THE OWEN AND HAATCHI STORY: HOW A DOG CHANGED A LIFE

As a part of their “Homes for Dogs” project, REP Interactive, an award-winning Video Production and Advertising Agency, partnered with Coldwell Banker to tell the amazing tale of how one boy and his dog could change each other’s lives forever.

Haatchi is a three-legged Anatolian Shepherd who, at only five months old, survived getting run over by a train. With severe head injuries, and a severed leg and tail, the RSPCA resolved it best to put him down. But just in time, a family, the Howkins, brought him home to their disabled son, Owen.

Owen is a now nine-year-old boy who suffers from Schwartz-Jampel syndrome, a disease with only 30 people diagnosed worldwide, and a mere 100 total documented cases to date. Schwartz-Jampel syndrome causes Owen’s body to painfully seize involuntarily, affecting his eyesight and ability to walk. When Owen’s parents were able to get him a wheelchair, Owen found that he was treated differently. This cause him to refrain from going outside and being around strangers. But this was all about to change.

When Owen was six years old, his parents brought home what he would soon come to call his best friend, Haatchi. The pair immediately hit it off. “It was a connection I can’t put into words. It was magical. ” his mother recounts. Not only were they inseparable, but Haatchi pushed Owen to conquer his fear of the outdoors. “He changed my life and I really wanted to go outside more often,” Owen says. The nine-year-old believes their incredible bond is down to their ability to understand each other’s disabilities.

In addition to this, the two enjoy entering dog shows. Most notably, they entered Crufts, the largest dog show in the world, and won the “Friends for Life” Award.

It is those like Owen and Haatchi that exemplify what Coldwell Banker is doing with their “Homes For Dogs project”. It was a pleasure for REP Interactive to portray this emotionally engaging and inspiring story. We are proud to have worked with Coldwell Banker, a real estate company who are always searching for more than just a house. Their goal is to find clients a happy home where memories are created with family and friends.

It was a pleasure to travel to the UK and meet this famous duo in person. And yes, they are just as sweet in real life as they are in this video. Please take a moment to watch this incredible story: