FoCo Top Dog 2022

Who is the Top Dog of Fort Collins?

In a town full of wonderful, well-behaved and athletic trail companions, we can all imagine a majestic border collie mix running away with the prize and never coming back, or maybe a lab mix to reward voters with kisses and loyalty... but not every day can be an adventure. In the tradition of Fort Collins being a city that appreciates a cold beer on a patio in the warm afternoons, I present you with

Cuba "Beans" Van Buiten

a dog who values the lazy moments and Colorado's 300 days of sun.

Cuba, like so many of us, is a transplant. He arrived in Fort Collins in March 2020 by way of Houston, TX through the Animal Friends Alliance on N Taft. It was about two weeks after the initial pandemic lockdown, and I had just returned from a trip to Cuba. Feeling lonely, as a recent transplant myself, I decided to look into adopting a dog- something small, and definitely not a puppy. I couldn't believe it when I saw a photo of a tiny senior dog with huge ears and big cloudy eyes staring at me through the computer screen with a name listed below him- "Cuba". Figuring it had to be some kind of sign, I filled out an adoption form immediately and the next day, he was mine.

Cuba, now more commonly known as Beans, has as many years of life under his belt as he has teeth remaining in his head- about 11. He knows no tricks, maxes out on walks after about a mile and is selective about his potty training depending on how much attention he believes he's receiving at a given moment, but he is the poster child (er... dog) for Fort Collins. 

Why?

Because Beans is a straight up chiller.

You can see it in the way he flops to the ground like an over-loved stuffed animal and the way he lets his tongue loll out of his mouth. You can see it in the way his eyes bulge out of his head for a small piece of cucumber or cheese. You can see it the number of hours a day he naps (~23.5).

In Fort Collins we may value adventures like hiking and endurance sports and we love dogs that will do all that with you... but now is the time to show some love to the one waiting to hang with you at home when the day is done.

So please! Consider donating to this fundraiser, not only to support this amazing cause, but to support Beans' path to the superstardom and life of luxury he deserves.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Northern Colorado Wildlife Center. This group is dedicated to opening up a fully fledged non-profit wildlife rehabilitation center to serve the Northern Colorado region, including Larimer county, Weld County, and beyond. Currently, no such facility exists in this region.