Pippin O'Chi

Baby Pippin O'Chi 2015
Photo by Tracey R. Simmons

Meet Pippin O'Chi. Pippin was named Cinca, a feminine version of cinco, which means five in Spanish, as the rescue told me. She was one of five Chihuahua puppies - four from one Chihuahua mother brought to the rescue by a family unable to keep two pregnant mothers. The other Chihuahua mother gave birth and rejected her two pups. One didn't make it. Cinca, although two weeks younger, was adopted by Annie, the Chihuahua mother given to the rescue.

I'd met, the then Cinca back at the beginning of June. I was smitten with this little outgoing puppy from the get go. She was smaller than her siblings, but was the most outgoing - reaching to humans for attention. She was mostly white, while her siblings were all dark.

At the time, I thought she'd make a great playmate for Koda. Chihuahuas like to be in little Chihuahua packs. Koda had a pack, but they were all much bigger. Despite my desire to adopt her, I didn't because I had enough mouths to feed, take care of, and love.

Heartbreak struck at the end of June with Koda's sudden passing.  The rescue Pippin came from still had three of the pups, and they brought them in for me to have puppy therapy two days after Koda died. Pippin was already spoken for, so I never said anything about the love I already had for her. I just sat there allowing the puppies to climb on me and eventually falling asleep in my lap, all the while fighting the tears of grief I had for Koda.

Later I found out the lady who was going to adopt Cinca pulled out of the adoption after her dog got suddenly sick. Cinca was then adopted along with one of her brothers and Annie. After finding out about this, I was upset with myself for not saying something when I'd had the puppy therapy. Fate stepped in, but it was more like God stepped in after hearing my cries. Even after listening to my anger at Him for taking Koda, He worked things out to bring the little one I'd fallen in love with several weeks before to me. Pippin was returned to the rescue along with her brother; and I happened to be on Petfinder.com and saw her again.

On July 25th, Cinca, now Pippin O'Chi became my fur baby, officially mine furever!!

KP2 - Hawaiian Monk Seal

I am an avid animal lover. I also love to read books or watch movies about the human/animal bond and relationship. Currently, I am reading a book by Terrie M. Williams called The Odyssey of KP2.


KP2 was born May 1, 2008 on North Larsen's Beach, Kauai. His mother, KP22, did not bond with her new pup. She did nothing to protect her new pup from an aggressive male who attacked KP2; and she even turned on her own pup, attacking him...

Hawaiian monk seals are critically endangered with about 1,060 left in the wild. They are facing extinction if humans, who have created the problem, don't step in to do something to help. After much political red tape, wildlife biologist Dr. Terrie M. Williams is given the permit and approval to study this nearly blind orphaned monk seal.

This book is the incredible journey Dr. Williams and her team, including animal trainers - Beau Richter and Traci Kendall, take to study and learn from KP2. This is also the story of a charismatic monk seal who loves humans. Can KP2 help save his own species?

This is a great book to read. This is not a dry research kind of read; it is a story told with care and love for the Hawaiian monk seal and the need to help with their survival. With the purchase of The Odyssey of KP2, you are helping, because part of the proceeds from this book go directly to help the research of the Hawaiian monk seals.

Learn more about KP2
To see video of KP2