It’s heartbreaking to think about all the dogs who have endured mistreatment instead of receiving unbridled love. Trixie, who always had love to give, was unfortunately deprived of worthy humans to share it with. Locked away in a cage, she was robbed of happiness yet held onto dreams of freedom and love. When her owners moved out, Trixie’s heart filled with hope as she anticipated being rescued by kind human souls.
Freedom At Last
Thankfully, Trixie was found and rescued. Heartland Animal Shelter in Illinois took her in. Upon their first encounter, the staff were saddened by her poor condition—she was missing fur and badly affected by her time in the cage. With a stressed demeanor and reactivity towards other dogs, it became clear that Trixie needed a loving home urgently.
During this time, David Nulud sought to surprise his girlfriend, Nikolai Therese, by adopting their first dog for her birthday. Upon browsing the shelter’s online listings, he immediately fell for Trixie. He brought her home, and an instant bond formed between her and her new mom. Both David and Nikolai were determined to make Trixie happy, showering her with love.
Trixie felt an overwhelming sense of relief as she left the confines of her kennel for the first time. “The first few days when we got her home, it felt like she just took a deep breath and decompressed. She let out a big sigh of relief, knowing she was finally somewhere safe. She was home,” David recalled in an interview.
“The first few days when we got her home it felt like she just took a deep breath and just decompressed. She just took a big sigh of relief that she was finally somewhere safe. She was home,” Nulud told GeoBeats Animals.
To establish trust, Trixie’s new family hand-fed her and treated her with kindness, aiming to help her trust them and enjoy life fully. They dedicated time to training her, focusing on alleviating her anxiety and reducing her reactivity towards other dogs.
Getting All The Love She Deserved
With their immense patience and love, Trixie slowly began to thrive, realizing she was truly free. Her beautiful smile was a sign that she was ready to start anew. Trixie craved her parents’ affection and always wanted to be beside them, cherishing every cuddle and moment of love.
Trixie’s newfound love for life showed as she relaxed in the sun and slept peacefully in her new home. Her reactivity towards other dogs significantly decreased, which brought joy to her parents as they witnessed her transform into the dog she was always meant to be.
Trixie’s Dream Life
David and Nikolai are completely charmed by Trixie and how she cares for their baby. They attribute their growth as parents to her. “Our baby’s 4 and 1/2 months old and Trixie has been amazing with him. She’s made us better human beings in a way she’s made us better parents because she’s shown us how to care for her and we consider her our daughter,” Nulud expressed.
Though Trixie has made great strides, she still has moments where loud noises can trigger her. Despite her challenging past, she remains gentle and loving towards everyone she meets, making her parents feel fortunate to have her in their lives.
“It was one of the best decisions we ever made. She wasn’t the perfect dog but she was perfect for us,” Therese stated in a Facebook post. Trixie now lives her dream life in Illinois and frequently shares updates of her daily adventures on her Instagram account, advocating for shelter dogs in need of loving homes.
