The Niki Effect
You may be curious as to why a retired man, standing six feet eight inches tall and weighing two hundred thirty pounds, would choose a small eleven-pound Maltese/Shih Tzu to be a therapy dog. It all started on February 28, 2019, when my wife and I decided it was time to welcome a new member into our family: possibly a French bulldog. We considered adopting a rescue dog, but ultimately opted to buy a puppy from a trusted breeder. When we arrived, a tiny pup caught our eye. She was lying on her back, tail thumping, looking up at us with pure playfulness and trust. At that moment, all thoughts of a French bulldog vanished, and just like that, she was in the car on the way to her new home. We named her Niki, and for the next few years, we had wonderful adventures taking her on trips in our RV. Sadly, my wife passed away, leaving just Niki and me. I remember how much my wife valued Niki's visits in hospice. Reflecting on this, I realized that Niki and I could spread joy to others thro...