VO COELI & GREAT DANES

He always had cats and dogs. Those came first, in early childhood. Litters, games, interaction (as far as cats allow it). The first and charming Great Dane was Koona. From then on, he never stopped raising Great Danes in his life. Slender, elegant, giant, very gentle and playful. Some charms. A passion. Countless litters. Koona, the precursor, merle color, arrived at her home in São Paulo in 1977. She reached thirteen years (for the breed which, due to her size, has an average life expectancy of no more than ten years) and on the day of her euthanasia the she wrote:

Décio learned to be enchanted by Nature. This one offers us, in addition to the wonderful plant kingdom, that animal kingdom.

My dear Koona,

You are my canine passion, up until this point in my life. That's why your physical absence is painful. Who knows, maybe we’ve lived together before? I have faith that we will meet again.

I precipitated your departure to avoid suffering, because you didn't deserve it, you're a sweet creature. Stay close to me, so that I don't miss you too much. Light the way so that your descendant has a beautiful and long life like yours.

Thank you for the beautiful 23 puppies you gave us (the first litter helped me buy a car!). Thank you for your company in times of sadness and loneliness. For the remarkable and unforgettable moments on the beaches (her preference, as an excellent and keen swimmer), in the mountains.

I adore you. Once again I continue following my path, but with you, until the end, in my heart.

He understood that domestic animals came to give man a huge lesson in love. Of loyalty, of unconditional love, especially dogs. True heavenly angels. Visualize the look of your dog, who is fortunate enough to have you, towards you, crying out for you! Is there a greater demonstration of love? How much gratitude! Responsibility to provide eternal support!

He always made the dogues participate in his life, he included. At home, traveling, close and participatory contact several times a day. He was able, blessedly, to understand that if he is to have them by his side, enjoying all the lessons of love they bring, he needs to be attentive, caring like a child, with the appropriate proportions.

Many stories could be told about dogues like Konna (and her unsurpassed passion for water, sea, rivers and swimming pools to this day). Sheik, his son, had as his father a world champion of the breed, Lets Go West Liberté.

Sheik owed nothing to his father, in terms of posture, in terms of the perfection of color required for a harlequin (according to parameters pre-established by some human beings, ah, those humans, who keep classifying and condemning spots and colors that Nature assigned). He escaped several times, even for days, but always recovered, with the obstinacy that was required in times without internet. Famous in the Perdizes neighborhood, for its elegance and gentleness. It even ended up on Luciano do Valle's daily morning TV program, Pet Show.

Their stories and those of others, from so many trips and experiences over these decades, are endless. Examples of love, reciprocated, that they are capable of giving us. Décio no longer sees himself living without a Great Dane by his side, no matter how many difficulties and unforeseen events life brings him, a necessity like his own food and the air he breathes.

Knowing how to recognize that they are gifts sent like angels, almost equal to children, teaching us unconditional love, loyalty, the grace of Creation. In this aspect, he also realized that there are breeds and specimens, including felines and dogs, that are even a little less evolved, like human beings, that still show aggression. Fortunately, he never had one of those by his side, only the beloved Great Danes!

In 1998 he moved to Joinville and his dogue at the time was Nick, a beautiful harlequin, grandson of the Sheik.

Other crosses, litters and aggregations followed, always with harlequins and their variations.

Until in 2021, he decided to have golden, brindle and blue dogues in his squad, always admired, but not yet bred. And then came Doo (or Hector, golden), Tigrinha (as the name suggests, brindle), Juma, Baloo and Astra (blue).

A little of each of them can be seen on the "Our Children" page.

He named his kennel Vo Coeli (an affix, it is said at CBKC) in honor of his grandmother, Aracoeli (in Latin, altar of the heavens), who raised him from the first months of his life.

From 2022 onwards, as he made an effort to acquire them from the best dogue kennels in Brazil, with excellent bloodlines, and as they turned out to be very beautiful, he started showing, an activity that he had not previously worried about. All of them to this day have won numerous titles, awards and recognition, participating in numerous exhibitions in SC, RS, PR, SP and MG.