Once upon … two years ago

Four cockapoos got together for a walk in Hyde Park.  The above photo was taken that day – the 13th January 2013.

Running in a row from left to right: Charlie (from Richmond but doesn’t come any more), Zavia (who now lives in Stockholm – we were once the “velcro sisters”), Rocko (my first BF and who still comes to our meets) and me.

I remember that day well – it seems like only yesteryear.

This next photo was taken during our walk that Sunday (note: all our muddy feet!)  Along the way we met other cockapoos and we invited them to join us.

At the end of our walk – we were six!

And this past weekend – two years on –We have not only expanded in numbers but also in all colours and sizes!

May’s comment: Stacy Stube and I met the first week of January 2013 – and even though our friendship flourished in other ways, it was a friendship founded on our cockapoos.

The first year and a half when I had Darcy, I wished for her to meet other cockapoos. I would read with envy about cockapoo get-togethers in “faraway” places.

Stacy who had Zavia thought the same.

So when we met that day in Hyde Park, we spoke of our desires – and immediately made it our mission to start a “club”.

With her positive “we-can-do-it” approach to this and life in general, and my desire for Darcy to socialise and do the doodle dash endlessly – we began our first get together a week later – with just four.  During that walk we recruited others along the way. By the end of it, we were six. We didn’t stop there. We set about recruiting every cockapoo we met on our daily walks through Hyde Park – thus the venue and the name.

Two years on, much has changed in our lives.  Stacy had moved away and I now have two dogs!  And only two of the original four are still in London.

In the meantime cockapoos have become more popular than ever.  Every time we’re in the park, undoubtedly we run into another. Even walking along the streets and where we dine – we meet them.

We are mostly London based with visitors coming to join us every now and then. We have more than 150 names on our email distribution list today – not including all the ones on Facebook.  Those names have translated into friendships, a community of support and people with big hearts.

I’ve lost count of how many meets we’ve had – at least 25 I think. But at each one, it’s the happy and proud faces of those gathered that are as gratifying as seeing our cockapoos do the “doodle-dash”.

When you do things out of love and with passion – it cannot be wrong.

Thank you Stacy for helping me believe we could reach 20 cockapoos at a meet. But of course we can!

If you would like to join our meets – which takes place about every three weeks, send me a message or join the Facebook page Hyde Park Cockapoo