Nacho

### Aliases

Nach, Nacho Man, Nacho Fry, (originally) Tony; Middle name: Cheese (Nacho Cheese Fry)

## Physical description

### Eye color

Caramel

Nacho (formerly Tony) was a resident squad member for five months in 2022. He's since been adopted into a happy life with a Virginia family and their other golden retriever, Stella.

Nacho joined The Golden Ratio in June 2022 after an epic, first-of-its-kind journey from Idaho—known as Operation Nacho Run. Diagnosed with allergies and an injury to at least one knee, he'd been turned over to an Idaho vet for euthanasia at just 18 months old. (It's believed that his original owners didn't have the resources to care for him and thought they had no other options.) Instead, the vet turned him over to The Herd House, a Pocatello-based animal rescue group. The Herd House didn't have the space to keep him permanently, however—so "Herd Mom" Tine Welch posted to Twitter in search of a new home for him. Seeing the tweet, GR Mom replied that The Golden Ratio would take him if he could be driven to the Florida Keys—perhaps half-jokingly at first, as the 2,800-mile journey would make quite a demanding "grocery run."

Backed by GR Mom's logistical powers, though, a plan quickly took shape. Four volunteer drivers—not counting Herd Mom & Dad for the first leg of the journey and GR Dad for the last—were recruited online to transport him across the country. Volunteers also hosted him overnight in Denver, Kansas City, and Memphis. All had been strangers before teaming up for Operation Nacho Run. Travel and boarding expenses were covered by the Golden Ratio Foundation.

Beginning on Wednesday, June 8, and ending on Sunday, June 12, the trip broke down as follows:

June 8:
Pocatello, ID > Salt Lake City, UT (Herd Mom & Dad); Salt Lake City, UT > Denver, CO (volunteer)

June 9:
Denver, CO > Kansas City, MO (volunteer)

June 10:
Kansas City, MO > Memphis, TN (volunteer)

June 11:
Memphis, TN > Atlanta, GA (volunteer);
Atlanta, GA > Orlando, FL (GR Dad)

June 12:
Orlando, FL > Sugarloaf Key, FL (GR Dad)

As Nacho made his way across the country, he attracted attention online and in the media. A map of his route was updated regularly by GR Mom to show his location, and a dedicated Twitter account—@NachoWatcho—was created to keep tabs on his journey. The Miami Herald's Gwen Filosa also began covering the story, eventually visiting the GR household to document Nacho's arrival in the Keys. A line of #OperationNachoRun merch was released to benefit the Golden Ratio Foundation and the Herd House. One friend of the squad authored a fictionalized account of Nacho's adventure, in which he was accompanied by a caravan of GR angel dogs.

The effort concluded without a hitch as GR Dad arrived home with Nacho on the afternoon of Sunday, June 12. He celebrated his arrival with an immediate dive off the GR dock (in a moment documented by Filosa). Over the next few months, he became known for his high-energy play-fights and tendency to fall off household furniture—a great source of amusement for both himself and others.

However, it was eventually decided that he wasn't a permanent fit for the squad. It became clear that his health problems had been overstated and he was basically a healthy 2-year-old—an awkward addition to a household full of old or fragile dogs. He also began to experience friction with Remi, which was not entirely resolved through "couples therapy" with Maryland-based GR dog trainer Michael.

Working through the GRREAT organization, GR Mom and Dad went in search of a new family for Nacho—and quickly found him an ideal home with a newly retired couple living an hour outside Washington D.C. During a visit to their home, Nacho immediately made friends with 9-year-old golden Stella—even amazing everyone by letting her take a tennis ball he'd been chomping on. The adoption was quickly finalized. Nacho is now living the good life with a spacious home and yard, a swimming pool, and a beach house for getaways.

1. ↑ https://thegoldenratio4.travelmap.net/
2. ↑ https://twitter.com/NachoWatcho
3. ↑ https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/florida-keys/article262419017.html
4. ↑ https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/112823587
5. ↑ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Clb4KQYkr1lnuqc4FPDf\_IBReKnC6vw6Qvrf8L-cvHY/edit
6. ↑ https://twitter.com/KeyWestGwen/status/1536101113178497024