Nick's Story
by Nick's Mom, Susan Townsend
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There have been times in my life when Fate has stepped into
a situation and provided me with something I need, and I definitely think that finding
Nick was one of those times. I owned a Border Collie over ten years ago. Hoover was a rescue from a shelter in Calgary, Alberta. He was very old when I found him, and he was only with me for 14 short months. I grieved terribly when he died, and even though other dogs came into my life after Hoover, I never forgot him, and no dog could take his place in my heart. |
I moved to southeastern Virginia just over two years ago. We live in a big old farmhouse on 300 acres and I decided that I would get a dog of my own. My daughter has a Chihuahua, and we have another Chihuahua that was also a rescue, but I wanted a dog of my own. I began my search, and because I like the idea of giving a dog a second chance, we often visited the local shelters. I saw many, many lovely deserving dogs, but couldn't bring myself to take any of them home. I subscribed to adoption and rescue lists on the Internet, and here, too, I saw countless dogs who needed a loving home. Some of the stories tore my heart out and I was almost at the point of giving up my search, when one day I saw Nick. It was completely by chance. I had already deleted the message from my email that described Nick and his need for a forever home. I remember thinking, "Did that message say Border Collie?" So I retrieved it from the trash and read it more carefully. The email message was from a "senior dog adoption" email list to which I belonged and it led me to the "East Tennessee Border Collie Rescue" home page. That's when I saw Nick for the first time. I fell in love, and as soon as my husband came home, I showed him Nick's picture. "I think I've found my dog," I said.
I e-mailed Karen Lively and she told me that another family had expressed an interest in Nick. My heart sank. Karen said that if they didn't take him she would contact me, so you can imagine how excited I was when I received an email from her saying he was still available. I persuaded my husband, Tom, to phone Karen. I had talked to Tom at great length about the kind of dog I wanted. I told him that all I was really looking for was a kind and lovable dog who would keep me company. I told him Hoover had been a big old couch potato and that's exactly what I had in mind. So, when Karen told Tom that Nick was just an old couch potato, Tom said he figured Nick and I were meant to be together.
Arrangements were made for a home visit. I drove my family crazy getting ready for this visit. I guess they figured we were going to entertain royalty or something, but I wanted everything to be perfect. Karen had sent more pictures of Nick, and in my mind, he was perfect. The children (we have five) teased Tom that I had found another man, and his name was Nick. My 18-month-old son often sits on Tom's lap while Tom is on the computer. Tom started showing Owen pictures of Nick and telling him, "That's Nick Dog." It wasn't long before you could ask Owen to find Nick Dog and he would point at the computer screen. The home visit came and went and we passed inspection (phew!!) The next hurdle was to make arrangements for us to drive to Tennessee to get Nick. This was quite a bit easier said than done. We had car troubles, Karen had back surgery, but finally the day came and we made the seven-hour trip to meet our new "boy". There were no surprises when I met Nick. It was almost as though I had known him before. He was exactly as I had pictured him...both in appearance and personality. I had forgotten how much I loved Border Collies until I met him. Nick was polite and reserved when we met, but he was a real trooper on the way home. It was a long trip for all of us, but he never complained once and rode along like a real gentleman.
It felt so good to get home, but of course this wasn't home for poor old Nick. He was very stressed when we arrived at our house. He reminded me of a small child who thinks he wants to spend the night at someone's house, only to change his mind when it gets dark outside. I wanted desperately to reassure him, but couldn't think of anything besides talking to him and trying to comfort him.
When he began marking inside the house, I knew he was feeling extremely disoriented and uncomfortable. I brought out the dog crate we have (it's smaller than the one he was used to, but still adequate), and I opened the door and told him to go and lie down. He was so relieved...this was something he knew and understood.
I look at Nick lying a few feet away from me this morning as I type this, and I feel as though he has been a part of our family for a very long time. It's as though he has always lived here. There is a part of Nick that is still private and reserved. He relaxes now, but not enough for my liking. I know he is still worried and tense sometimes, and how I wish I could just tell him that everything is going to be all right. This is his forever home, but he will have to learn that, unfortunately. All I can do is love him, care for him, and make him feel as secure as possible.
We all love Nick. He gets along with all of our other critters. Our rescue Chihuahua, Penny, is probably one tenth of Nick's size but she rules the roost, and Nick defers to her every single time. I laugh every time I see the little Chihuahua bossing him. The other night I realized that he was following me around as I did various chores throughout the house and I was so pleased. Nick woooo-woooed Tom when he came home from work a few days ago. These are the things that tell me he is beginning to feel at home.
We have lived through a couple of thunder storms (poor Nick). I raise white mice and have them in a very large aquarium on the floor in my computer room. Nick has found his niche here as the "official mouse herder", and he spends a great deal of his time lying and watching his charges, a little puddle of drool forming at his feet. I also keep birds, and came into the room one day to find Nick herding the female cockatiel who was trying quite earnestly to return to her cage. He didn't touch her, but was moving back and forth to prevent her "escape". He is my dear and delightful old gentleman, and he is everything I want in a dog. I would like to think that when Nick and I found each other, we both got what we needed. I am so grateful to Karen, Suzanne West, and the women like them. Thank God for their devotion to dogs like Nick, once considered disposable, but now considered priceless.
EDITOR'S UPDATE, MAY 2004: Our heartfelt condolences and warm thoughts go out to Susan and Thomas Townsend and their family on the loss of their Nick Old Boy.
Nick came into our rescue on October 28, 1999, and was adopted by the Townsends on February 26, 2000. He was at least seven or eight years old at that time. Nick, a cynical little old man all set in his ways, had a great retirement home with Susan, Tom, their children, and their other critters. He was very much loved and doted upon. Nick recently passed away of old age.
Nick is sadly missed and will be lovingly remembered always.