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Grand Dog candidates: Koru and Tui

Koru and Tui with campaign manager, Heidi Weisskopf.
Courtesy Photo |

GRAND DOG

Grand Dog is a collaborative fundraiser for Advocates for a Violence-Free Community and Grand County Pet Pals to raise awareness that violence affects everyone in the home- adults, children, and pets. Every week we will be highlighting a different “candidate”. To see all of the candidates and vote for your favorite, please visit gcadvocates.org.

My name is Heidi Weisskopf and these future Grand Dogs are Koru and Tui. They are the first team to enter! . Where would be be without a captain and his first mate, King and Queen, or Lucy and Ricky!

Koru (New Zealand Maori for “loop”) is a spiral shape symbolizing new life and growth. I saw a construction truck that said Koru and had the spiral on the side. New Zealand has been a huge part of my life since 1991- I had a long list of possible names and Koru was at the top. The universe had spoken!

He was rescued from Oklahoma by the Evergreen Animal Protection League. After a year, I realized how much happier he was playing with other dogs. He needed a buddy… Along came Tui (a bird native to New Zealand). They were inseparable from the minute she came home- she also was adopted from EAPL from Arkansas. We are very fortunate in Colorado for all the great rescue organizations. These animals don’t have much chance at life or a good life in many other states. I am very grateful for my mutts, but spaying and neutering is very important.



I’ve been in the valley 26 years and know what dogs love about living here- I previously had litter mates Sage and Guinness. Koru and Tui swim, hike, paddle boat, fish, snowshoe, cross country ski and go 4 wheeling. Anything that involves running and playing hard! They are young and happy, always up for an adventure.

Tui’s motto is “don’t fence me in”. She can squeeze her way through the smallest of gaps in my fence but just hangs out. She is really cuddly, always needing to be next to you or preferably on your lap. Koru is a big mellow dog most of the time, but he plays hard with Tui, often not realizing she’s half his size. She’s full of spunk and gives it right back. They are best buddies, often sleeping on top of each other.



Koru and Tui deserve to be Grand Dogs. They embody the canine spirit of Grand County and will be amazing ambassadors. Keep in mind that while this is a competition, it’s to raise money for two great causes. Please support Advocates and Pet Pals. Vote for Koru and Tui.!!


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