Nikko Gets a Second Chance in the 'Nik' of Time! and What a Chance it is...

Nikko in his shelter photo

Nikko came to as an URGENT PLEA!  This dog needs foster now!  Our group, FOHA found this darling, Jack Russell terrier dog that was just a day away from being euthanized!  He was in a high kill shelter in Tennessee.  I have to say from what I've learned, the shelters are doing their best to try and help these guys in whatever way they can...  They are people just like us, and they hate to see these precious animals being put to sleep.  But until the crisis is over, they will continue to have way too many animals to save them all...

Nikko was found wandering the streets in Tennessee.  I believe Nikko may have ran away from his home.  He showed signs of abuse.  As he sat in the shelter on the cold concrete, he was shaking and terrified.  His photos showed the fear in his eyes.  He did trust people.  He had been abused by people he trusted. Now he was locked into a jail full of frightened, angry dogs who were being put to sleep daily.

When I saw the photo of Nikko, I could not help but feel the tug at my heart for this little guy.  Without a foster to step up that day..my little friend was going to be put to sleep.  Luckily for me, I had an open space for Nikko.  When Nikko came to me, he was terrified of everything.  He got off the transport and cowered. He was so hungry and thirsty as they all are due to the traveling, but he would not accept food or water for quite awhile.  I'm sure what was going through his head was, what is going to happen now?

Nikko stayed with me for about 3wks.  He learned a lot in that short amount of time.  He was not housetrained, he at first acted like he had never been in a house.  He did not know how to get in your lap.  He did not know a lot about being in a loving environment.  He mistrusted my husband and never stopped barking at him every time he came into a room.  My husband is a big guy and I believe Nikko mistook him for his abuser.  Even though my husband would feed him and bring him treats, pet him and do whatever he could to earn Nikko's trust, Nikko never trusted him.

A wonderful angel, inquired about Nikko.  She was looking for a rescue dog and wanted to fnd the one with the saddest eyes to become her new dog.  She had adopted one before from the dog shelter.  The one she adopted was the dog that cringed in the corner, not the ones that came and licked her and was friendly.

I call Nikko's adopter an angel because Nikko had so many rescue dog issues.  We were working on his problems one at a time and taking it easy to build his faith up with humans again.  I never changed the pic's on the web site to new pic's of Nikko in my home.  The pic's on the site were the ones from the shelter.  The sad eyes, the cringing dog.  I left it this way because I did not feel Nikko was ready for adoption.

When I received the inquiry on Nikko, I wanted to make sure she understood I did not think he was ready for adoption and I made sure to tell her my impressions of Nikko.  Her answer was, I have worked through issues before with my other rescue.  I do not mind working with a new dog.  I will take a dog with whatever he comes to us with...good or bad.  

Nikko met his Angel this past Saturday.  Not only did he meet her, he met her mother, her fiancee and his new grandma's cats!  We all had such a wonderful meeting, Nikko was completely at home with the family.  Even the cat hissed at him one time and that was it..no problem. 

I believe the flow of love, acceptance and caring was felt by Nikko.  He knew he was at home with a very loving and caring family.  I am so very proud to say, Nikko has found his 'furever' home and I really think he makes a beautiful picture with his new Mom, Dad to be and grandma!  Even the cats seem to accept him in..disdainfully to be sure, but accepting, nonetheless!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Shelter Sunday: Safe Harbor / Lansing, KS (doggies.com)
• The Dog in One Pack- Jack Russell Terrier (animaltopics.com)
• Windsor dog abuser sought (windsorstar.com)

Top 3 Rescue Dog Myths

Even though I've just started fostering, though my research I think I have heard it all now..and the more I hear, the more I don't want to be associated with the human race!  There are so many many myths circulating about rescue dogs that just are not true.  These myths actually keep great family dogs from securing a loving, secure forever home life.

Myth #1 - It is dangerous to adopt a rescue dog. Most are dangerous, that's why people dumped them.

In today's society, this myth should never be uttered again.  More and more today, most shelter dogs are owner surrenders due to 'cannot afford anymore', 'cannot pay vet bill', etc.  These dogs range in age from 1yr to 15yrs.

Now, imagine your family pet.  You've had him for 15yrs and really love this dog but suddenly find yourself without a job and children to feed.  This is a situation I would hope you have family that could help you out, or neighbors, your church, etc.  Some people do not have those options.  They are forced to give their beloved pet up in order to make sure their children can eat. These people have no choice.

Then, there are the other people who just grow tired of the dog...its old, doesn't play anymore, we want a puppy. The new fad is another breed, etc.  These people take their dogs to the shelter to be euthanized because they just don't care.

Are these dogs dangerous? Absolutely not.  They are the victims of our times, bad choices and judgement by people who have no right owning animals.

There are a few who are strays and have not been domesticated.  These animals have no future in rescue. The rescue actually meets the dogs, sizes them up, asks questions about the dogs to learn more and if they displayed agression in the shelter, they probably will not be rescued.

Myth #2 - Most rescue dogs have hidden illnesses and you take them home and later face huge vet bills.

Most rescue dogs before even going into foster care are taken to the vet and have a very rigorous exam. They have all shots, are neutered or spay, if injured, mange, etc. are cured and if need special diets the vet will prescribe for them.  The rescue dogs are probably the best and most well cared for dogs I know!  They are kept on their heartguard, flea and tick medicine, dental appt.'s, etc.   They also are given the best dog food to keep them healthy. We would not take all this care for the dog and then feed them food scraps.

Myth #3 - Rescue groups do not tell you about all the negatives of the dog, they just want you to take the dog without disclosing all the 'bad' along with the adoption.

This is the one that probably really bothers me the most!  We foster these animals in our homes.  If you love animals, you know how bonded you can get to an animal.  My animals become members of my family.  I would never 'push' my animals off on anyone. 

First of all, all adopters go through a very rigorous adoption process.  This is to make sure they are seriously interested in the animal.  We also want to make sure and tell the potential adopter everything we can to make sure the dog is a 'perfect fit' for their home.  It does us no good to place a dog with an adopter only to have them call us back and say the 'dog just isn't what I thought they would be'.  Now, the dog has been uprooted from his foster home, went to another home where he might have picked up bad habits or worse than that...been abused, and try to work him back into the system.

No, the best way is to make sure everyone knows exactly what temperment, physical limitations (if any), training the dog has BEFORE the adoption. We also make sure the household the dog goes into is a match for the dog.  We would not take a high energy dog and put it into a home with an elderly woman in a condo.

I fully believe these myths are circulated by people who do not fully understand the Rescue dog adoption process.  It may be kept alive by puppy mill owners who hope the majority of people will still want to buy that cute little doggie in the window at the pet store.

Being a foster, I do hear people who give me compliments for helping these animals.  I really don't understand because I don't see myself doing anything out of the ordinary. I basically am at the right time and place.  But without my adopters,  I would not be able to help as many dogs as I have in my short time as a foster mom!  I truly love and cherish my adopters as they are very unique people who really care and choose to give these dogs a second chance at life!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Animal groups rescue feral dogs (cbc.ca)
• Foster homes sought for dogs in need (cbc.ca)
• Carrie Underwood Fetches Attention for Animals (cmt.com)