Getting to know you… Baloo
(Part 1 of 2)
Sirius would not have come to light if it were not for two very special souls. Our journey began in 2013 when a cheeky little terrier mix called Baloo came into our lives.
Having settled in Paris, working for Vuitton and Louboutin, Lucy and Oscar were slowly adapting to the Parisian way of life.
Oscar, a digital swiss army knife worked on all manner of projects from Louboutin’s stationery and brand identity to window displays around the world. Lucy travels the world sourcing inspiration from rare archives and stores to reinvent and revive cultural moments, using exceptional and rare artisan techniques.
Lucy and Oscar worked tirelessly but life was comfortable. Caught in the repeating loop of work and home, they didn’t know it yet, but they were missing something.
It took some time to acclimate to the French way of life, but after a while they started enjoying perhaps the most Parisian of activities, eating out. They would sit and linger, soaking up the ambiance, people watching, chatting about their days and the new exciting projects they were working on.
Paris was different to the home they had established back in London. Attitudes were more relaxed, the pace of life gentler and the rules are a bit blurrier.
In the north of Paris, just on the out-skirts, a small but aggressive dog called Baloo was living in a foster home. He had been placed there by a lady running a charity called ‘Alerte SOS’. She specialised in taking in dogs that had been in the pound for so long without finding their forever home, that they were due to be put down.
His background remained a mystery, but he had two scars on his face: one on his nose and another on his head. When he was taken for a walk, Baloo would bark ferociously and try to attack any creature that dared to cross his path. If it stemmed from a place of fear, you couldn’t tell. He didn’t care how little he was, he would pull and lunge incessantly.
One evening during a cosy dinner near their home in Le Marais, Oscar and Lucy spotted another couple accompanied by their dog resting at their feet. Shyly glancing and trying not to stare, Oscar and Lucy never asked if they could pat the strangers’ dog but instead were inspired to find one (to make their own?).
They made their way back to their Parisian abode where Lucy, a master of research happened upon a poorly designed website, complete with 90’s Microsoft clipart and fuzzy photos.
The screen filled with pictures of dogs and cats in foster homes all around France. Lucy showed Oscar and a sorrow overcame them as they looked at the animals, their heavy hearts peering into the eyes of these precious creatures. One happened to be located Paris. A funny looking mutt, with the littlest bowed legs.
And so they found themselves waiting outside an apartment block for Baloo and his foster. From the gates they watched the trooper pup jumping with excitement behind the glass doors of the foyer. As they all walked together, the foster warned the couple of Baloo’s aggression. Not directed towards people, in general he was happy-go-lucky. But with other animals he switched immediately.
Unswayed, Lucy had fallen in love with Baloo. Of a more reserved disposition, it would take Oscar a little longer.
Baloo was quick to settle into his new home. But he continued to be unrelenting at the mere sight of another creature, on one occasion barking at a metal cut-out of a cat in a vet’s window.
Oscar loves to fix things. And he is stubborn. It turns out he had more in common with his new furry friend than he had first perceived.
He set his determination against Baloo’s persevering aggression, researching and slowly training Baloo by offering him the space to feel more secure. As the months went by, Baloo became happier around other dogs. That said all hope has been lost with regards to squirrels…
Today Baloo is joined by the sister he never wanted; Xena. She too was adopted and came with her own set of problems and maladapted behaviours. She’s a little bigger than Baloo and has a funny face. I can’t wait to introduce you to her…
