Portrait: Hamza and Cody

Les Néréides Loves Animals presents Hamza and his dog Cody, two happy Londoners whom we had the pleasure of interviewing.

Who is he?

Cody is a very handsome eight-year-old German Shepherd.

Can you tell us about your first meeting?

I first met him about seven years ago in a park near my home while walking my other dog, Jazmine (an Akita). When I first met him, he was a large, energetic one-year-old. His owner introduced herself, and we became friends immediately. I must admit I didn't really like Cody at first, as I had some apprehensions about large dogs, especially German Shepherds, known as "Police Dogs," and often portrayed as aggressive. However, once I got to know him, I quickly realized my mistake, as he is such a gentle and kind giant.

His best quality?

There are many things I love about Cody and his personality, but I would say his greatest quality is his incredible loyalty, which he demonstrates by staying by my side at all times. He truly embodies the saying, “A dog is a man’s best friend.”

His biggest flaw?

Cody's biggest drawback is that he sheds a lot throughout the year. He has a thick, dense coat that needs to be brushed every couple of days. Because of the shedding, there's Cody's fur all over the floor, which can be annoying, but it's something I've gotten used to now.

A nickname, and if so, why?

He has a couple of nicknames, one is 'Codes' and the other is 'Buddy'. I don't really have a reason why I call him 'Codes', but I call him 'Buddy' because I consider him my companion, and I often talk to him as if he were one of my closest friends.

What does his presence bring to your daily life?

Having Cody around brings me so much joy; he's a truly unique character. When I'm sad, he senses it and comes to me to offer cuddles and love. His loyalty means everything to me and helps me know I'm never truly alone. He helps me get some fresh air because he loves going to the park every day to play fetch. I find it very therapeutic, especially during stressful times.

Which association was contacted or what steps were taken for its adoption?

I adopted Cody due to unforeseen circumstances. My friend (Cody's former owner) was very ill and didn't have long to live. I became very worried, knowing that without her, Cody wouldn't be well cared for, which concerned me greatly. My friend's partner, who was looking after Cody, asked me to keep an eye on him. I agreed, thinking it was a temporary situation and that he would eventually come back for him. When Cody arrived, I could see that he was very thin, very sad, and clearly hadn't been well cared for during the months my friend had been hospitalized. So I took care of him, gave him lots of love, and noticed that his health improved. However, it took some time before he regained his strength and became more stable.
Weeks turned into months, and I never heard from my deceased friend's partner. So I decided to adopt Cody.

What is his biggest mistake?

In general, Cody is not a dog who gets into mischief, the only thing I can think of is that every time we go for a walk, he has the very bad habit of eating garbage off the ground.

And what's the most unusual anecdote you experienced with him?

He always tries (and often succeeds) in eating his own excrement after going to the toilet!