack. We go back to the vet for shots in a week, so maybe she’ll have a better idea of the mix. Stay tuned! 🙂
Ahhh she’s so cute! What a nice surprise in the middle of the night. I desperately want a dog here and am planning on adopting a saguate but our landlord doesn’t allow pets. Good thing we’re planning on moving soon so hopefully we can get one. If she’s not adopted by Sept let me know, I’d love to take her. 🙂
I’m pretty sure she is staying with us, but I’ll let you know if not… Basically she has to turn into a vicious monster to get kicked out at this point 😉
Molly is so adorable. It’s a good thing you found her – err – she found you! I would keep her! We have a cute little terrier-chihuahua mix and her name is Coco. So much fun!
haha sometimes people confuse Mocha’s name with Coco. 🙂
Your little angel coming to your door is something that warms my heart. I’m a senior citizen who was reading blogs in Costa Rica because I am doing my best to find a way to move there. I work part time in a PetSmart Hotel in Texas and I clean up after, water, feed, and tend to the little guests in the playrooms. I have to supplement my income and I simply gave up working for or directly with people. This is hard work but I have my own little Maltese Rocky and I love him with my whole heart. He is in that heart and also my soul. Beautiful little puppy who makes people who just read the story feel happy so that tells me she’s a blessing… Beautiful!