When I drove down to Circle Tail in April 2011 with my daughter, Sarah, and our first rescue dog, Kern, we had no idea the bond that would be made the moment we met Chogan. Talking with CJ, we knew that Chogan had been very well trained but had “washed out” of the program.
After he got settled with us, his drive to serve started to surface in everyday life. From herding kids away from the street and watching older dogs go safely up and down stairs, he was “on the job.” He loved playing “hide and seek.” I started using more of his training to have him find toys around the house. While hiking, he was happiest when playing “find and bring” games. Soon, I started looking for tasks to focus Chogan’s youthful energy.
What came next was having two city employees tell me to go talk with Asst. Chief Bosso, Twinsburg FD, about the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program he was starting. This is where Chogan really started to shine and become part of our community. He helped first with Search and Rescue drills and ALICE drills, then with teaching kids how to greet a dog at the Fire Department’s open house. During the open houses, children loved watching him run into the woods and come back with his frisbee. Chogan soaked up the attention like a sponge.
Chogan was always greeted with affection whether he was walking a parade route, accompanying people on the city-sponsored nature hikes or herding crowds during shows at the outdoor amphitheater. At ALICE and rescue drills First Responders were amazed to watch him help me pull people (volunteers acting as wounded) in baskets or tarps. Over time he would become the mascot for our CERT program till his retirement in July 2020.
Later in life, Chogan became known as the “playground chaperon” and “puppy supervisor” at the dog park. Watching the puppies play became his everyday joy. Even while it was getting harder for him to climb the ramp into the car, he never missed a chance to go to the park.
With arthritis heavy in his front shoulders and down his spine, Chogan and I decided the growth on his jaw was the final sign that it was time for his last trip to the vet. The bond shared and the love given by Chogan has meant world to us. His impact to the community can be summed up in this quote from Asst. Chief Bosso. “Chogan was an excellent public relations tool for CERT, as well as the fire and police departments. I don’t think that there is anyone in town who hasn’t interacted with him at one point.”
Rest easy, Chogan …. no more pain. E.O.W. 5/15/2021
