Boy's Injured Dog Returns Home In Time For Christmas
Boy's Injured Dog Returns Home In Time For Christmas
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Boy's Injured Dog Returns Home In Time For ChristmasPIERCETON - All 7-year-old Keith Miller wanted for Christmas was for his 10-year-old Boston Terrier, Niki, to come home.
Keith, Pierceton, and his mother, Alena Miller, inherited the dog from Alena's mother, Kathy Johnson, who died a few years ago.Alena reported the dog missing in September to Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County, according to Darla McCammon, AWL executive director.
Keith, a second-grader at Pierceton Elementary School, said he talked to Santa on the phone, and asked for his dog to be found and come home.
When his mom brought his dog home last week, he was excited.
"I missed my dog and like to play with her with her toy lion," Keith said.
Niki was brought to the AWL by a local family last Wednesday, who found the emaciated dog wandering on their property, and knew by looking at the dog that she needed help.
McCammon called Alena last Wednesday to inform her that her dog had been found and warned Alena she may not recognize the dog with its injuries and because it was thin. Alena went by herself to the AWL last Wednesday and identified the dog before she told her son.
"I wanted to surprise my son at first, and I thought how cool it would be to tell him Santa brought his dog home," Alena said.
Alena said she was at work at North Pointe Cinemas, Warsaw, when she received the phone call the dog was found.
"I didn't answer the call because I was working, but I got the message and I couldn't believe it because it has been four months since we have seen Niki," Alena said.
Alena said her son was with his dad, Mike, at the time Alena received the call.
"My son's wish coming true almost makes me want to believe in Santa, and I thank the people who helped her recover," Alena said.
The dog was trembling and could hardly stand up and was in very bad shape, according to McCammon.
"We could tell immediately that the dog needed emergency treatment because the dog's rib cage was sticking out and the skin was hanging off the poor dog," McCammon said.
McCammon's employees took immediate action, and looked over the dog and scanned the dog for identification.
"We had the dog in our records as missing, but we would have never been able to tell that it was the Miller's dogs unless it has a microchip," McCammon said.
McCammon said the dog was emaciated and sickly and didn't look like the dog Alena had described as being lost.
"When we first saw this dog it was doubtful it would have lived much longer, and this little Boston Terrier was a black and white bleeding mess with lacerations on her face and was in a desperate situation," McCammon said.
The dog was referred to Dr. Richard Sasso, Sasso Veterinary Hospital owner, where Niki was treated for dehydration and malnourishment last Thursday. Since then, she still has a few small scratches on her face and she has lost a lot of weight.
McCammon identified the dog by its microchip around its neck that had Alena's name and phone number. Niki previously had a rabies tag with Alena's name and phone number, but it was not around Niki's neck when she was found.
"Without the microchip we may never have identified Niki, and making sure your pets have a microchip is a great way to protect your pets," McCammon said.
McCammon wants to remind pet owners about the importance of microchips.
AWL, 3489 E. CR 100S, Pierceton, will offer a special price for a microchip of $20 per pet now through Jan. 1.
AWL hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. AWL is closed this Thursday and Friday and on Sundays.
