In Memory of My Dog Nikki

[dhill757]

Tonight, my dog Nikki died of a rare form of cancer.

Nikki was a beautiful brown and black pekingese and I couldn't have loved her more if she were a human child. She was born December 1st, 2004. To be honest, I was a bit upset when her mommy Missy had gotten pregnant with Nikki's litter. What were we going to do with all those puppies?  Then, they came, and what a beautiful litter they were. There was Cookie, an adorable black and brown peke who looked the most like her mom, Missy. There was Cleo, a beautiful rare blonde pekingese, and there was Nikki. I immediately fell in love with those soulful brown eyes and the three of them, Cookie, Cleo and NIkki made quite the trio for about eleven years. Their brother Sam was also with us for awhile and a fifth pup died the day after the birth.

Nikki was the gentlest dog I have ever known. I used to buy her stuffed toys and each time I came home with one, her eyes lit up because she knew she was going to get it. She never got into fights with the other dogs, stood up for herself only when she had to, all the dogs liked Nikki.And, of all the dogs I have ever had, she was the least amount of trouble.

And then, the bad times started. Nikki developed a mammary tumor in 2014. It was noncancerous, but even as it was removed, her mommy Missy was dying from liver cancer. A little over a year ago, her sister Cookie also died of cancer, and a sister from another litter, Candy, died last summer of an apparent heart ailment also related to cancer. Nikki would go into the bedroom Candy died in and wail, as if missing her.

Nikki's own cancer was far more insidious: a nasal tumor that was originally diagnosed as allergies, until blood started leaking from her mouth and nose. The tumor was removed, only to grow back in a week. The house smelled like blood.None of the meds I tried would work. Eventually, she stopped eating. Her face was deformed by the tumor. And through it all, I wondered why God would take this, gentlest of all dogs and give her such pain. Today, when I  got home from work, she was wailing, as if in pain, something Nikki never did. I gave her a pain pill, tried to comfort her and, when I checked on her later, she was gone.

Nikki, you deserved far better than this life had in store for you, but at least your suffering is over and you are with your mommy and sisters now. Thank you for coming into my life, it was a privilege and an honor to take care of you

[Kristina]

So sorry about your loss

[dhill757]

[dhill757]

Little Nik as a pup

[dhill757]

with sister Cleo

[dhill757]

[dhill757]

Cleo, Cookie & Nikki

[dhill757]

Cleo, Cookie & Nikki

[dhill757]

Cleo, Cookie & Nikki

[Austin Heller]

great little dog!

[Austin Heller]

great little dog!

[dhill757]

Nikki with Candy, whom she was friends with, around 2006

[dhill757]

Nikki, just before her illness set in, just a few months ago

[dhill757]

Nikki, what a good little dog you were, you were the best behaved and the kindest of the bunch.

[dhill757]

Nikki, you deserved so much better than what life had in store for you. Maybe I shouldn't just dwell on your loss, but just what a gift it was to have you in the first place. Because you weren't just a dog, you were love. I'll always miss you, sweetie.