Coop

Backstory

Renji brought Coop home to Sunrise Sanctuary in 2022, when Coop was eight weeks old. His feet seemed to belong to a slightly larger dog. He was all curls, bad coordination and the absolute confidence that anything happening within sight probably involved him.

Renji's days already had a rhythm of animal care, repairs and jobs that somehow produced three more jobs before lunch. Coop joined all of them. If Renji crossed the sanctuary, Coop followed. If Renji carried something, Coop inspected it. If Renji crouched down to work, Coop considered the space between Renji and the problem an excellent place to put a dog.

Coop was Renji's dog, a member of the family who grew up loved and included in everyday life. He became deeply attached to Renji, and unfamiliar or prolonged separation could make him anxious. He also liked other people, animals, food, play, interesting smells and carrying things. Most of all, he liked helping. Growing up did very little to improve his understanding of what helping meant.

The puppy clumsiness never entirely disappeared. What changed was the amount of dog involved. Coop grew into a 90-pound Bernedoodle who approached laps, doorways and smaller animals with the confidence of a creature half his size. By the time he found out he did not fit, most of him was already involved.

He could bring someone an object and knock over something unrelated on the way. He could lean affectionately against a person with nearly his full body weight. If someone was repairing a fence, moving supplies or digging a hole, he understood that work was happening. His next conclusion was usually that the missing ingredient was more Coop.

Garbage bins were irresistible, especially if the smell suggested somebody had thrown away perfectly good food. Cardboard boxes needed investigating. A loose end of paper towel or toilet paper could become a game. But the cardboard tube at the center of a toilet paper roll was treasure. Coop chewed them, carried them, hid them and brought them to people with great pride. Sometimes he appeared with one in his mouth and nobody could work out where he had gotten it.

Coop learned Sunrise's routines. He knew familiar commands and recognized the people and animals around him. He noticed when somebody was hurt, upset, tired or behaving differently. Understanding what they needed was harder. An upset person might suddenly find ninety pounds of curly dog leaning against them. A serious conversation might look like several people conveniently gathered together. Someone trying to work quietly might receive a toy.

When something felt unfamiliar or wrong, Renji was the person Coop looked for first. If Renji disappeared unexpectedly, Coop went looking. The rest of his attention stayed mostly with whatever was in front of him, especially if it could be eaten, carried or played with.

Over time, people at Sunrise secured the trash lids and moved paper products out of reach. They learned to watch their food. Anyone attempting delicate work knew Coop might appear beside them with the confidence of a dog who had been personally requested. A mistake did little to discourage him. Once everyone finished reacting, Coop was usually ready to try something else. Possibly the exact same thing.

What drives them

At story entry

Independence · Low

Coop wants to join whatever Renji is doing. Being left behind troubles him far more than having to follow someone else's lead.

Trust · Very high

Coop grew up loved and included at Sunrise. He greets people with his whole body and assumes there is room for him beside them.

Nerve · High

Coop moves toward someone he loves when they are threatened. He can be brave before he has understood what he is running into.

Control · Low

Coop wants a part in the activity, with very little thought for how it should go. Enthusiasm usually arrives before judgment.

Main bonds

• Renji

  Renji raised Coop from a puppy. Coop follows him into almost anything, including work that was going better before he joined in.