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Couple Spots Tiny Animal In Bushes And It’s Now Important Part Of The Family

Emma Ackerman

Back in the day, five years ago, Victoria Martinez and her partner, Brian Fair, were strolling back from a sunny beach day in Puerto Rico. They decided to take a detour through the woods, thinking they were in for a peaceful hike. However, little did they know that they would become unexpected heroes, saving a life along the way.

Taíno was all alone, hiding in the bushes, but after being rescued by the couple, he’s never been alone again.

When Martinez and Fair saw him in November 2018, Taíno was a stray dog who was unsure of where his next meal would come from. Remembering the day they rescued Taíno from the bushes, Martinez said: "I think he was terrified. There had been thunder the night before, so I believe he was hiding in that bush, hoping someone would come to his rescue."
After deciding to help this poor animal, Fair and Martinez gently wrapped Taíno in a towel and brought him to Martinez's grandparents' home. They gave the pup a warm bath and a hearty meal, although they were uncertain about whether they could provide him with a permanent home.

However, they quickly fell for him and realized they couldn’t return to the U.S. without him.

Taíno had an injured leg, likely the result of a car accident in Puerto Rico. Source: Taíno The Rescue

“He's with us all the time, everywhere we go,” Martinez told The Dodo. “Right after we rescued him, I had to be on a work trip in Vegas, and he came with me.”

Incredibly, bringing Taíno back to the U.S. turned out to be a simple journey. Nevertheless, when they landed, Martinez and Fair realized Taíno had an injured leg, likely the result of a car accident in Puerto Rico. They quickly rushed to the vet and they successfully repaired Taíno's leg. But he still grapples with arthritis from the injury.

Even so, this little brave canine doesn’t let his medical issues hold him back from anything.

“We can see him go out in the field, and he runs circles around every other sized dog,” Martinez said. “He loves to run on the beach and swim in the ocean. So I would say he's thriving.”
He loves to run on the beach and swim in the ocean. Source: Taíno The Rescue
Taíno has been quite the traveler with his adoptive family, exploring both the eastern and western coasts of the U.S. He's trekked through numerous Florida state parks, even picking up skills like paddleboarding and jet skiing. In addition, he frequently journeys back to Puerto Rico with Martinez to visit her grandparents.
Taíno frequently journeys back to Puerto Rico with Martinez to visit her grandparents. Source: Taíno The Rescue
“Some would say he’s blessed,” Martinez said. “He's got a lot of frequent flier miles for a dog, but he's small enough to still fly in the cabin with us. So he's safe, and he's OK when he flies.”

Taíno loves his new family, and he's proud to be a part of it.

While celebrating Thanksgiving with Martinez's Puerto Rican family, Taíno surprised everyone by raising his voice.

“We were all doing the prayer and saying what we're thankful for on Thanksgiving, and before that, Taíno hadn't made a sound,” Fair said. “But when we were talking about family, he let out a sound for the first time. That was the moment where we were like, ‘He's part of the family. He's trying to speak up to say, ‘Hey, I'm here.’”

When Martinez and Fair got married earlier this year, Taíno was naturally part of the big event.

“My mom had sewed a little suit for him to wear that matched the groomsmen,” Fair told The Dodo. “He was so proud walking down [the aisle], and he did great. Then he sat there the whole time like a good boy while the ceremony went on.”

Taíno's life has been full of exciting times since he became a part of Martinez and Fair's family. Moreover, there's another big moment on the horizon – Martinez is going to have a baby early next year, and that will make Taíno a big brother.

“It’s going be our first human child, but we really consider Taíno to be our first real child,” Fair said. “We’re really excited to see him become a big brother, for sure.”

Taíno's life has been full of exciting times since he became a part of Martinez and Fair's family. Source: Taíno The Rescue
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