Little Spirit, our paralyzed Yorkie, met her new family today and leaves for Florida Saturday morning! Glenn and Nicci B. of Tampa had originally planned to fly out just before the Christmas holidays to adopt Spirit, but they had to re-schedule their travel plans. I took this photo as Nicci was seeing Spirit for the first time. Alayne had brought Spirit over to our welcome center from the house and had just handed her to Nicci. Spirit is wearing a 'princess sweater' that Nicci had earlier mailed out to us.
Glenn and Nicci once had a rescued, paralyzed Yorkie named Bella. When Bella died recently, they wanted to offer their home and love to another disabled Yorkie. So when Nicci saw our original blog posts about Spirit's arrival at the sanctuary, she contacted us. After hearing about the kind of extraordinary care they had provided Bella -- who not only was paralyzed but also had other serious medical conditions -- we knew Spirit would be in wonderful, loving hands with Nicci and Glenn.
So they flew out from Tampa to pick up Spirit today and take her home to Florida, where Spirit will be doing physical therapy with Nicci in their swimming pool when she's not cruising in her wheelchair under palm trees.
Swimming pool? Palm trees? For Spirit, a new home in sunny Florida couldn't come soon enough. On her last day at the ranch, it was 32 degrees below zero at dawn. I took this photo of the thermometer on our wood shed this morning just before the sun came up. When Nicci and Glenn arrived this afternoon at 3 p.m., it was zero degrees; by the time they left shortly after 4 p.m., with the sun dipping behind the mountains to the west, it was 10 below zero. As I write this at 7 p.m., it's already 22 below zero and still going down.
Spirit had only one thing to say: "Get me outta here!"
This little girl, who was lying in the road being kicked by her drunken owner when she was rescued last year, has come a long way. It was a kind and compassionate lady named Denise S. who intervened and saved Spirit that fateful August day in Butte, Montana. Thanks to Denise, Spirit will spend the rest of her life being loved and adored and living the life of luxury. In a place where people go swimming in January.
(Click on photo for larger image.)
This is the most amazing story. It lifts my heart to know there is this kind of good still in the world. Best of luck to Spirit and all the Rolling Dog Ranch animals...
Posted by: Serena | January 26, 2007 at 10:15 PM
Congrats!!! I too have rescued two hadnicapped yorkies in the last two years. They are blind, one from illness/neglect and the other from birth/caged in a puppy mill her entire life. I will say that the joys of this brightens so many lives. There is so much need out there and I think it is great that there are people out there that are willing to open their hearts and their homes. I am sure they will receive as much love as they are giving!!!
Posted by: Lynn Millard | January 20, 2007 at 06:08 PM
Yeah for Spirit - they all look so happy to be together! She's a lucky girl, but I have a feeling that Nicci and Glen are feeling pretty lucky, too!
Posted by: christine | January 18, 2007 at 02:30 PM
Oh what tears of joy this brings me this is to see such a happy new beginning. HUGE congratulations Spirit, Glenn, Nicci, Steve, Alayne, and everyone who made such good happen.
Posted by: Margaret | January 15, 2007 at 05:49 PM
This is exciting news to hear that Spirit will be living with her new family in sunny Florida! I am sure that Spirit will never forget Denise and, of course, Steve and Alayne at the ranch for the love and care she received.
Posted by: Nina | January 15, 2007 at 01:07 PM
Spirit's life story has ended in a Miracle!
I'm so thrilled for Glenn, Nicci and Spirit!
Sincere gratitude to Denise S. for her rescue; Bella, for blessing Glenn and Nicci's life so they can care and love Spirit and beyond;
Lori and Chad for their donated chair and ALL of RDR for their compassion, talents and care.
When you put all the pieces together, it really has the power of a miracle.
Have a fun life in Florida, Spirit!
Posted by: Leilani | January 14, 2007 at 02:22 PM
One of the best happy endings I have ever heard. Denise S. you are Spirit's guardian angel...you saved her life. And Steve and Alayne...what you do ever day is just amazing. I am so happy for Spirit - who looked beyond adorable in her pink sweater. Thank you to Glenn and Nicci for opening your home and your heart to another special Yorkie!! I hope we can see photos of Spirit sunning her herself by the pool :)
Posted by: Leigh | January 13, 2007 at 04:09 PM
Thanks to all who helped this little dog survive and thrive: Denise who had courage and strength; Steve and Alayne for welcoming Spirit to the ranch; the wheelchair folks who so generously gave the chair; Glenn and Nicci who are opening their lives and hearts to Spirit; and any volunteers who helped along the way. I hope Glenn and Nicci keep the ranch posted as to how Spirit is doing in sunny Florida. XOXO to Spirit
Posted by: Roz | January 13, 2007 at 09:44 AM
Congrats Spirit on your new forever home with Nikki & Glen in the Sunshine state. Tobias & are so happy that you are going where they have experience with a yorkie with special needs. We wish the three of you all the happiness life has to offer.
Big hugs & happy trails,
ginger & Tobias
Posted by: ginger & Tobias (the greythound) | January 13, 2007 at 05:59 AM
Spirit just got the best belated Christmas gift a little paralyzed girl could get! Congratulations to the new mom and dad and thank you for being Spirit's half-way house! Yahooooooooooo! Bye Bye and many blessings Nicci, Glen, and Spirit!
Posted by: Miranda | January 13, 2007 at 04:18 AM