Nikki's Memorial

My dog, Nikki, passed away at 11:15 p.m. on March 22, 2004. She was my best friend and I will always love her. She was only 10 years old when I took her into the vet for her labored breathing. After an X-Ray, the vet determined my worst nightmare. She had cancer masses in her lungs. This news came 24 hours after my grandmother passed from ovarian cancer.

We first discovered Nikki was having labored breathing on Saturday, but it didn't seem serious since she's an older dog. We took her to her regular vet on Monday where they took blood. They sent her home and told us to call back the next morning for results. Once evening hit, my dog took a turn for the worse and could barely move. My father and I rushed her to the emergency vet where they told us there was no treatment for her. It would be best for her if we put her down. Those are words I'll never forget. I felt like I had just been kicked in the stomach. I got to spend 15 minutes with her before they put her down. She wasn't all the way there mentally and seemed to be in pain. I kissed her many times and told her I loved her more than anything.

I didn't expect this. She was only 10 years old and I expected at least 3 more years with her. She was the SWEETEST dog, Very calm and very relaxed. Nikki would always alert us when someone was breaking into our cars (I live in Southern California, what do you expect), she was there when I was upset, she would wait for me by the back door when I came home, and so much more! I still haven't adjusted to her not being there.

Nikki joined our family in 1993. My brothers friend down the street had a purebred Chow Chow who had just had puppies. Although no paternity tests have been conducted, we believe her father was a german shepard. After days of begging and pleading to my parents, they finally decided to let us pick out a puppy. Nikki stood out from her other siblings due to her darkness in color. She also had a dark strip down her back. When we took her home, she was a little homesick and she cried throughout the night. After a few days, she warmed up to us and became part of our family. We moved many times throughout the years and at one point, Nikki had to stay with a relative due to our lack of a stable home. We helped my grandmother (who just passed) move to Pennsylvania and once we moved back to California and found a house to rent, we got her back. Once she was back in my care, I bonded with her even more. Within a few months, we became financially stable again and moved into a very nice house. We lived there for 5 years and the backyard became "HER" backyard. We moved one more time before she died and once we put the backyard in (it's a new house), she was elated. She "retired" in this house.

I will never forget all of the great times we had together. I LOVE YOU, NIKKI!

Nikki was cremated and is now is a beautiful urn in my closet.


July 14, 1993 - March 22, 2004


Picture of a Picture [Best picture of her]



The summer we got her shaved... we never did it after that. She had an alien head!



Puppy Nikki



Say what?



Nikki and Marita the Guinea Pig



Nikki with whipped cream on her nose.