“Koda was very territorial of his home and I didn’t introduce him to Winston properly.
Meanwhile, my dog was diagnosed with bone cancer.
Koda sensed that and responded with typical animal instincts and didn’t want him to be part of the pack.
After a few months, the more time they spent together, the more they warmed to each other.
They had a year together.”
“I’ve always loved dogs.
I got Tally when I was in college, two years ago.
I got another dog first, but he was already sick with heart worm.
I didn’t want him to die in the shelter, so I adopted him and got him treated, but he died six months later from a grand mall seizure, related to his heart worm.
I knew I wanted to get another dog, so I waited until I went back home to Florence, Alabama and went to the local shelter, where I met Tally.”
“Charlie ended up having heart worm.
He was under exercise restriction and had to have daily shots in his front leg muscle for 6 months.
We couch surfed for two weeks until we found an apartment.
We were without Charlie for two months, until Christmas.
Coming back to NYC with Charlie was the happiest day of his life.
He and my ex are still extremely attached, but Charlie lives with me.
Ridgebacks are one dog owners, but this Rhodesian has two.”
“A woman had driven by him day after day and noticed that he was tied up, his body was fly bitten, emaciated and deteriorating.
One day she knocked on the owners’ door and asked if she could take him home with her.
They told her, take him.
He was transported to Denver, where we lived at the time, and saw him at the Petco adoption event.”
“He had three surgeries in one week and even then, he still had an 80% chance of survival as well as keeping his infected leg.
The hardest part was just seeing him so sick, but I had a lot of confidence in the Doctor’s at the Animal Medical Center.
It took Oscar three months to recover.
One week in the hospital and then intensive care at home.
I remember the nurse taking off his collar and leash and his watching that.
I think he thought I was leaving him and it broke my heart.”
“It’s a big decision.
Also, Winston was dying of pneumonia when we got him. The vet said he was 2 days away from death.
I still recommend adopting before shopping, but I learned a lot about puppy mills, pet stores and when you meet a dog that is meant to be yours, it doesn’t matter where it comes from.”
“The first year of his life was difficult.
He was sick with pneumonia. He was indoors for 5 months, so that stunted our ability to socialize him for a while.
At first Nikki didn’t know what to do with puppy Winston. She looked at me as if to say, what did you do?
The first year, Nikki was intent on being an only child.
Eventually Winston wore her down and now they are the best of friends.”
