My husband suggested we considered adopting a dog, he’d watch me sit in the garden crying where Felix and I used to play for too long and he wanted to teach me to love again. I wasn’t sure I was ready to have another dog and replace Felix, but I agreed to at least ‘go and look’.
We had visited a number of rescue shelters by the time we met Cody, I’d met hundreds of dogs that needed our help, each with their own sad story but none had sparked the same kind of fire I had with Felix. I remember feeling upset that so many were there and that I couldn’t take them all.
Then I came to the last pen at the back of the shelter, a young dog cowered, curled in a ball shaking at the back of his cage. The name on his sign said “Cody”, he was an abused fighting dog from Puerto Rico that was left abandoned on the streets. I knelt down in his cage and whispered his name. He was nervous at first, but he eventually got up with his tale between his legs and edged his way towards me. He then did something that nearly broke my heart. Just as Felix always used to do, he jumped up, placed his paw below my heart and looked at me with his sad little eyes as if to tell me “it’s ok”.
The shelter staff told me he’d never done that before, and he was terrified of human contact. He would not walk on a leash, and trembled at any sudden movement or sound. It was clear to see he had a tough upbringing. We came to see him a few more times before we were ready to take him home, and he’d come bounding up to the edge of his cage to play.
Sometimes I still cry missing my beautiful Felix but every time I do, Cody comes and places his paw on my heart, kisses my fingers and looks to play. He makes me smile just thinking about him. He has seen anger, abuse and hunger and has been afraid but these are all in his past now. I promise he will never starve again and most of all I promise no one will ever lift a hand to him again.
He saved me. He let me love again.
I started Cody’s Ring about 3 months ago, I saw all of these women and girls on social media wearing jewellery or clothing that wasn't really meaningful to them in any shape or form but they still had to promote it and it really got me thinking…
I needed to share Cody’s story, spread awareness that his story is happening to thousands of dogs everyday. Dogs that are too scared to play, too scared to love again. I wear this ring as a reminder of what Cody did for me, the way he thanked me for saving him by placing his paw below my heart, but really he saved me.
Ladies like us have such a platform to share Cody’s heartwarming and inspiring story, and the impact we can have on dogs like him by sharing the message. We can share it with friends, group dog walks, dog training, schools and of course our work.
But second to all that, it’s the astounding quality and beautifully handcrafted design of the actual ring and its meaning... it's a perfect representation of the selfless care and affection dogs give us for nothing in return.
Two weeks ago I headed to a regular meet up with my rescue-dog-group friends where I handed out a selection of rings to the 28 ladies. I explained the story of Cody’s paw below my heart, and how that design is echoed in the ring. I shared his story of dog-fighting, abuse and mistreatment and explained how we need to raise awareness to all dog lovers we know.
I challenged them to wear their Cody’s ring everyday to see if people started conversations about them & what the paw and heart meant...
What happened over the next few weeks was absolutely breathtaking!
Throughout that whole following week, our little rescue dog group-chat had messages flying in about the great conversations with non-dog owners, and dog lovers about Cody’s story, and how they were all going to do their bit to help dogs in need by coming to our meet-ups and trying their own rings…
As a group we quickly realised the rings were a brilliant reminder to ourselves and the community that we needed to share stories like Cody’s and thousands of other dogs just like him to as many people as possible.
This was SUCH a great challenge for myself and our group and a true eye-opener to what something as touching as Cody’s story can do. So I really challenge YOU to take it on and see the impact and conversations they start with your own community! Join us, order your set of rings and share them with your friends and family.
