Dear Nikita Crossed the Rainbow Bridge

One of my great friend's beloved companion had to be put to rest today. Nikita was found by my friend B in Northern California when she was a puppy. She was found roaming the streets. When B picked her up, he asked the people that lived around where she was found if they knew anything about her, or knew her owner, no one knew anything nor claimed her. From that day on, Nikita was part of B's family.

This is quoted from B yesterday:
"As Nikita grows, she becomes assertive, strong headed and very protective of me and my family. My home is her home, and unless I let you in and acknowledge you, she wasn't letting you in. And if you did come in unannounced, she would come at you, unless I called her off.

Back to present day, I see Nikita limping on Tuesday. I figured she and Bella played to rough outside. Bella should have been named Ballistic instead....

Wednesday, it gets worse and when I come home from work, she can barely walk, hasn't eaten, and has lost considerable weight.

I feared the worse and didn't think a healthy dog like her would have cancer. I kept my thoughts to myself and didn't want it to be reality.

I took her in to see my brother today on the way to work, and he tells me there's a mass on her spleen and lymph nodes. He shows me the xrays. I knew what it was but didn't want to accept it.

A specialist was called in, and the Vet and my brother told me what I didn't want to hear. But I already knew.

Thank you Nikita for watching over the boys and I the past 8 years.

I hope that I provided you a good home, and a better life than what you would have had [where I found you].

I love you, I will miss you, and I will never forget you.

...

as I held you on the table, the Vet and my brother told me what I knew but didn't want to hear. The tears started to flow and you licked them from my face. It was like you knew what was going on, and was reassuring me that everything was going to be ok. Thank you for your unconditional love Nikita! I'm going to miss you!"

Unfortunately, I had not had the chance to meet Nikita, but Mika's daddy has. He had nothing but good things to say about Nikita when he met her a while ago. He was very impressed by how much love and dedication she gave to her family. She knew what it was like living on her own as a stray, so she never took her family for granted. She loved her family more than anyone would imagine and her family loved her back just the same.

She was B's family's guardian angel and, I know, she will continue looking out for his family over the rainbow bridge.

Here are some pictures taken by B during her visit with her B's brother at a vet clinic:


This is dear Nikita.


Here is an example of how dedicated and loyal Nikita was to her family, she is watching B's brother; even when she is not feeling well, she is still watching over the family.

This was taken after B gave her her favorite treat and some water today.

Loyal Miss Nikita will always be loved and will truly be missed. I'm sure she will be well taken care of on the other side of the rainbow bridge. May Miss Nikita rest in peace.

Well Least i got something! & Meet some new relatives

Happy Post Thanksgiving Everyone! I knew mom was making something specail when i saw her bring out 2 packages of something green(ie..spinich) and then chopping up some sort of white crunchy thing to which i didnt like..(blech dont like waterchestnuts) and then putting in some sort of package into the green thing.. I think they called it soup mix. Then gatherd up all the crackers she had on top of the refrigerator and left. She least spent lots of time with me in the morning. We watched/played around during the Macy's parade and then mom watched the dog show. ( dad was at grandmas place in Orange County--more stories on her later)

It was a good 6hrs that mom was gone and when she came home i was soo excited that i did the shiba 500 around the living rm and bedrm. But then she came out with this plastic bag and had a lil piece of white meat inside.. I was soo excited.. my one and only taste of turkey. mom told me that she sneaked out a piece frm grandma grace's place. So least i got to have something.. Hey mika,, you have to tell your mom/dad to cook on thanksgiving in order for u get something.. hehe.

Got to meet my new anutie Naomi, Uncle Gordon, and cousin Elise this week, as well as daddys mom. I think they liked me, cept for my jumping on them, to which mom and dad had to keep telling me NO! and i think grandma didnt like me biting her pant leg when i was trying to get her attention to play with me. But least i got to meet them.
Thats all for now.
namichan

Early Turkey Day post!

Hi, every animal and human!

I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving!

For my fellow pups (we're all puppies at heart), watch out for those bird bones, I don't think any of us want to spend our holiday at the v-e-t's office. Oh, and join me in using our mind control to get our humans to give us some table food. =D

For all those humans out there, I hope you enjoy your turkey/tofurkey/turducken/ham (etc) this holiday! If your furkid is not allergic to any of those (tries to use shiba mind control) maybe you would like to share some with us. It would show us how thankful you are of us being your companions. *grins*

[Mika's mom here, guess who is not getting food from the table!
Mika: But mooom.. it's Thanksgiving! We're supposed to have a huuuuuge feast and it's supposed to be a time to be shared with family. Remember one of your favorite movies, Lilo and Stitch? I quote, "Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten." You're not going to leave me behind to have all the good food for yourself, right?
Mika's mom: You're not going to be left behind. You have your own way of getting turkey. It's called Turkey and rice baby food dinner! Well, it'll be mixed in with your kibble. We have some baby food left from when you were on the baby food diet from the Urgent Care, one of them just happens to be the turkey and rice dinner. See? You're not getting left behind.. You're just getting your own special version of Thanksgiving.
Mika: You are such a party pooper! I was looking forward to getting my fangs on some nice, juicy meat instead of some crunchy kibble covered with baby food turkey dinner mush.
Mika's mom: You know, I don't ever recall you complaining about your kibble during special occasions when you got baby food mixed in.. In fact, I remember clearly that you lick your bowl clean each and every time..
Mika: I licked it clean so you wouldn't be disappointed that I didn't like it.
Mika's mom: Uh huh.. how come I don't believe you?
Mika: Because.. Oh look! My squeaky bird! *squeak, squeak...*
Mika's mom: Uh huh.. that's what I thought..]

Okay, anyways, back onto the subject of Thanksgiving dinner. I hope everyone has a delicious meal with lots of food coma!

Happy Turducken/Tofurkey/Ham/whatever you eat today day!

I posted this in the comment area of Khyra's blog (but it's for all you huskies and malamutes out there), but I think it's funny enough to be posted here as well (also, I had trouble finding Thanksgiving shiba pictures).

Help us educate people!

From Shiba Inu Spirit and k9 solutions

Your mission, should you chose to accept it, is to help educate our movie going public. Your deadline for the mission is December 18th. Your countdown begins now.
*
While this current mission is targeting those who may be interested in a specific breed, it benefits anyone considering a dog because it helps to educate people about the need for breed research BEFORE getting a dog "just like the one they saw" in a movie. This helps cut down on the amount of mismatched dogs to owners. Not every breed of dog is right for every home after all. What might be the best match for you may be a nightmare for your best friend and vice versa.
*
The steps for this mission are simple.

1) Go to this website http://www.akitaclub.org/ and download and print a copy of the file "Is the akita the right dog for you?"

2) Take the handout to your local Staples store and make a bajillion copies.

3) Take the bajillioon copies to your local movie theaters on December 17th and ask if they will share them with every ticket buyer to the movie "Hachi".

4) If you have a blog please consider passing this information on. All agents need to be activated for this one my friends.
*
The advanced agents, and you know who you are#, may even stay to pass out the handouts personally or set up a booth at the theater (with permission of course) showing off their well trained akita or shiba. (shibas are also featured in the movie as they used some of them in place of the akita as a puppy. Here is a link to "Is the Shiba for you" to add to the flip side of your handout: http://www.northeastshibarescue.com/right.html ) You can even go to your areas akita rescue website and print off a list of akitas needing homes to add to a poster. A "dogs in movies" set up with other breed information for those who are extra creative to leave at the theater is also an idea. This isn't the first breed this has happened to, nor will it be the last.
*
The mission is an important one. It may be met with resistance. A back up plan my be required. Consider recruiting your local pet supply stores. They may agree to passing out handouts if your theater won't participate or be willing to host a breed education table. Posters are also welcome in the fight. Ask the local theater for copies of the movie poster, take it for display to your local pet supply store, and add the akita handout. Or your local shelter would like to be involved. It never hurts to ask.
*
Check out the Hachi movie trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaS37E3gKOU

footlose and fancy free again

The other day i gave mommy another scare. We had just come back from the dog park near our house, when that brat(cassie) --a lil westie puppy from across the street got out of her house and ran across the street, as mom proceeded to call her so that she would not get run over. Well she started to chase me around and around and i got out of my collar. Mom took me out of my harness few days ago to brush me, and i have not let her put it back on, well that, and she cant seem to find the original one that mika's mom had for me.

Anyways, I took off running down the street, almost got hit by a bus and ran towards the park with the little brat cassie chasing me from behind. Lucky for cassie's mom she was able to catch up to cassie and get her back home. I, on the other hand, crossed the street to the other park, and ran around free for a while until mom had recruited about 5 kids to ATTEMPT to catch me. I must have really liked those kids becuz one of them was able to catch me with the treats that mom had provided. Mom put my collar and leash back on me and we walked home.. The kids said that all that running they did to chase after me, was the most excercise they had gotten in 1yr. (glad i was to be of service.. haha) Needless to say mom is trying to find my harness and good luck in her trying to get me back into it.. I may do my shiba scream and put up a fit. hehehe
namichan

Happy Veteran's Day!!

Guess what today is???? It's Veteran's Day!!! Which means.... ANOTHER celebration!! Oh boy, two celebrations in a row!

I thank every Veteran and Active duty military for their service to the United States. Let's also take a moment of silence to remember those who have fallen for our country.



I hope all the Veterans have a great day and no one takes them for granted.

When daddy gets home tonight, I'm going to stick to him like glue and show him how appreciative I am to him (and try to bug him for some delicious human food). hehe..

Look at this picture, it's so cool!


From the Arlington National Cemetary photo gallery:


Happy Veteran's Day!

As one of my human friends says: "To ALL of the veterans out there, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE! This day is for you, and comes with much appreciation. I wouldn't have the luxuries I have if it wasn't for you. Some will never appreciate the blood and sweat shed for our freedom, and they take this freedom for granted. FREEDOM ISN'T FREE! IN VALOR, THERE IS HOPE!" -B.C.

-Mika

Note: Pictures on this post do not belong to us, they were found using a search engine. The Arlington cemetery picture was found from their photo gallery and probably belongs to them.

Happy Birthday to USMC!

Today is the United States Marine Corps birthday! Which means... a celebration!

I got to spend extra time with mommy today and we played fetch for a loooong time. I got some extra treats in my kibble tonight, but not too much. I still have to watch my figure. I'm trying to slim down some fat, then bulk up with muscle, like Taka!

Happy birthday, USMC!

-Mika

Note: Picture was found on a search engine. We didn't take the picture.

I got a bath! Ugh

Apparently mommy and daddy thought i needed a bath today. I heard mommy say something about daddys sister and her family going to be coming soon and i needed to look nice and fluffy. Mommy tried to call mika's mom to see if i had any issues in getting a bath, but i guess mika's mom was not around. So mommy and daddy gave me what they call a doggie dunk.. At first i did not mind it, but then i started to wiggle around and wanted out even though mommy and daddy were not finished with me. They rinsed me as best they could with a large container thingy under my chest and then daddy wipped me down wtih a towel. I came inside the house and shake shake shake the water all off me, then they gave me a treat for being somewaht of a good doggie. However mommy would not let me go outside for a long time.. Did they think i was going to go outside and get dirty again? Not me?? Well, i have to say that yes i do smell and look good now. Have to try and stay clean for a few weeks, otherwise mommy will take me to the groomers that hana and my other sister went to,

Umm i dont think so.. hehe

namichan

I get a doggie door!

Well looks like mom and dad got tired of being my door people and finally got a doggie door up. I thought i saw one in the backyard when i first got here, but i wasn't sure if it worked. Looks like dad finally got it together and put it up. I wasn't sure of it at first since it looked a lil smaller than the one i used to have back at my brothers house. Mom worked with me with my favorite treat and helped me go in/out of it. Now I love it! And mom and dad don't have to come running when i want to be let in.. Boy did I have them trained well.. He he..

I even try to sneak out things that i am not supposed to have thru the doggie door but mom keeps catching me and takes them away only after i have dropped them. Then she will give me a treat. :)

I am getting better in my separation anxiety, I now know that mom leaves early in the morning and will come back. Then she takes off again only to return few hrs later. I have stopped chewing and pawing at the doors to which i know dad is very happy about. I guess i just had to learn that even tho mom will go away for a while she will eventully come back

namichan