May 2nd is our Sacramento Region Big Day of Giving where we come together as a force of good! It's an incredible oppurtunity to make a direct impact on the lives of at risk shepherds. Your donation of a minimum of $10 provides crucial support and safe foster homes for puppies like Niko who was given away at shopping center and barely avoided the shelter life. Please consider donating to help us continue our lifesaving efforts through bigdayofgiving.com/shepheroes.
Say hello to Niko! He's had some changes in his young life, at six months, being given away by his owner to good samaritans in a Tractor Supply parking lot. He was brought to safety through their efforts to find options for him. In their quest they connected with a family willing to foster him until he finds his perfect match and that family had connections to one of our volunteers.
His fosters are shepherd savvy, and Niko's thriving in their care. We know he's cat-workable, dog-friendly, and a little shy meeting new people, but give him a few minutes and treats, he lights up. Niko was also a gem at his first vet appointment, getting caught up on vaccines, getting a health check-up, and starting on preventatives. While we were working on an appointment to get him neutered, he learned to sit down, recall, and relax in his new environment, including crating. Niko adores his fosters and the structure he's getting in their care after all the changes in his life. A treat and praise-motivated shepherd mix, he's a quick learner.
This 44-lb sweet boy also loves the snow, all his toys, and snuggling with his resident buddy. For his early morning neuter appointment this week, NIko camped out at a relief foster located near the hospital overnight, displaying all that makes him a wonderful boy. Within a couple of hours at his relief foster home, he'd met all the resident dogs, started playing with the youngest shepherd, respecting the older ones, and reciprocating all the love from his temporary humans. He even took a long nap after his evening meal in his crate. And settled right next to the pack for downtime in between more play sessions outside.
Nilo rides nicely free in the car; he took a ride over to a Golden 1 bank to have his photo taken for one of our thank you's to Golden One for sponsoring Big Day of Giving. He adored the young girl at the next ATM machine who was equally smitten. Niko will be on the smaller size of a shepherd mix, what we love to call pocket sized.
As with our puppies, please consider applying for Niko if you have experience raising shepherds or similar smart working breed dogs. They require physical and mental exercise, structure, training, and extensive environmental exposure to become neutral adult dogs.
##2006769##
