"Mikki...You Opened My Heart and Eyes to Others in Need"

Mikki- Conneticut


"Paws Pack" Member #84

  Ten years ago, late at night, while my husband was working, I decided, out of the blue, that what our family needed was a dog! So, I went online and stumbled upon Petfinder.com where I could search for animals in our state in need of a home.
I stopped when I saw the cutest 'lil face staring back at me with the word ‘URGENT’ next to her picture. I KNEW I had found OUR DOG. I was able to get in touch with someone that night who was able to provide additional info, etc. I was told that the dog was a 3-4 yr old hound mix and that her name was Mickey (which we later changed to Mikki because we thought it just sounded more feminine). Apparently, she was given that name because the splotches on her back resembled the Mickey Mouse ‘ears’. The woman mentioned to me that this dog had actually been featured on the local news as their Pet-of-The-Week as well as having been to several Adopt-a-thons. Because the dog was so sweet (not to mention, cute!) she didn't understand why she hadn't been adopted. I like to think she was waiting for us 
That night, when my husband came home from work I hit him with the news. Initially he told me 'We're not getting a dog". Through tears, I showed him her picture and told him that, although I had'nt even met her yet, I loved this girl! We went to see her the next day @ the New Haven (CT) Animal Shelter and, as soon as I walked in, I told the people there that I was there for 'my dog'.
They brought us down to meet Mikki.
  
Poor thing was underweight, had conjunctivitis in both eyes, and the tip of her tail was a raw mess from all the wagging she did at the shelter. We were told that because it was a holiday wknd, we couldn't bring her home that day. They had to verify residency, etc...
This allowed us time to go to Petco and get everything we needed (and a few things we didn't). We felt like first-time parents! Our youngest son (3 1/2 at the time) and I went to pick up our girl. I paid the $35 (the best $35 we've ever spent) and was handed her paperwork. While they went to get Mikki, I looked at her rabies certificate and under breed it said 'hound/pit mix'.

  I have to admit, at the time, I, like so many others out there, saw the 'pit' and panicked. I said "Pit....as in pitbull?" I thought what the heck am I doing, I've got two small children.....But, in the end, I went with my gut instinct. So glad I did because, for 9 1/2 years, we were blessed to have this sweet girl in our lives.
We now make it a point to advocate for the pitbull breed, educating people, etc. 
Mikki was a sweet, gentle soul, there was not a mean bone in her body! She was an absolute love!
Over the years, Mikki had many chronic health conditions, procedures, surgeries, etc. throughout which she was so tolerant and brave!
She was my baby and I took care of her just like I would with my two-legged kids.
 Four years ago we decided that our family needed another furbaby. So, I went back on Petfinder and found our Sammy, a beagle/basset mix that we got from a local rescue.. Sammy and Mikki were great buds. Mikki was Sammy’s ‘sissy’.
  
 It was hard watching Mikki’s health deteriorate as she aged. There were pills to be taken twice a day but, even with those, she suffered.towards the end, stairs became very difficult and she would often trip/fall. On Oct. 15, 2010, she took a particularly bad fall down the flight of stairs. She could barely walk, let alone stand. Although she was not crying or moaning we knew she was in pain...We told our boys, as they left for school, that we weren't sure, but we thought we'd have to put Mikki to sleep that day. After giving it much thought, my husband and I decided to make that very difficult, selfless decision. A decision no pet owner ever wants to have to make.
 I placed a call to the vet and, a few hours later, we found ourselves driving (tearfully) to the vet. My husband and I stayed with her, we had to! The moment the vet listened with his stethoscope and told us that she had passed is a moment neither one of us will soon forget! That was a hard day!
We had Mikki cremated and her ashes returned to us. She's back where she belongs, with her family, albeit in an oak box on our mantle 

 Our Mikki Girl will forever be in our hearts. Not a day goes by that we don't think of her 
Although, there is no way to replace our girl, we knew we couldn't wait to open our home and hearts to another rescue dog. Plus, Sammy was missing his ‘sissy’. So, back to Petfinder.com I went.

 We ended up finding our Molly, a 3 yr old beagle mix that was being fostered down in Arkansas. She arrived in CT on Saturday 10/30. She is a sweetheart and we love her to pieces! It's as if she's been here all along. Funny, she reminds us a lot of Mikki , when she was younger. I think, in a way, maybe Mikki was responsible for bringing Molly to us. 

 It’s really because of our girl, Mikki that I do what I do.
I am now a volunteer with a wonderful rescue as well as the admin. for a Facebook page dedicated to promoting animal rescue/adoption.

Thank You, my sweet girl, for opening my heart, and eyes, to all of the other Mikki’s out there……



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 After we put Mikki to sleep, that same night I was on Petfinder. I knew we could never 'replace' our girl but I thought what better way to have Mikki's memory live on than to open our hearts & home to another animal in need. Molly was being fostered in AL and arrived here in CT on Oct. 30 (15 days after putting Mikki down). LOVE this girl to pieces. I really think Mikki had a hand (paw) in this.....