Cocoa #17 Chocolate Labrador Retriever Female 8 Years Old #3715

Meet Cocoa! This sweet and beautiful purebred chocolate girl was surrendered by her owner as this farmer has decided to stop breeding! She is now in a Brookline foster home learning what it’s like to be a pampered inside pet. Please read her blog from the bottom up to learn more about her journey in foster care.

June 7, 2026

We can’t believe it’s been 10 days since Cocoa arrived at “Camp Mazzitelli”. Cocoa continues to settle in beautifully and remains the perfect houseguest.  She had her first vet visit a day after her arrival. Cocoa sat patiently for her shots and was easily coaxed to jump on the scale to reveal she was 85 lbs. The vet said Cocoa should lose about 6-8 pounds before her spay.  Her tests revealed that she had a UTI so she’s taking antibiotics to help her feel better.

Cocoa was quick to catch onto doing her potty outside. I’m happy to report that she has continued her streak of no accidents in the house. Cocoa sleeps quietly through the night in FM and FD bedroom on her dog bed with her resident dog Stella. She’s calm, easygoing, and has quickly become part of our daily routine. FM & FD work at home so she & Stella are lucky to have company all day. Our day starts by waking up very happy, wiggly (and early) in FM & FD’s bedroom.  We head downstairs to do our potty in the yard, then breakfast is served.  We go for our morning walk with our neighbor dog Sandy after FM and FD have their coffee. Then we takes naps and around 2 pm we are ready to watch Stella play ball in the yard (Cocoa hasn’t quite figured out chasing the ball). We go for another walk around 4 pm, dinner kibbles, walk again, then bedtime.  Cocoa has excellent leash manners. She walks beautifully, does not pull and is a pleasure to take out and about. Cocoa is great meeting new people and dogs.  She’s very affectionate and friendly to humans and polite with other dogs.Cocoa is very quiet in the house & most of the time you’ll find her laying next to FM while she works at her desk.

Cocoa is always happy when FM or FD take a break to sit outside in the yard & let her wander the yard or lay on the patio in the sun. Cocoa does not need a fenced yard, she just meanders around the yard & wants to be near her humans or Stella.Cocoa loves attention. If you stop petting her before she’s ready, she’ll gently paw at you to let you know she’d appreciate a little more. She navigates stairs with ease, she sleeps quietly through the night.

Stella tries to coax Cocoa to play with her but Cocoa isn’t interested.  Cocoa might be happy as an only dog or with a dog that is very chill.

We had a little outing to Dairy Delite & Cocoa had her first pup cup & loved it!  She enjoying the attention from all of the people waiting in line and the yummy treat!

Silly Cocoa likes to play hide and seek…with our clothes! My daughter was visiting overnight and said her sweatpants & t-shirt were missing.  We looked around the house & Cocoa carried the clothes downstairs to our dining room, moved a floor vent and pushed the t-shirt into the vent! The sweatpants were found under a chair.

Stay tuned for Cocoa’s weekend adventure at our house in Cape May!

May 31, 2026

Cocoa arrived to us from the farm on Wednesday May 26. We gave her a bath, which she accepted with no issue, and brought her to our home to meet her resident dog Stella (a Brookline Alum). Stella was happy to meet Cocoa around 6 pm. Cocoa did not hesitate to come right up the front steps and right into her new home. It certainly was a long day for Cocoa.Being a “farm” dog, she has some house training to do. But we are counting on Stella and us to teach her.

The first night Susan slept with the dogs in our family room. Cocoa was a little unsettled that night and had #1 and #2 accidents.

Day one was met with an early morning wake up from Stella, and a stroll around the backyard, and a morning peepee! Cocoa has been very thirsty. She ate her first breakfast with us and enjoyed it. Cocoa and Stella took 4 good and Cocoa is a CHAMP on the leash (harness with leash on the chest). She does not hesitate, pull or have any issues with people we encountered. She stops and smells the new neighborhood and doing a great job going pee and did her first #2. There was a good deal of backyard time to remind her where to go toilet. She enjoyed her dinner then finally started to relax and lay down in the family room. We turned on the TV and she was very surprised to see the “magic box”. So, we turned it off for the night. I have a feeling that we will be catching up on some reading.Night two, we decided to have Cocoa and Stella sleep in our bedroom, which is Stella’s routine. Cocoa had a very restful night and no accidents.

Day two, another early wake up from Stella, followed by backyard time and bathroom (both #1 & #2) YEAH! Later that morning we had a walk with Stella, Cocoa and our neighbor and their dog Sandy. Cocoa greeted Sandy with excitement. All 3 dogs walked great together. We had her vet visit (bloodwork, vaccines and got her chip), she was awesome. She was 85 lbs so losing a few pounds is in her future this summer. Great weather allowed for a fun filled afternoon of backyard time, another walk and dinner. Stella wants Cocoa to play with her (which Stella rarely initiates play with other dogs) and of course letting her know who’s the boss. Cocoa is now settling in a getting comfortable and relaxing and some naps.Night two, same routine as before and a great night again!!

Some of Cocoa’s highlights:

Can sit on command, great on the leash, knows her name and is starting to come when called using treats, doesn’t runoff in the yard/meanders in the backyard on a long lead, loves to be by her foster mom & dad’s side and follows us everywhere.Stay tuned for more.