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This story begins with a photograph…probably
the most compelling photo I’ve ever seen in my
time working in animal welfare as it represents
so perfectly the sadness and hopelessness these
animals often feel as they sit in shelters
waiting for a home, or in this case, for the end
to come. The photo went out on Face Book the
last week of July, and so began the amazing
story of redemption for a dog named Nico.
A local rescuer was at the Los Angeles shelter
where Nico had arrived as a stray and took this
photo of him in his kennel. Moved by the story
it told, she posted it on Face Book in the hopes
someone might offer to help this physically and
emotionally broken dog. To her surprise, the
photo spread like wild fire across the U.S.
capturing the attention of a woman in San Diego
named Kelly Gibson who coordinates animal
transports across the country saving hundreds of
animals’ lives. Kelly decided to drive to Los
Angeles to meet the dog who had touched so many
with this haunting image.
Kelly entered Nico’s
kennel with warnings from the staff that they
didn’t know much about his temperament, only
that he is deaf and she should be careful. Kelly
knew within moments of stooping down in front of
Nico, an approximately 6 year old Dogo Argentino,
that this was no ordinary dog. Nico greeted her
with a kiss and a beautiful gaze of one bright
blue eye and one hazel eye. He was horribly thin
and covered in sores, cuts, scars and fleas. The
poor condition of his skin and coat as well as
several missing teeth were all indications of a
dog who has suffered from malnutrition most of
his life. A large tumor on his back was
especially noticeable on his emaciated body. He
was indeed deaf which is not uncommon of pure
white dogs, but he managed to communicate loud
and clear his delight that Kelly had stopped by
to see him that day. He was gentle, loving and
gracious…and he was scheduled to die unless
someone rescued him and soon.
I’ve known Kelly for
about a year now as she has helped us by
transporting some of our canine residents to out
of state rescues where they’ve been adopted into
loving homes. Kelly knows how hard our
organization works to find homes for even the
hardest to place pets, and she knows that we do
not discriminate against any breed, senior pets,
or animals with disabilities. She knew when she
met Nico that we were his best chance for a
second chance.
Kelly and
I began working on a plan to get Nico out of
this kill-shelter and to safety. Working with a
local Los Angeles based rescue organization
called The Mutt Scouts, she was able to pull
Nico from the facility and board him at a vet
clinic where he would be treated for upper
respiratory and wait out the three weeks it
would take to coordinate his transport.
Kelly
started working her magic that involved close to
45 people needed to transport and board Nico
during his two week journey across the country
from L.A. to Noblesville, Indiana. Kelly also
established an online fundraising page that
helped us raise $2,000 to put toward his
boarding, transport and medical care.
On our
end, we approached the Invisible Fence Company
about the possibility of them fostering Nico at
their facility and allowing one of their
trainers, Julie Case, to train him. As a deaf
dog with a painful history, he would require
special training and care. After seeing Nico’s
photo, they couldn’t say no, and agreed to let
Nico stay with them for as long as it takes to
find him a permanent home.
With a
transport in place, the generous donations from
hundreds of people from all over the country,
and the Invisible Fence Company willing to take
Nico in, we had all the pieces in place to
finally get Nico to Indiana.
But as it would turn
out, Nico wouldn’t travel alone. You see, next
to Nico at that Los Angeles shelter was another
dog sitting on death row we now call Jug Head.
His big smile, blue eyes and beaming personality
caught Kelly’s attention during her visit with
Nico. Another plea for help on Face Book would
catch the attention of Iron Underdawgs Pit Bull
Rescue here in Indiana, and they generously
offered up one of their foster homes to take Mr.
Jug Head in until he found a forever home.
So with their bags packed and a bright future
ahead, Nico and Jug Head began their journey to
their new homes here in Indiana.
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