Nikki is a dog that nobody wanted anymore, like many rescues that need fostering across the country. She was over 14 years old, and was once a much-loved Keeshond companion. Marriage sent her to become an outside-only dog, and then she became relegated to the garage, where it was reported she became terrified of storms. The owner contacted us and we enlisted the help of senior dog rescue and tried for months to find her a home, but there weren�t prospects for this old deaf girl.
 
We called to follow up with the owner who, terribly upset, told us he'd released his beloved Keeshond to a municipal animal shelter the day before. He said it was the hardest thing he'd ever done. We immediately contacted the shelter and learned Nikki was available for release in two days. Turning her in as a stray bought her three days instead of immediate euthanasia.
 
Needless to say, nobody was interested in adopting this 14-year-old sweetheart. She was dirty and filthy and bewildered when we arrived. She hadn't moved at all when they were washing down the kennels and was covered and caked in mess. She was very stressed at everything that had happened to her and the shelter personnel were so thankful we were there to bring this unadoptable dog into rescue, even if it was only to take her and hold her at a vet if we found euthanasia was all we could do. We loaded her into the rescue wagon and she became a little more animated, looking out the windows on the 45-mile drive home.
 
When we arrived at home, the other dogs welcomed her; they seemed to sense that she was no threat to their established dominance pack order. We bathed her and cleaned her up immediately and let this old deaf dog adjust to her new surroundings at her own pace. She learned to use the dog door quickly but it took her a few weeks to stabilize and another week or so to adjust to her new routine. As a Keesie, one of her favorite things was eating and she lined up with the other dogs and would bark that raspy old dog bark, to get her food first, which she of course did.
 
After the transition period she became happy and content and that's about when this picture was taken. Nikki stayed with me, seemingly happy and feeling pretty good, like she looks in this picture, for about six more weeks. Then one day her demeanor seemed different. A few days later, when I was petting her and rubbing her head and neck, I felt tumors under her throat that appeared from nowhere. At that time, sad, I talked with her and told her I was not going to let her suffer at all, she'd been through enough. Then I loaded her into the rescue wagon and she and I took her last car ride. As we were walking into the vets, she stopped and held up her head, catching a bit of the mild breeze. She was examined by the vet, and based on the history I explained and her age, and her current condition; we decided the best thing for her was to let her quietly make her way to the bridge. The vet assistant and I gently comforted her, stroking her kind face and body as the injection was administered and she passed quietly away.
 
Nikki was with me about three months, but the joy she shared with me remains. I learned that I�d never think twice about taking an old one like Nikki in. Even though we knew there�d be no �white knight� forever home to adopt her, and she took a potential foster slot from a more adoptable dog, the joy she carried and shared as she recovered and become comfortable will remain much longer than her physical presence in my home.