Fernando was gotcha’d December 12, 2011, in a freezing rain storm in Atascadero, California. He passed away December 2, 2023.
Fernando, also known as “Fer,” “Fer Bear,” “Chi-Chi,” “Chi-Chi Butt, or “Chi-charoni” loved chasing squirrels. He never managed to catch one, but he came REALLY close more than once. And his favorite place to chase squirrels was in the backyard of his Grammy and Grampy Frenier who loved and adored him almost as much as Fernando loved and adored them.
Fernando loved eggs and cooked salmon. His favorite toy he had was a small, stuffed snowman that he had chewed the arms off of. The rest of Mr. Snowman was the perfect size for his little chihuahua mouth.
He loved to burrow under blankets (we’re pretty sure he had some terrier in him). Every single morning, after walks and breakfast, he would stretch out so his whole body so he was pressed against Momma Jill’s left, outer thigh, covered by his favorite soft, fuzzy blanket. Even in the summer.
They had many memories of Fernando, but their favorite was how determined he was for us to be his chosen family. He “belonged” to a really bad group of people who lived in the apartment complex behind us. They just let him run wild. He showed up that night in the rain, running up to Jill fearlessly, happily wagging his tail. Jill was out walking Jamie and we know that Fer realized we would be a better family for him.
Jill took him home that night so he wouldn’t freeze to death. Our landlord knew his owners and returned him. But he kept getting loose and he kept coming back, until those owners moved about 9 miles away.
About two months later, on her way out for an appointment, Jill opened the door to Fernando standing there, wagging his tail, looking like hell. This fierce, brave, determined little chihuahua walked NINE MILES, by himself, to make his way back to the family he had chosen for himself. He was haggard, skinny and filthy. But he made it back to us and there was NO WAY we could deny he belonged in our family.
Fernando was with us for 12 years, and at no point did he ever try to run away. We will forever miss his huge heart, his sometimes scary intelligence, and most importantly his devotion to his human family.
There will NEVER be another like him and we will NEVER, EVER forget him or stop loving him.
Left to cherish his memory are his Mom’s, Lilly and Jill; and fur-siblings Jamie, Dante, and Gideon.