The Dogs Who Loved Me Series~Kiva

Kiva’s Story

Kiva’s Internet Picture

Just a youngster herself Viva came to the shelter emaciated and had an infection which caused her to lose all her hair. She was attacked by a large dog and she is now on the mend and is looking for her forever home. She will be a lovely gray color when her hair grows back. She is a cuddle bunny and is happy to meet new people.

That was my internet introduction to Viva. Because of my newly diagnosed illness, Fibromyalgia, I was looking for a small dog to train as a therapy dog, and my Hubby had suggested maybe a Chihuahua mix.  I searched the internet and found this dog named Viva who I would later rename Kiva for the Ancient Native American round ceremonial rooms called Kiva’s in the ruins of places like Mesa Verde.

All I saw in the whole ad was “Happy to meet new people.” All Hubby saw was sick, sick, sick. I e-mailed an inquiry about her explaining that I was in search of a dog to train as a Therapy Dog.  I wondered if Kiva would be want to fill that position.  Right away I got a response that Kiva would not only be perfect for the position, but she would LOVE it.  Jennifer from Ruff Riders Rescue explained that although Kiva was not in good shape when they rescued her she was eating, playing and snuggling like the youngster she was. She also said that Kiva had two babies that had to be taken away from her because she was too weak to nurse and was lactating when they sprung her she still needed to be spayed.  This would be done after she finished this heat.

Kiva on the Mend

On Monday February 14^th I got an email that Kiva was going in to be spayed. On Tuesday I had to go in for pre-op for some minor female surgery to be done on Wednesday. That night I got an e-mail from Jennifer:

 Thank God we took her in yesterday. I assumed that she had been in heat all this time when really she had pyometra….infected uterus…. If we had waited any longer it would have ruptured and she would not be with us today. I feel horrible for her and for not knowing she was sick!  She was playful and eating so there were no signs except the bleeding.  I saw her last night and she was woozy. They are keeping her on IV fluids and antibiotics.  Poor little angel. Thank God she is OK. I’ll give her a smooch for you.

Was it a sign that both Kiva and I were both having female problems?

Kiva March 2005

Through the next week I kept in close touch with Jennifer as she gave me daily updates on Kiva’s health.  Before I inquired about her Kiva had been attacked by a large dog and was also healing from the encounter with ten stitches in her chest. She was first and foremost a survivor and she was getting better by the day.  Running around like the young dog she was.

I learned a whole lot about Jennifer and her rescue work.  One day while particularly frustrated about her rescue job she wrote,

 Rescue is so layered in that there is the actual rescue, medical and emotional healing process, the financial and organizational work, the screening and placement process, adoptions, outreach, etc…but there is also the education and example setting that we are attempting to accomplish.  Unfortunately we have not had the time or resources to get into the educational realm yet and really, until people value animals, nothing will change.  We are putting a band-aid on a hemorrhaging wound and we know it.  It’s sad but true…but important none the less.  It means the world to one dog like Kiva, so we keep going.  Please know that if not for loving hearts like yours none of this would be possible.  As much as we love them, we can’t keep them all and they need to go to their forever homes.  You’ve made that possible, and your love for Kiva inspires me to continue. (Humm, another sign?)

Here was my response:

 Jennifer, First of all let me say that the first dog I ever rescued in 1981 was from the Baldwin Park shelter (another sign? Jennifer works out of the BP Shelter that is where Trouble came from). I had that dog for 19 years, she helped me through some really bad times and if not for her I do not think I would be here today. Which guides me on my quest to have and train dogs to be therapy dogs so other to benefit from the unconditional love they provide. Part of our programs include going to Schools to do demonstrations on humane education. That is another reason that Kiva strikes my fancy. If she makes it through Therapy training for her to have her tragic story told would probably make a big impact on at least some of the children’s minds. Also I hope this helps take a little of the burden off your mind. We do promote education, and if Kiva makes it, she will be a big promoter for you!”

On February 19, 2005, during one of the worst rain storms in history of the California desert, Doug and I waded our way to Pasadena to meet Kiva. The first time I saw her she was being held by one of the volunteers, wrapped in a blanket.  She had a tiny t-shirt on.  I cried as I took her in my arms and held her. She was scared and shaking but I knew that even though she might never make it as a registered therapy dog she would be MY THERAPY DOG!

Kiva Finally looking Healthy

The poor little angel had no hair on her ears and top of her tail.  Her body had just a stubble of hair, like when you don‘t shave for a day.  I have never felt a dog as skinny as she was, couldn’t have been more than three pounds on a five pound dog.  As I hugged her close to me she put her head up and kissed the tears off my cheek.  In that moment we bonded so tight that none of our health ailments mattered.  For that moment in time, I was not thinking about my pain.  My focus was on this little angel sent me to take care of.  This was my new mission to do my best to rehabilitate this earth angel. I carried her around for a whole month (maybe longer) until she put some meat on her tiny bones.

I have had Kiva seven years now and most of her hair did not grow back. She is very smart and has learned to sit, shake, down, crawl, over, sit up, come, puts her nose to a book when asked to “Look,” clap, play patty cake and wave.  She is a wonderful cuddle bunny and loves to stay close to her Mommy.  Unfortunately she does have her problems and with positive reinforcement we have overcome a lot of obstacles and achieved things that I thought we would not be able to do.  Although it took four years to retrain her Kiva had tested and passed her Therapy Dog test and was a Registered Therapy Dog with Therapy Dogs, Inc.  We were also a Reading Education Assistant Dog (READ) Team. We worked from 2006 until I retired her this year. She is getting a little grumpy in her old age and that is a call I had to make. But during her career she made a great reading partner and would even clap when the kids were done with their books.

Look at her waving!

Kiva and I did promote human education in schools, local business meetings and the local Juvenile Detention Center. When I was able to tell her story and show her “before” and “after” picture it really made an impact on a lot of kids. Even some of the hardened juveniles in the detention center softened and were gentle with her.  It bought a tear to my eye more than once.

One day a new girl was in our detention center class. She had been crying and withdrawn from the class. I took Kiva and set her in this young girls lap while I told Kiva’s story. By the end of class the girl was smiling and they were the best of buddies.

I know that everything happens for a reason and I know that Our Creator gave me Kiva when I needed her most.  My health is really beginning was fail and this little girl has given ME the therapy I need to keep going.  Each day I wake up to her sweet kisses and I know I need to get out of bed and tend to this little angel that has been entrusted to me, and nothing will stop me from taking the best care of her I can. One of the biggest things I learned from her and Tyler (our feral dog rescue) was patience. It took a lot when working with an abused dog. It takes patience, perseverance and really good treats.

© 2012 notsofancynancy

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