Nani and Caterina are a mother and daughter pair of English Cocker Spaniels. They have become well-known throughout Brazil because of their legendary adventures on a motorcycle with their owner, Luiz Carlos Negrine.
Nani, seven years old, has clocked over 100, 000km with her 62 year old owner. Caterina, her female offspring of two and a half years of age, started accompanying its mother; on one journey it accompanied Nani on a 6140Km journey passing through 15 cities in Brazil.
An upcoming documentary movie featuring the adventures of the two dogs with their master is about to be released in Brazil - probably within the next two to three weeks according to Negrine (this page was published on the 17th of February of 2012.) The first video, "Nani Is On A Motorcycle", contains a short clip from the behind-the-scenes during the making of the documentary movie. The second video, "Nani Is At A Doggie Get Together", is a short video that was taken when Nani and Caterina participated in a dog parade called Balcão. The Balcão parade is held in Copa Capana, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Nani had a litter of six puppies. All except Caterina were given away. Negrine was pained to give them away, but feels he made the right decision. He opted to keep Caterina because it tries to copy its mother, Nani, in everything it does.
Negrine writes that he retired after working with Varig Airlines, and was part of the flight crew for over 30 years. He is originally from Rio Grande Do Sul, in the South of Brazil, but currently lives in Niteroi, Rio De Janeiro. His hobby has been riding his motorbike since he was twenty years of age.
Negrine has always wanted to ride with dogs right from the time he started riding motorcycles at twenty years of age. However he delayed carrying out the idea because he was uncertain of the best breed to accompany him on a motor bike would be. But when his eyes fell on Nani, he knew he found the right dog.
When Nani first started riding, it would only be wearing a bandana and goggles, and ride in a semi-open attachment to the motorcycle. However, Negrine's concern for its safety led him to buy a rigid bowl of plastic, which he cut into the shape of a helmet. It served as the shell for the helmet, which is filled with fibre. He then had the helmet painted. Nowadays, apart from the helmets, the dogs also have a more secure sitting space-with more freedom to move, but with siding high enough to prevent the dogs falling out.
On long trips, it's the dogs that dictate the pace of the journey. When the dogs need to do number 9, they paw on Negrine's ear. When it's Negrine's turn to use the washroom, if he takes too long to get back, the dogs start cursing him and keep running towards the motorcycle.
There is a saying that there are two types of motorcyclists-those who have fallen and those who will fall. Indeed Negrine was on one of his trips with Nani when he fell. What really happened was that he was struck by another motorcyclist. Fortunately Nani was not hurt.
Nani and Caterina are mascots for McHappy Day of Ronald McDonald's, an institution associated with McDonald's Restaurants. McHappy Day works to help children suffering from cancer.
Luiz Carlos Negrine can be reached through any of the following email addressses:
lcnegrine@oi.com.br (please note that the first character is a lower case L, NOT I)
negrinelc@yahoo.com.br
negrine2001@hotmail.com
Negrine writes that his current website is not up to date, but for those who are interested, it is at http://www.naniesmeraldina.com.br Negrine's YouTube account is at http://www.youtube.com/user/Icn6588