Coco the dog is left homeless and broken hearted

Tamara Lynn Knutson passed away in July 2023 after losing her 40-year battle with cancer. Sadly, she left her 5-year-old heeler, COCO,

behind, homeless, broken-hearted, and without any financial coverage for the rest of her life. After researching other options for re-homing Coco, Katrina Toucke is the only option that feels right for everyone. She owns Lots of Luv’N Happy Pets LLC, in addition to Katrina Toucke Video Productions LLC, here in Ridgway, Colorado, and has worked with Tamara for 2 years providing house-sitting services for Coco and Woody, who passed away in April 2023.

Katrina is also a positive reinforcement trainer.

Katrina will adopt Coco as her own and work on her other business Katrina Toucke Video Productions so that she can provide a lifelong solid home for Coco, but she needs some financial help to get them back on their feet/paws after this devastating heart-breaking loss of Tamara.

The Back Story – Hello my name is Sylvia, and I have been Tamara’s neighbor for the past 2 years when she built a house and moved in. Over the years, there have been challenges with Coco’s barking and running around off-leash. However, there have been huge improvements since Katrina moved in several months ago to help care for Tamara through her sickness and assist with Coco. The training she has done with Coco in the past few months has been extraordinary. I have noticed a HUGE difference in COCO with her weight, her high pitch barking, and just her general personality. Coco is doing great and LOVES Katrina, so I am asking that you consider helping them stay together by helping with their first-year costs and beyond so that Coco lives out her best life.

About Katrina Toucke: Hi friends of Tamara, I opened Lots of Luv’N on the Front Range in 2002, Positive Reinforcement training, Dog Hikes, and Pet sitting and Boarding. As a positive reinforcement trainer, I have extensively researched food and behavioral links which has led me to change Coco’s diet and see the improvement that has on her. Humphrey and Gracie and I moved to Ridgway in 2017 in our Tiny House. I lost Humphrey and Gracie 2 years ago in November 2021 at 15.5 and 12.5. Reopened Lots of Luv’N and started Katrina Toucke Video Productions LLC. Heartbroken losing my tribe I haven’t adopted as I know firsthand how expensive furry ones can be. Humphrey was easily a $ 50k dog over his lifetime with me. He had TPLO surgery for $2500 then got infected and more and more vet bills. I believe you do what it takes when you adopt! Coco will be adopted by me, and we are just hoping for financial assistance for 1 year.

THE COST: Coco has inconsistent runny stools (IBS) due to the amount of environmental stress she has been under. The food has been important and is finally calming her IBS down.

Bad Lands Ranch - 3 bags $170.85 2-month supply for food topper

Main food – Call of the Wild 28 lbs. bag Beef - $62.10 2-month supply

Training treats - $27.25 2-month supply

Vets –annual vet care as quoted by Ridgway Vet Clinic:

Exam - $60

Blood work - $120

Anal Gland Expressions - $35

Vaccines - $75

Potential Additional Vet Costs:

X-rays - $200-300

Surgery - $2500-$10,000

Additional Costs, because there is always the unexpected:

Pet-sitting for when Katrina must go away and cannot take Coco - $500

Additional training tools - $500

The unexpected - $500

Annual Cost for food, training treats, and vet bills, with no unexpected additional costs: close to $2K

In order to prepare for the worst, pet insurance of $615/year

Estimated annual costs with some room for unexpected costs - $3500

Tamara always believed-

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” Hippocrates, the father of medicine.

This goes for animals as well as humans.

Asking for $7500 for a year’s coverage and beyond to give Coco a wonderful furever home and allow her to live out her very best life!

This will allow Katrina and Coco to get on their paws again after this sudden, sad event!

Donations may also be made directly to the dedicated account at Alpine Bank in Ridgway set up in Coco’s name – Coco Care.

From Katrina:

I love COCO and have worked with her extensively and know her triggers. I eventually would love to see Coco as a therapy dog visiting assisted living and hospice centers.

We (Coco, Tamara in spirit & I) are so grateful for this opportunity to help COCO but we need your help. With tears and heart-felt gratitude, we appreciate you helping us get on our paws.

With Love and Licks from Coco

Katrina and Coco