Nike's Story
As often happens with animals, when people help them, the animals help back. Such is the case with Nic Ward, who sponsors Nike. Nic wrote the following story about Nike for HFL's Summer 2005 newsletter.
On a beautiful spring day at the sanctuary, Nike pauses to smile at the camera.
More photos: Spring 2005, HFL animal care specialist April Hoffman takes Nike for a jog | back to original photo.
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Nike entered our lives early this year. We already had a White Shepherd (Sadie) and two cats that we adopted from a pet rescue, but I thought Sadie would like a friend. We saw Nike at Homeward Bound Rescue. She was an eight month old Alaskan Husky with a spinal birth defect that caused her to have trouble controlling her rear legs. She was being picked on by the other dogs in her foster-home so we agreed to take her temporarily. It was also rumored that Nike was used as a bait dog by some kids. Her siblings and her mom were tied to a tree and attacked by pit bulls for fighting practice. Only Nike survived. We were so upset by the image of Nike’s mom trying to defend her family. We knew we had to make the rest of Nike's life a safe and happy one.
Very quickly, Nike became part of our home and hearts, so the temporary arrangement became permanent. We kept her indoors and did not cage her since she had been moved from cage to cage and humane society to humane society all her life. We felt it was time that she had a real home with a family that loved her.
She was a young and excited puppy with a happy and curious personality. She wobbled around with a smile on her face playing with Sadie and chasing butterflies. In the morning, she would stretch her slightly bent body as she yawned and toppled over to us to sit on the floor for breakfast. Watching her run in her strange bunny-hop way and play with her friends at the Alimagnet Dog Park always made me smile like a proud dad.
We were fortunate to have great friends at Dog Day Get-away day-care that helped us care for Nike during the day while we were at work. However, with her growing incontinence, it soon became clear that our sweet Nike needed full-time care that we could not provide at our house. We did not know what to do and felt torn as she was too happy and beautiful an animal to put down.
Luckily, we learned about Home For Life® Animal Sanctuary and made an appointment to bring Nike out for a visit. We were immediately impressed with the fantastic facilities and professional care provided to each animal resident.
We are now so pleased to be able to sponsor our Nike at Home For Life®. We always wanted to give her a loving home, and she now has a life-long home and caring family at the sanctuary.
For me, the most important thing is that I am able to visit Nike regularly so that the bond between us is still strong. She is so happy in her new home, however, that she is never upset when I leave. She knows where she belongs now, but she loves to have her dad visit.
I look forward to visiting her every few weeks. As I drive in, I can see her in her cart looking up the driveway to see who it is. She stands proudly and has an air of confidence that is built on the care and love she gets from all the staff and the great group of roommates she has been grouped with. As I pull up, she recognizes me, and drops her ears to start her happy puppy dance by doing fast circles in the cart.
When I visit, I get to take her for walks and play in the fields with her. She runs around with her smile looking back to me as if trying to show me around her new home. I watch her with the staff and see that she loves them and that they all recognize Nike's special character and show genuine care for her. I admire and appreciate all the staff at Home For Life® for seeing the special qualities in Nike that we do.
Of course, there are many other great animals at the sanctuary too. Indeed, I fell in love with another young puppy named Sapphire who is a one-eyed Neapolitan Mastiff. I felt that Sapphire needed a daddy too, so I am also sponsoring her and visit her together with Nike. She is a lovable lumbering puppy that likes to pull off my socks and play tug-of-war with Nike. They are a great team, and Nike does not get jealous when Sapphire naps on my lap.
When its time to leave, Nike and Sapphire watch me at the window for a while, then get distracted by the sock I left behind and continue to play. There is no fear or stress for them at the sanctuary—there is only security and comfort. It is a great relief for us to have such a home for Nike and a family of caregivers that love her. And we are thankful that she is still part of our lives.