My family told me to wait and "grieve" properly for Niki, but I just didn't see the sense in that when there were so many dogs, both from the hurricane and in general, that needed homes. It was heartbreaking going to the shelter, you just want to save them all. But Niki was a pound dog herself, so I'm thinking she'd be happy knowing some fellow orphans were enjoying her toys and the wisps of her hair that still float around the house. Funny seeing a bunch of Niki hair on the little one's nose -- a kiss from the older generation!
Thank God for sweet animals and bicycles.