Neera was foster that came to me in a unique way as many do. And she was a unique dog. She had at least two homes prior to me and was approximately four when I brought her home. Her human was a lady that groomed dogs (my others) and was struggling to make ends meet. She was living in the little work mobile home and ran her business out of it, with two young boys and an on-again, off-again boyfriend. This place was small, two basic rooms and she also had four dogs.
Originally my groomer knew I rescued boxers mostly. Social services told her she had to move into better living conditions and reduce her dogs to keep custody of her kids. Thus she asked me to come see her boxer. Once I got there she realized she could not part with the purebred brindle boxer, or the beagle she had rescued and fixed up from injury, or the doberman with health issues. That left Neera. She wasn't the prettiest. She wasn't the youngest. She didn't do cute things. And she wasn't a purebred dog. She just stood still and was very good around all the chaos. She wouldn't have been my first pick, but I am glad someone else did the picking for me. When I realized she was the plain middle child of a family of 6 -7 (when you include two boys and a boyfriend), I felt for her. Her owner said she got the least (if any) attention. However, she was well fed and groomed, just behind on her vet care and meds.
So I took the big ole plain girl home. Part German Shepard, part boxer, part something big and square. She was built like a tank so that became her nickname. She was 80 lbs of solid muscle. She looked like a work dog. Tan body and blackish face with a funny name. You could tell she was abused at some point, scars all over her body and she would duck in fear of getting hit when voices were raised. I would tell her "the bad days are behind you now girl". I gave her as much attention as I could, with 4-7 other dogs of my own over time. At first I tried to adopt her out and then I could not bear to part with her. You see, Neera was more loyal than any person I have ever known. She accepted her plight in life; she got in the truck with me and then acclimated to her new life here. She never once had an accident in the house, fought over food, chewed up anything, barked for no reason, or jumped up on people. It was like she always seemed grateful. Grateful for food, a house, dogs to play with, a big yard, etc. She LOVED to go on rides. If I would try to leave her, she would chase after me with all her heart. When I would go to "dog island" with the babies by boat, she was the one who would follow me no matter what when I kayaked around the large island. It could be freezing outside and the others would just wait on the boat or beach, but Neera would swim as close as she could to me. She never appeared frantic from separation anxiety. She just seemed to want to make sure I was okay.
If Neera was a human (yes, I give them all human like qualities, careers, personalities) she would be the middle-aged farm lady whose husband left. She could raise the kids on her own and still work as hard as any man on the farm with her strong square build. Her hair would be wrapped up in a red bandanna and she would never feel sorry for herself. She would never wear makeup or jewelry and never wonder why her life was anything different than what it was then. She knew she was plain and the middle, least loved child. It was okay that the others got the attention. She never got jealous. She had only love to give. And I felt protected by my Tank as she loved her family here and never let me out of her sight.
And you know what, her looks grew on me. Most people thought she was a boy dog by her strong build at first, but her aura was all female. She was soft, loving, and a very kind dog. You could trust her with anything- a baby, your food, a small obnoxious rescued dog, etc. She would make sure everything was okay and she never tried to run away. She had the most soulful eyes of any dog I have ever seen. They were so dark and deep. Sad but in a "I am okay sort of way". And for two years I ran in a pack with Neera as the biggest, but most unassuming of the lot.
Then a guy I knew pretty well was looking for a dog. But not just any dog. He did not want a puppy to train. And he has two small adopted girls from China and a wife so they had to be good with the family. Not jump, obedient, yet large enough to protect his girls when playing outside. He wanted a perfect, well-behaved dog and age was not an issue. His dog had passed away and it was time to get another one. So I thought of Neera. Here is a family with a hundred acres in their backyard (Neera loved to be outside, and to hunt), no other pets, two small girls clamoring for a dog to love, and two dedicated parents. She would get all the attention in the world and be the star for the first time in her life. So as my heart broke, I let them meet Neera and drive off with her in the van at 6 years of age after she had been my protector for 2 years. She did not want to go in the van and gave me a look of sadness as they drove away, as if to say "why are you giving me away? I was a good girl and loved you and my home very much. I don't know these people and I am scared'. But she adapted quickly and flourished. She was the only dog for many years in her new home. The girls loved her and her name. I like when they can keep their name, imagine someone changing yours? Neera was always an odd name to me but the girls watched a show with a dog named Neera on it and she looked like her! So it was a lucky perfect fit on all accounts.
They loved her. She slept at the foot of their bed. She guarded them from harm as they played in the great outdoors. She opened up over time to the new parents (again afraid at first). She went camping with them often. She never caused any trouble. She consoled the girls when they were sick or hurt and she never left their sides. Neera enabled the girls to understand an important life lesson since she was adopted too. Part of the family, loved just the same. She was the best dog ever and they would regularly give me updates that would make me smile- knowing I did the right thing for Neera, letting her move on. One day they decided to adopt another dog so now my beloved Tank was the eldest. She accepted her new sibling with ease and they all lived happily. The mother of the family would run-walk with Neera, never needing a leash for Neera as she NEVER left your side. She was that way with me. And all was well.
I found out yesterday that Neera (10+ years old now) has cancer. She has lost 15 lbs and can barely get around. The family made the hard decision to put Neera down today. They let her stride across rainbow bridge, proud and beautiful as I came to know her. Her new daddy said she "had the sweetest heart he has ever known." I saw her once after the family took her, about a year later. She was still so strong, but much happier. She seemed more fulfilled. Glowing with her little girls to watch over and her new family that could give her the focused special attention she deserved. So it is with thanks and gratitude that I write this. Thanking my groomer for picking Neera as her least loved. Thanking Neera for always making me feel safe and teaching me beauty grows from the inside out. And thanks to the R family for giving her a wonderful second half of her life, where she could shine as the star and be their Tank. RIP Neera. You were loved by everyone that knew you- and that makes you one of the most beautiful/handsome dogs I have ever seen. Your soul was devine and you wore it well. Be safe now on your travels Tank. I miss you, always will.
Originally my groomer knew I rescued boxers mostly. Social services told her she had to move into better living conditions and reduce her dogs to keep custody of her kids. Thus she asked me to come see her boxer. Once I got there she realized she could not part with the purebred brindle boxer, or the beagle she had rescued and fixed up from injury, or the doberman with health issues. That left Neera. She wasn't the prettiest. She wasn't the youngest. She didn't do cute things. And she wasn't a purebred dog. She just stood still and was very good around all the chaos. She wouldn't have been my first pick, but I am glad someone else did the picking for me. When I realized she was the plain middle child of a family of 6 -7 (when you include two boys and a boyfriend), I felt for her. Her owner said she got the least (if any) attention. However, she was well fed and groomed, just behind on her vet care and meds.
So I took the big ole plain girl home. Part German Shepard, part boxer, part something big and square. She was built like a tank so that became her nickname. She was 80 lbs of solid muscle. She looked like a work dog. Tan body and blackish face with a funny name. You could tell she was abused at some point, scars all over her body and she would duck in fear of getting hit when voices were raised. I would tell her "the bad days are behind you now girl". I gave her as much attention as I could, with 4-7 other dogs of my own over time. At first I tried to adopt her out and then I could not bear to part with her. You see, Neera was more loyal than any person I have ever known. She accepted her plight in life; she got in the truck with me and then acclimated to her new life here. She never once had an accident in the house, fought over food, chewed up anything, barked for no reason, or jumped up on people. It was like she always seemed grateful. Grateful for food, a house, dogs to play with, a big yard, etc. She LOVED to go on rides. If I would try to leave her, she would chase after me with all her heart. When I would go to "dog island" with the babies by boat, she was the one who would follow me no matter what when I kayaked around the large island. It could be freezing outside and the others would just wait on the boat or beach, but Neera would swim as close as she could to me. She never appeared frantic from separation anxiety. She just seemed to want to make sure I was okay.
(Neera loved the water once she learned to swim. She would follow her humans anywhere)
If Neera was a human (yes, I give them all human like qualities, careers, personalities) she would be the middle-aged farm lady whose husband left. She could raise the kids on her own and still work as hard as any man on the farm with her strong square build. Her hair would be wrapped up in a red bandanna and she would never feel sorry for herself. She would never wear makeup or jewelry and never wonder why her life was anything different than what it was then. She knew she was plain and the middle, least loved child. It was okay that the others got the attention. She never got jealous. She had only love to give. And I felt protected by my Tank as she loved her family here and never let me out of her sight.
And you know what, her looks grew on me. Most people thought she was a boy dog by her strong build at first, but her aura was all female. She was soft, loving, and a very kind dog. You could trust her with anything- a baby, your food, a small obnoxious rescued dog, etc. She would make sure everything was okay and she never tried to run away. She had the most soulful eyes of any dog I have ever seen. They were so dark and deep. Sad but in a "I am okay sort of way". And for two years I ran in a pack with Neera as the biggest, but most unassuming of the lot.
Then a guy I knew pretty well was looking for a dog. But not just any dog. He did not want a puppy to train. And he has two small adopted girls from China and a wife so they had to be good with the family. Not jump, obedient, yet large enough to protect his girls when playing outside. He wanted a perfect, well-behaved dog and age was not an issue. His dog had passed away and it was time to get another one. So I thought of Neera. Here is a family with a hundred acres in their backyard (Neera loved to be outside, and to hunt), no other pets, two small girls clamoring for a dog to love, and two dedicated parents. She would get all the attention in the world and be the star for the first time in her life. So as my heart broke, I let them meet Neera and drive off with her in the van at 6 years of age after she had been my protector for 2 years. She did not want to go in the van and gave me a look of sadness as they drove away, as if to say "why are you giving me away? I was a good girl and loved you and my home very much. I don't know these people and I am scared'. But she adapted quickly and flourished. She was the only dog for many years in her new home. The girls loved her and her name. I like when they can keep their name, imagine someone changing yours? Neera was always an odd name to me but the girls watched a show with a dog named Neera on it and she looked like her! So it was a lucky perfect fit on all accounts.
(Neera. Center of attention with these beautiful girls. She is bright eyed and almost smiling)
They loved her. She slept at the foot of their bed. She guarded them from harm as they played in the great outdoors. She opened up over time to the new parents (again afraid at first). She went camping with them often. She never caused any trouble. She consoled the girls when they were sick or hurt and she never left their sides. Neera enabled the girls to understand an important life lesson since she was adopted too. Part of the family, loved just the same. She was the best dog ever and they would regularly give me updates that would make me smile- knowing I did the right thing for Neera, letting her move on. One day they decided to adopt another dog so now my beloved Tank was the eldest. She accepted her new sibling with ease and they all lived happily. The mother of the family would run-walk with Neera, never needing a leash for Neera as she NEVER left your side. She was that way with me. And all was well.
I found out yesterday that Neera (10+ years old now) has cancer. She has lost 15 lbs and can barely get around. The family made the hard decision to put Neera down today. They let her stride across rainbow bridge, proud and beautiful as I came to know her. Her new daddy said she "had the sweetest heart he has ever known." I saw her once after the family took her, about a year later. She was still so strong, but much happier. She seemed more fulfilled. Glowing with her little girls to watch over and her new family that could give her the focused special attention she deserved. So it is with thanks and gratitude that I write this. Thanking my groomer for picking Neera as her least loved. Thanking Neera for always making me feel safe and teaching me beauty grows from the inside out. And thanks to the R family for giving her a wonderful second half of her life, where she could shine as the star and be their Tank. RIP Neera. You were loved by everyone that knew you- and that makes you one of the most beautiful/handsome dogs I have ever seen. Your soul was devine and you wore it well. Be safe now on your travels Tank. I miss you, always will.
(Neera in her final days. Rested beside the girls' beds).
