Nikita
Anyone's guess to May 25, 2002
She crept into my life
but was in my heart as soon as her feet hit my property. She guarded the property and us with diligence and waited till the puppies were old enough and trained them to take on her duties.
what I remember is:
her head on my pillow, sleeping next to me, touching always touching...
her barking at things I never did see...
her kisses, dry and raspy on my face, arms, legs, where ever she could find bare skin...
when I gave her a hand signal to do something, she often turned her head with selective sight...
she was so good with little puppies when I got her, so gentle with wee ones and playful to the extent they could handle it with other visitors...
she Loved chasing those kitties...
when I put my hands out like an air hug she would come and give me a hug...
her sticking her head in the shower and drinking off my body and teaching Thor to do it too...
how she groaned SO loud when you rub her ears that when Kamran first met her she was afraid of her and thought she was growling...
how scary it was to come home when she was sleeping so soundly that I had to touch her to make sure she was alive... (a deaf dog thang)
I am SURE it was her that taught Xena that it wasn't acceptable when it was raining to go outside and down into the basement to poop in the den.. wish I could have been a fly on the wall for THAT conversation
I remember, when after a year
or so, Anne came to the house and Nikita met her at the baby gate and Anne said "she is saying "I get to stay, I really get to
stay!'"
and when Melissa came a year after that, she heard Nikita singing as she ran up and down in the back yard " I'm a happy girl! I'm a happy, happy
girl!"
What Anne Sendecke remembers:
that once upon a time, you were not so sure that you were "ready" to have another dane after Bronwyn and Ivan passed, but that Nikita had already picked you.
she taught you all about deaf dogs and introduced you to the wonderful world of dane rescue, and with her, came a bunch of new friends and new experiences.
that she was the queen, and once upon a time, she was badly treated and you gave her the best home in the world and she was happy.
that the most important job in the world for her was to keep you safe and she cherished that job
that she gives you the legacy of all of her experiences that she brought to you by opening your door a little bit more to the world, and there is no better job in the world for a dog
that she hopes that you remember that deafness isn't really such a big deal, not when you have people that understand you.
that she taught you about how to love a dog again, when you weren't quite sure that you could, and that was the biggest gift of all that she gave to you, because you loved her.
she hopes that you pass that gift along to another some day
What Kamran has to say:
I guess all of you know by now that Jules' Nikita has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I just wanted to say how sorry I am to Jules for the loss of her girl, but how relieved I am that Nikita's pain has ended.
It was an honor to know Nikita and thank you, Jules for taking such good care of her. When Nikita first came to the League, she was thin and insecure - she looked awful, with sad eyes that didn't expect much. Jules did SUCH a wonderful job with her - she became a happy dog who was shiny, well-fed, and secure in the knowledge that she was greatly loved. Her eyes were bright and serene as she learned she had a home AND later, got two other pups to boss around! She was the first deaf dog I knew and it was wonderful to see how love -- her love for Jules and Jules' love for her -- soared beyond the boundary of mere hearing.
Thank you, Nikita for being the wonderful grand lady you were and Jules, thank you for giving me the honor of knowing this wonderful girl.
Nikita, may you rest in peace and wait for me frolicking at the Rainbow Bridge with Bronwyn & Ivan, Murph, Gracie, Mysouf, Petey, Toto & Calico. I look forward to the day that you look up and see me coming.