Niki - On the Road to Victory

  Niki roamed, I was told, for years like a ghost. Terrified of humans, she could not be approached. Her companion in life became the rope around her neck that caused her unbearable pain every living minute. When I heard about her case there could be only one goal; to help Niki at all costs. 

(Warning:some graphic images.)

   With the help of a fellow volunteer, we started to monitor her movements over the period of a week.  We found out where she roamed and where she took shelter.  We began feeding her so she could get used to our presence and when the time was right, with the help of a mild sedative from our vet, we caught her.  

    The wound from the rope was terrifying.  We can’t imagine the mettle required to live her life.  Beyond her pain, as a stray, she had to scrounge for food and water to survive.  After the visit to the vet, where the wound was cleaned, we created an enclosure to keep her in for the duration of her therapy.  Antibiotics and a special cream that our vet prescribed for tissue regrowth are the plan of attack.  She has been doing very well and the wound started to mend right away.  With the help of a few friends, whom I thank immensely, we were able to cover the costs of her care. 

  Besides her external wounds the hardest wound will be her fears.  She is very timid and startles quite easily.  The first few weeks, when seeing us, she would become as small as possible, as if trying to disappear.  What has this creature been through?  The good news is that she has made progress and, with us, she is slowly taking baby steps in the right direction.  I named her Niki because Niki in Greek means VICTORY.   I know that she will be victorious in the end.

    

Picture, left, at the vet. Her wound was badly infected and had a terrible smell. The hanging skin was taken off, the fur around the wound was shaven and the whole area sterilized.

    Below, she is in the enclosure we made for her.  Although safe, clean and dry she was very uncomfortable the first few days.  

 The hard part will be releasing her to the neighbourhood we found her wandering in once her therapy is done and she is spayed.   If anyone has a place in their heart for Niki, please write me to at tinakan2@gmail.com.  We have some time ahead of us before her wound is completely healed and until then everyday she is getting the care she needs. Thank you to the individuals who helped with the costs of her care. Without out it would not have been possible. 

 Stay with me for updates. 

Thank you,
Konstantina.

April 12/2014

     Niki's wound around her neck has almost completely healed. The last part that remains to mend is where the most damage was done; on the back of her neck   Recall the picture above where our vet is examining the wound. You will notice how deep, wide and infected the wound is in that spot. It has taken a long time but we are almost there, as the picture below attest to.

  The issue that concerns me the most is her fear of people; her deepest wound.  She is still very timid and will retreat to her spot when people are in the space she is sharing with the other dogs, Ilia, Rose and Beba. She gets along well with the other dogs.  She is not exceptionally playful but she is comfortable around them.  

   

    We still have work to be done.

    K.K.

February 7th, 2015

  It has almost been a year since we spotted Niki and layed out our plan to catch her.  It took a while for the wounds around her neck to heal but eventually they did.  It turns out those wounds were the easiest to deal with.  Her fear of people has not gone away.  She approaches us to eat or to take treats but she does not want to be touched.   With all of our cases it is very difficult for us to work with her as much as she needs.  She lives in one of our safe havens with five other dogs where there is plenty of room for her to be free.  She has bonded especially well with a male dog and together they make a couple.  We know that she will be permanently with us and we are perfectly fine with this.

KK