NIKITA (18 months old) is a young and utterly gorgeous white German Shepherd who adores life and wants to live it to the fullest!  Her joy is infectious - she looks at you with such happy eyes and expectations, and it seems like she expects each day to be a great day!  She's joy wrapped in fur.

Which is amazing, considering what she's been through.  She belonged to a family with several dogs who used to keep them indoors but then threw them outdoors 24/7.   When she was about 6 months old, she developed an ear infection.  It should have been easy to handle, but although her family got anti-biotics they never gave them to her.  The result was horrendous:  the ear infection festered untreated for almost a year.  It became so horrific that she developed a massive hematoma on one ear that covered almost the entire ear.  Both ears were so completely infected internally that they were completely CLOSED.  When you looked inside her ear, all you could see was dozens and dozens of nodules called papalomas that completely closed up her ears.  She shook her head non-stop - literally around the clock - and the pain was horrendous.  The family finally turned her in to the low-cost clinic that had spayed her.  The clinic asked a very large private shelter to take her, but though they said they loved her and she was great with other dogs, they wouldn't pay for her ear surgery.  So the clinic called us, desperate to avoid euthanizing her.  We instantly said "yes, we'll figure out how to raise the money for her surgery!".  To date, we've raised $1,700, which is only a little over half her vet bill, and are still struggling to raise the other $,1300.  If you can donate, please click on "How To Donate" in the left menu, or go to http://mogsrescue.rescuegroups.org/info/donate .  Every $5 and $10 helps and is MUCH appreciated!

So we took Nikita and promptly drove her to MU Vet Hospital in Columbia MO.  The vets there were dumbfounded!  They said the ONLY time they'd ever seen such horrendous ear infections was in end-of-life dogs who had been neglected or struggled with lifelong infections!  Nikita became somewhat famous at MU because her case was so extreme, and the caring vets and staff at MU became very attached to her. 

Nikita's surgery was a double ear-canal removal.  This is an extreme surgery, and we and the great vets at MU did everything we could to avoid it.  We followed a protocol of powerful anti-biotics and other meds for one month, combined with a grain-free diet, then took her back to MU.  Sadly, her ears had improved but not enough.  It was clear that a non-surgical approach would not work.  So our sweet girl, whose hearing had become more and more muffled over the months as her ears became blocked, would now be deaf.

The surgery took 4 hours and Nikita was a champ.  The surgeons had told us about several possible complications, including a possibly-permanent head tilt, balance that might be slightly off and several others.  We spent an anxious week as Nikita slowly started to recover.  Her balance was off and her head was tilted.  She had to wear a collar and be closely monitored to be sure she didn't get at the incisions on her ears - a TOUGH job for her loving foster mom! 

In the end, Nikita was in the collar for 3 weeks, hating every minute and banging into everything.  The collar was so broken up and duct-taped together that the vets roared.  But after 3 weeks her incisions had healed beautifully and the collar came off.  That's when Nikita started to really bounce back!  With the collar off, the healing process well under way, and the itching gone, Nikita was once again her joyful self.   Her balance has righted itself, and her head tilt now only shows up when she's indoors.  We're not sure why she has a head tilt indoors and none outdoors, but suspect it has to do with the wide open spaces of the yard.  Her indoors head tilt may get improve or right itself with time and adjustment, though we cannot guarantee that.   In addition, the ear that had the hematoma is permanently floppy.  We're hoping the other ear will gradually resume standing up but for now it is also floppy.

So at a very young age - she's really still a puppy - Nikita has lived and survived a nightmare.  For a year she was in incredible pain and increasing deafness.  Now she's been through several months of medical treatment, major surgery, and recovery.  We watched her ups and downs.  After surgery, confined largely to bed rest and a huge protective collar, she was frustrated and cranky.  But now she's her old joyful self, loving the yard, loving her doggie foster siblings, looking at you with that goofy "ain't life grand" look, and giving great doggie hugs and kisses! 

Nikita is going to be the best ever buddy for some lucky family!  She's great with other dogs and currently lives in a foster home with both small and large dogs (she especially adores one of the 10 lb dogs and won't leave her alone!)  We haven't seen her around cats and that would have to be tested.  We haven't seen her around kids, either, and that would have to be tested.  We suspect she'll do fine with kids as long as she's supervised and trained so that she doesn't accidentally knock a small child over with her sheer enthusiasm and bulk.   Nikita loves all people, and seems to like all the dogs she's met. 

With all this behind her, Nikita is ready to grab life and party!  Her only requirements are (a) to be on a good grain-free food (currently on Kirkland's grain free Salmon), and (b) to learn hand signals (a good idea for ALL dogs!)

Nikita is a "solid" dog - a big girl at just over 80 lbs and with a stocky build.  But she thinks she's lap dog and adores putting her front paws on you to give you kisses and hugs.  She'll be in your lap or on the couch with you in a split second if you allow it. 

Nikita is a charmer with an infectious joy for life.  She's' a lover and a cuddler.  Only one lucky family will get to have her love and companionship for life.  Are YOU the ones who will learn hand signals and feed her a high quality grain free diet?  Are YOU the ones who, with these simple measures, will get kisses and hugs all day every day?  Are YOU the fortunate ones to share life with Nikita, the survivor and lover?  If so, submit an Adoption Application today!

NOTE ON DIET:  Nikita ABSOLUTELY MUST BE ON A GRAIN FREE DIET for the rest of her life. The vets at MU attribute about 98% of ear infections such to diet issues and food allergies.  We believe Nikita was fed a very low quality food, which started the infection, which then went untreated.  IT'S VITAL THAT NIKITA BE ON A GRAIN FREE FOOD REGIMEN PERMANENTLY, INCLUDING ANY TREATS.  Should an infection start again, it would be a tragedy.   PLEASE REMEMBER:  THIS ENTIRE NIGHTMARE WAS COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE.  Had her family put her on a high quality food from the start, and had they treated the infection when it arose, Nikita would not have had to go through this.  DIET COUNTS!  GUT HEALTH COUNTS! 

 
DOGS:                 Yes
CATS:                 Unknown, would have to be tested
KIDS:                  Unknown, would have to be tested.  Best guess is that she would do well and simply needs training to be sure she doesn't accidentally knock a child over in her enthusiasm
IDEAL FAMILY:   A loving family with a big fenced yard and a lot of love!  A family willing to learn hand signals (a good idea for any dog but mandatory for Nikita) and train Nikita on them.  Nikita would love a family to take her on walks and love, love, love on her!
 

 

NIKITA's ADOPTION FEE:   $300
Nikita's vet costs have totaled more than $3,000.  We have raised a little over $1,700 of this and must continue to raise the other $1,300 (which we are paying in monthly payments).  This fee covers only part of what we spend to vet, board and rehab the dogs we save. On average we spend over $450 on each dog. We made a decision to keep our adoption fee at the 2005 level even though vet prices have doubled and tripled since then. We are constantly fundraising to cover the deficit. At minimum, your adoption fee includes the dog's spay/neuter, heartworm test, heartworm treatment if needed, rabies shot, distemper/parvo shot, bordatella shot, deworming, monthly heartworm and flea preventives, and microchip. In many cases it also includes surgery and various types of vet treatment for standard issues such as hot spots, ear infections and so on.
 

INTERESTED IN ADOPTING NIKITA?
Complete an Adoption Application Now!

STOP!! READ THIS BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER!

1. We're picky about our adopters. 
2. Are you sure you're up to having a GSD?  They're not for everyone.  They take a lot of time, effort, training.  They shed year round.  They're big.  They scare lots of people.  They "mouth" and herd.  They're usually strong-willed and stubborn.  You have to have references and a home visit.  If you're not willing or able to deal with any of this, please don't waste your time or ours applying.  
   
3. Will the dog be an inside family pet? We do not adopt to outdoor-only homes. All dogs must be indoor dogs.
4. Do you leave your dog outdoors when you're not home?   We do not adopt to homes that leave their animals outside when they're gone.  You must put your dogs indoors when you're gone.  A 3 yr old adopted MOGS dog died when the owners went to run errands, left her outdoors, the gate was somehow opened, and she was hit by a car.  Tragic and 100% preventable. Even privacy fences get broken into.  Gates are opened.  Thieves steal dogs. Never leave your dog outdoors when you're not home!!
   
5. What's your plan for unexpected events and major changes?  New baby? Divorce?  Moving?   How you will provide for your dog if your family breaks up? 
   
6. Will you make a lifetime commitment?  It's your responsibility to keep your dog safe, loved and cared for FOR LIFE.
7.  Do you understand we expect you to keep that lifetime commitment?  It's YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to stick by your family member -- no matter what.
8. Are you unable or unwilling to make a lifetime commitment? Do not apply.

Have Questions? Email us at mogsrescue@gmail.com