11.26.15 We hope you enjoy Thanksgiving with your family and friends. Be safe and thankful!
11.20.15 Snoop was featured on Fox 11’s Pet Project. He is working very hard to find a new home. It was quite a new experience for him and he did great. Keep pawsitive thoughts for him!
11.18.15 Snoop’s family adopted him when he was just a few months old. Unfortunately, due to family circumstances, they can not keep him. He is a six year old Border Collie mix. Snoop is a great dog who wants to please. He knows basic commands sit, down and stay and is very responsive to love and leadership. Aside from just being with his person, car rides and walks are some of Snoop’s favorite activities. Border Collie’s are known for their intelligence and sensitivity and Snoop has both. He is shy with strangers and new dogs. He has lived his entire life with another dog, Duke, but he has not been exposed to a lot of other dogs in his life. At this time, he prefers slow and respectful introductions. We are looking for someone who has experience with dogs and it would be great if they were familiar with the Border Collie breed. He will make a wonderful companion for someone.
11.11.15 We greatly appreciate our Veterans – Human and Canine. The bond between people and dogs can be very strong. Dogs are called man’s best friend for a reason. They have worked side by side with human soldiers throughout history. Sometimes they are forgotten. Today we remember a very special Veteran, his name is Sergeant Stubby. He lived from 1916 or 17 to March 16, 1926 and was a stray wandering the Yale University campus while the 102nd infantry were training. He hung around and Corporal Robert Conroy grew attached to him. When it was time for them to ship out to France, the Corporal apparently snuck Sergeant Stubby on board and the rest is history. He has been called the most decorated war dog of World War I and the only dog to be nominated for rank and then promoted to sergeant through combat. There is no official documentation for this, but it is recognized with the Smithsonian exhibition called, “The Price of Freedom.”
10.31.15 Take your dog….it’s as simple as that. Dogs pick great pumpkins! Enjoy Halloween and keep your pets safe and secured.
10.26.15 Our senior foster, Jack, was featured on Fox 11’s Pet Project last week. Unfortunately, he did not find a forever home from the showing. The good news is, we have made a decision. Jack now has a forever home and a job! He will be a permanent and important part of the Nika Animal Network as our senior dog advocate and we embrace him with open paws. His new title is….Director, Senior Dog Advocate.
10.19.15 We were contacted this week about Duke and Snoop and we are trying to help network them. Unfortunately, their family is unable to keep them and they are seeking help to find them a new home. They can be adopted separately if two wonderful homes come forward. They do not want to take them to the shelter and are doing everything they can to avoid that.
Duke is an 8 year old Beagle mix (about 20lbs). He loves to sunbathe and run around the yard. Very sweet disposition. He is house trained. Neutered and up to date on shots.
Snoop is a 6 year old Border Collie mix (about 50lbs). He loves to play and herd other dogs. He is a higher energy dog and needs an experienced dog person, preferably someone who understands what working dogs need. He would do better in a home with adults or older kids. He has shown some sensitivity to certain men, so he needs someone who understands that. Snoop is also house trained. Neutered and up to date on shots.
10.12.15 We are so proud to announce Fiona has been adopted! When her new dad, Michael, initially called about her, it sounded like the perfect match….and it is. He had been looking for a special companion for a few years. Knowing that, a friend texted him Fiona’s picture from her appearance on the morning news. When Michael saw her she sparked his interest and the rest is history. We are so grateful to Michael for adopting Fiona and giving her a loving home. She is a special dog and now she has a special dad. We know they are going to be very bonded buddies for a long time into the future.
10.8.15 Dewey was with us for twelve years. He will be missed but never forgotten.
http://www.nikaanimalnetwork.org/little-dewey-a-big-impression/
Author: Tressa Lucas
Dewey came from the South Los Angeles shelter and was the only small dog in a kennel with big dogs. He was not big in size, but he was big in personality. A fear of dogs was not Dewey’s issue, he was fearful of people. At a young age, he was severely abused and it left him damaged physically and psychologically.
I met Dewey twelve years ago when he was living at a rescue facility. The staff named him Dewey and it seemed perfect for him. He was in a caged area with big pink iridescent signs that stated, “DO NOT TOUCH…BITES!” He was tiny, but he was mighty. He acted like the cartoon character the Tasmanian devil, spinning around, growling and barking at every passerby. You would not dare look at Dewey, let alone touch him. After he completed his tirade, he stood with his little tail wagging and made eye contact. I was actually able to connect with him. As I watched Dewey, I could only think “What on earth happened to this dog to make him like this?” It was hard to tell his age. He did not move in a normal way and it was clear he had been the victim of severe abuse.
When I saw an opening I confidently reached down and picked Dewey up. I do not recommend people ignoring signs and putting themselves in danger, but I did have an established relationship with the organization and a lot of experience with dogs – so I took a chance. Dewey had developed quite a talent for scaring people off, so my confident movement caught him off guard. If there was hesitation, he was emboldened. When I held him he did not seem to mind. But, when I put him back down into his pen, he dared me to do it again. Of course, I took the dare. Dewey and I established a relationship of mutual respect. When he saw me his little tail would wag while he was protesting. I would say, “Oh, Dewey, you are never going to find a home acting like that!”
One day a very nice woman came to the facility looking to adopt a dog. She seemed to overlook the scary signs and focused right in on Dewey. The funny thing is she kind of looked like him with reddish brown hair and a fearful look in her eyes. She had a very calm way about her and seemed to know a lot about dogs. I told her about Dewey’s abusive past and resulting behavior. The next thing I knew, she was holding him. Nobody was able to get near Dewey except me, so this was very interesting. He seemed very comfortable with her. She, too, had been through a difficult time in her life and connected with Dewey – she wanted to help him. She ended up adopting him, but he was returned not because she could not handle him, the other members of the household could not. The good news is she adopted another dog that was a better fit for her home. And, I got the call, “Dewey’s back.” So, we picked him up and he lived with us.
Fast forward twelve years. Dewey made progress but never completely recovered from the abuse he experienced in his young life. He loved Nika and felt very safe with her. I was not spared a few bites from Dewey over the years, but I loved him nonetheless and learned to show my affection confidently yet cautiously and on his terms. He always walked in a crooked wobbly way. He softened over time, but he was always Dewey, my little problem child.
Dewey lived much longer than I ever thought he would. His ability to move around lessened and his eyesight was almost gone. I told him to let me know when he was ready to go. However, he kept going. His strength was truly an inspiration. He never showed any signs of pain and never lost an interest in eating. He looked forward to his meals until his last day. On Tuesday, October 6, 2015, Dewey wanted to be outside. A few hours later, I found him laying peacefully in the yard. He went on his terms and that was his way.
Goodbye Dewey, our time together went so fast. You may have been little in size, but you made a big impression on our lives.
Animal abuse is unacceptable. Hopefully, Dewey’s story will inspire people to help put an end to it.