When Suzette Hall first heard about a stray bichon mix going from porch to porch in search of shelter, she instantly connected with the dog. The recent floods in Hall’s Southern California neighborhood had forced her out of her home, leaving her feeling displaced and desperate to find a new place, just like the fluffy, white pup.
“I had been feeling so displaced that day, like I didn’t have anywhere to go,” Hall, founder of Logan’s Legacy dog rescue, shared with The Dodo. “And then I got the message about the dog.”
A Scared Pup in Need
Neighbors had noticed the dog a few days earlier, seemingly abandoned after her family left her at a nearby park. Southern California was battling heavy storms at the time, and as the rain poured, the scared pup visited house after house, hoping for shelter.
“She would go up and scratch on the door like, ‘Let me in!’” Hall said. “Then, when no one answered, she would just sit there and shake.”
Unexpected Turns
Hall posted about the dog online, expecting to receive messages from people claiming to be her owners, as often happens with fluffy dogs. But this time, there were no messages.
“We didn’t even get one,” Hall said. “Nobody was looking for her.”
When Hall arrived at the neighborhood, she set up a humane trap and scattered some treats in the hopes the pup’s hunger would lure her in. But instead of approaching the trap, the dog’s fear kept her away.
Feeling defeated, Hall shifted to a more personal method.
“She was too scared to go into the trap, so I sat there with her and talked to her,” Hall explained. “I was telling her that I understood how she felt. I was saying, ‘I don’t have a home either right now.’”
Surprisingly, the pup began to warm up to Hall’s voice. As Hall continued speaking gently, she inched closer, and soon enough, she was close enough to pet the dog.
“I slowly made my way closer, and then she let me start petting her,” Hall said. “That had me shocked.”
The Rescue and New Beginnings
After a few soft pets, Hall gently placed a slip lead over the dog’s neck and carefully transported her to the truck using the trap. As they drove off, the dog fell into a peaceful sleep.
Hall rushed her to the vet, where she received a clean bill of health. The only issue was her matted fur, so a last-minute grooming session was arranged.
As the groomer worked through the tangled knots, she thought the dog resembled a “Nicole,” and so Nikki became her new name.
A New Life for Nikki
Nikki’s new, fresh haircut gave her a whole new look, and she was soon off to her foster home, where she still resides today.
“She’s one of those dogs who everyone just loves instantly,” Hall said. “She’s so kind, and she doesn’t even bark!”
Though Nikki is still waiting for her forever home, Hall believes it won’t take long for the right family to find her.
“She is just the sweetest little dog,” Hall said. “Seriously, she is perfection.”