It was love at first one-eyed sight.
When the Cotero family attended Anderson Humane’s The Road Home Mega Adoption Event at Brilliance Subaru of Elgin last month, they weren’t quite sure what they wanted. “We were thinking maybe a cat or small dog. We were pretty indecisive,” said dad Rafael, explaining that their house isn’t big, but their yard is.
With 150 animals available for adoption at the event, surely they would find the right pet for their family. When Rafael and his 18-year-old daughter, Wendy, spotted Honey, the one-eyed dog, they knew they had.
Honey was perfect for the family because of her similarity to Lucky, Wendy’s first “rescue” dog. Wendy was just 2 when she spotted a stuffed dog left on a shelf next to some food at their local Meijer. “She grabbed it and wouldn’t let go,” said Rafael, adding that the toy looked brand-new, even though it didn’t have a price tag.
When the family got to the check-out aisle, Rafael explained where they’d found the dog. The cashier told him they had the toy in stock and offered to get them another one that had both eyes. “We hadn’t even noticed it was missing an eye until then,” Rafael said.
But Wendy still wouldn’t let go of the dog. “She already loved it,” her dad said. So they bought the one-eyed dog, and Wendy named him Lucky. He quickly became her favorite toy.
“From the ages of about 5 to 8, she would randomly throw a birthday party for the dog,” Rafael said. “She’d gather all her other stuffed animals around and she’d sing happy birthday.” Sixteen years later, Wendy still has Lucky, the favorite of all her childhood toys.
So when Wendy saw one-eyed Honey, her heart leapt. Rafael’s did too. Wendy’s mom and 14-year-old brother, however, needed a bit more convincing. “It took a little bit of begging,” Rafael said. But eventually it worked, and the Coteros’ grew by one one-eyed, four-legged family member.
“Everyone loves her,” Rafael said of their new addition. “She’s brought moments of happiness and fitness. She’s very affectionate and loves to be pet and go for walks. She’s spoiled.”
Rafael isn’t surprised his daughter fell for Honey. “She’s always been interested in animals and is very compassionate,” he said. “She has a heart for the underdog.” Especially those with only one eye.