By Jody Sackett
While many dog owners believe their pets are nearly divine, few achieve the pinnacle of compassionate success that dog Cooper Voccola did. Despite suffering from an unexpected, debilitating paralysis in midlife, this beloved pet rallied to become the mascot and inspiration for major philanthropic efforts and a symbol of perseverance when conquering obstacles.
Cooper helped raise millions of dollars for global and local charities, has an AI bot named after him, and was literally the face of the recent Monmouth County SPCA Polar Plunge, where 400 swimmers raised funds for homeless animals.
Cooper died this fall at age 16 1⁄2 and is missed by many, including IT workers worldwide, the MCSPCA, and even the regulars at Red Rock bar and restaurant in Red Bank.
Cooper had to overcome obstacles from the moment he was born. A small Pekinese-beagle mix from Oklahoma, he was the runt of the litter, the one nobody wanted. Miraculously, he escaped being euthanized when the Voccola family adopted him.
Fred Voccola adored Cooper and they soon became best friends, hiking their favorite Tatum Park trails together in Middletown. As the co-founder and former CEO of Kaseya, and the current chairman and CEO of Simpro, Voccola is busy managing global technology giants that employ thousands of workers. But he is also a dedicated philanthropist who seeks to help others, especially those who cannot speak for themselves. Like Cooper.
Cooper, the Pekinese-beagle mix who was paralyzed for much of his life, died recently at age 16 1/2. The Voccola family dog helped inspire donations for nonprofits such as Monmouth County SPCA.
When Cooper was about 8 years old, he suffered spinal injuries that left him unable to use his hind legs and tail or control bodily functions. Remarkably, Cooper again avoided being euthanized because the Voccola family, especially Cooper’s Mom, Rachel worked with him to find a solution instead of giving up. After months of intensive daily canine therapies and acupuncture, Cooper regained about 50% mobility and was able to “spinal walk,” using involuntary spinal reflexes instead of normal brain signals.
“Cooper wouldn’t quit,” Voccola said. “He was the toughest and most resilient creature on the planet, with the best attitude in the world.”
Cooper’s front legs were doing the walking and propelling him forward, while the back legs followed automatically, using muscle memory to move. “The vet called him a ‘miracle dog,’ ” Voccola said.
Less than a year later, Voccola and Cooper were back on the Tatum Park trails.
Voccola brought Cooper to the Kaseya offices hundreds of times, earning him the title Canine-in-Charge. This plucky little dog won the hearts – and sometimes the lunches – of his coworkers there. Kaseya even named its AI platform the Cooper Intelligence Engine
Many Helped In Cooper’s Name
His resilience was the inspiration for both Cooper Cares, Kaseya’s philanthropic arm launched in 2022, as well as the Cooper Voccola Family Foundation (CVFF), which is chaired by Voccola and privately funded entirely by the Voccola family. The Cooper Voccola Family Foundation is a global nonprofit organization that supports animal, veteran and child welfare organizations, providing a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.
Through CVFF, Cooper has raised millions of dollars for organizations such as Wounded Warrior Project, Pets with Disabilities, Feeding America, Blue Star Service Dogs, Smile Train and many more.
The Kaseya Kares organization has leveraged thousands of Kaseya employees, partners, customers and even competitors who attended events in London, Sydney, Miami, Ireland and India, where they worked together to pack supplies for homeless veterans, raise funds for children’s causes and help support hospitals.
For a disabled dog, Cooper was a pawson ambassador that really got around. It helped that this gentle dog always loved people. Cooper inspired not only global donations but also local pet adoptions at the Monmouth County SPCA, where Voccola has served as a trustee for five years. The shelter receives thousands of animals each year, so adoptions are critical.
“I saw right away Fred was perfect for the board,” said Ross Licitra, MCSPCA executive director, about the first time he met Voccola. “Not only was he very philanthropic, but his love for animals is amazing. You can judge a man’s soul by how he treats his animals.”
About two years ago, Cooper’s spinal walking abilities faded. But his family kept him mobile by pushing him in his “motorcycle,” which looks like a sleek dog stroller. On weekends, Voccola and Cooper were fixtures in Red Bank, rolling around the town at least twice a day to their favorite spots, including the train station and Red Rock Tap + Grill for the fries Cooper loved. Voccola recalled how those who petted Cooper would smile and tell him, “Your dog just turned my day around.”
Cooper continued his celebrity appearances with Voccola, including in his doggie tuxedo at the annual MCSPCA Fur Ball fundraiser. He is still the face – wearing a knit beanie – of the organization’s popular Freezin’ for a Reason Polar Plunge held every Thanksgiving weekend. This year’s event raised over $100,000, though the first year without Cooper was bittersweet. Voccola was still there to personally hand out the Nancy Voccola Warm Heart Award, in honor of his late mother, to the child who raised the most funds.
“Fred really gets into the mission of the SPCA,” said Licitra. “He’s a champion of a disabled dog, and we have had many disabled dogs at the shelter. He and Cooper have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the SPCA. And he’s a brilliant businessman who brings that business expertise to the SPCA board.”
The Dog Star shining in the night sky reminds us that Cooper is now happily running around in heaven. Meanwhile, Voccola asks the public to continue the legacy here on Earth. “If you want to honor Cooper, please consider pet adoption, donate to your local humane societies and perform random acts of kindness,” he said. Cooper would surely agree.
For more information, visit thecoopervoccolafamilyfoundation.org.
The article originally appeared in the December 4 – 10, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
