Mr. Nick memorial

A true fur person who gave unconditional love

He was a professional dog hat model but primarily my model friend

He was my boy and is now forever young

In August 2000 it was discovered that Mr. Nick, a 10-pound Maltese, was suffering the beginning stages of renal failure. Some excellent vet care and TLC at home gave him some additional time.

Just before Christmas 2003, another vet visit determined he was in the end stage and though an overnight stay and IV treatment helped him to feel a little better, he made it clear to me he was tired, and ready to begin his next journey.

On the Monday before Christmas, Kathy went with me to the vet and we gave Mr. Nick a loving and peaceful transition about 10:30 a.m.

Immediately afterwards, I saw a puppy in the lobby -- the first one I had ever seen in this vet's office. As I held the puppy, the woman who owned him described her as a bundle of energy. I smiled and told her she had a good spirit.

Perhaps, she even had a little wiggle from Mr. Nick.

To me, he is now St. Nick and is enjoying the company of other wonderful animal spirits. Christmas has become a time for me to celebrate the wonderful years we shared. He was born circa May 1986 and entered my life in 1989.

I miss Nicholas Pierre so. He had many fans besides me:

	Richard and Carolyn who were baby sitting him while I was in Colorado on vacation during his first emergency. I flew home a week early to care for him.
	His grandmother who made a custom embroidered T-shirt for me sporting Mr. Nick's likeness and paw prints. She and my step-father were also two of his primary caretakers while I was on trips, including my month-long backpacking trek in Europe.
	Kathy who helped care for him and love him as her own during his last year-and-a-half.
	Terri, who was part of a recent care taking team if Kathy and I were on vacation.
	Cathy D. who helped me find the best vet care for his renal failure issues and who helped care for him in the early years -- the dog hat modeling years.
	Dawn and Cathy K., also members of the recent vacation care taking team.
	And in 2002, Li-Tai pitched in too, helping Carolyn while Kathy and I were out West in January.

If you are ever at Bay Pines Veteran's Park in Pinellas, there is a two-person swing overlooking a grassy field that borders the bay. Nick loved to play there in the grass in his early years. Sit a spell and say hello to him. I know he'll appreciate it. Heck, he may even bring you a small soft plastic soccer ball to toss for him to fetch or ask you for a drink from the nearby spigot. Make sure he stays out of the palmetto bushes though -- there are armadillos in there! -- Deb