Taco (thats Don Taco Waggytail) to you, is and was the first Waggytail.
Taco had been found tied up. He was intercepted on the way to the pound by our friends Bobbi and the Strays. He was emaciated and severely traumatized, physically and emotionally, from being tortured. He had been purposefully burned with cigarettes.
Holly was tranfixed with Taco from moment one. Somehow someone got that picture of Taco to her before she even saw him and she said 'thats it'. She knew. Sight unseen. She knew that he was her puppy soulmate and she was going to fix him up and he was going to fix her up and that would be that. And that is that. They adore eachother. She taught him how to trust people again.
Holly nursed Taco and gave him a second life. Holly loved him so much. She couldn't stop thinking that he was not the only one. That there were other dogs at the shelter, alone, in cages, still shaking from something terrible that happened, expecting the worst but still not being able to deal with the horror of the reality. Scary bars. Awful noises. No walks. No blankets. Just fear.
They never left her head. She had been volunteering for animal rescuers for years, and her family was always into rescue so none of this was new- except that it was. Taco had touched her so deeply that she couldn't bear for dogs like him to suffer if it was within her power to help. Not tomorrow. Right now. She had always helped animals. But Taco turned on a light inside her, and now it was different Its not a hobby, its not a theory, its not a philosophy. It is a fierce and immediate drive to end suffering, and I respect it so much. She went back to the shelter a few days later and took out three more chihuahuas and worked on finding foster homes.
Taco is the most loving, softest, sweetest, unique little man. He shows few remnants of his past horror except to sometimes make the cutest snarly face if someone is trying to take his harness on or off. He has eyes like a person, not like an animal. its not the shape, but the flecks and layers of color in the iris and the pupil that constricts when he is concerned. They are so expressive I don't know how Holly gets anything done. I would just stare at those eyes and try to figure out what he was thinking.. But i guess she doesn't have to because she knows. They really understand eachother and bring eachother so much comfort and joy. They are always together.
Knowing, every DAY, that there are dogs like Taco in the city shelters, about to be euthanized, and we can get them out, rehabilitate them, and find them forever homes keeps Holly going and she keeps us going.. Taco inspired Holly, and continues to inspire us all.
Taco was the catalyst.. He changed Holly forever, and is the most loyal and true and magical companion in the world to her..
As Maddie's Fund was started for Maddie, WaggyTail Rescue was started for Taco.
Holly says. "I do it all for him!"
