Nigel was picked up on Christmas Eve by the local shelter from a home where he was kept outside, in New York! It was below freezing and had been for quite a few days. His dog house was in shambles with no straw or bedding of any kind. His water bowl was frozen solid and he had no food - nor had he had any for days. The neighbors had been heckling him constantly. He was so thin that every bone in his body was sticking out, even the vertebrae on his tail. Once the shelter took possession they had him treated and seen by a vet, and given very badly needed medical care. The shelter director said that this was the worst case of neglect he had ever seen. He very quickly endeared himself to everyone at the shelter, and started putting on some weight. The shelter director contacted us because he felt that Nigel would heal much quicker in a home environment and our New York branch of Willing Hearts, the Smiths, took him into foster. The Smiths took Nigel into their home to live with their 3 dals (and one Greyhound) and he fit right into their family. His former lack of love and compassion didn't dampen his love of life. He loved to play with the other dogs and loved being outside in the sunshine - as much as he loved snuggling on the couch or the bed. This is from his foster mom: One particular "incident" will forever imprint Nigel in my memory (as well as our vet's!!) While playing outside one day - Nigel found one of my husbands NEW work gloves - the cloth and suede ones - that he decided would make a great toy! He grabbed it and began tossing it and chasing it and running around the yard with it in his mouth! Knowing hubby would not be pleased - I began to chase Nigel (BIG MISTAKE!) who had the glove in his mouth - begging for him to drop it! He loved this game - and it soon became apparent that I was not going to win! So - I got some biscuits - surely he would drop it for biscuits. I was wrong - instead of dropping it - he ate it! THE ENTIRE GLOVE! I could not believe my eyes - one minute it was in his mouth - the next - GULP and it was gone! NOW WHAT?!?! I called my vet immediately who questioned me again and again - was I SURE that he ate it?!? I knew what I had seen! The remedy - a loaf of bread with the crusts removed and a stick of margarine in the morning and night - theory being that it would coat the glove to help it "leave" his body - next day - no glove! Called the vet - keep up with the bread. Day two - no glove - day three - day four - day five - the vet was sure he had passed it and we hadn't seen it. We followed Nigel everywhere - we would have seen it! Day six - day seven - day eight - day nine - finally - day ten! The vet was sure it could not have sat in his belly for that long - he had even palpated his stomach and felt nothing - we had missed Nigel passing the glove. Until that afternoon - Nigel went into our little "woodsy" area - we followed and found him vomiting - and much to our disbelief - out came the glove - and four rocks!!!!! The suede part of the glove was pretty much gone but the cloth and elastic band was still intact (although semi digested!) - the rocks - well - they were apparently his attempt to digest the glove or to make himself ill. We saved the glove - (to prove to the vet that he DID eat it!) and took before and after pictures! Nigel needed a loving home - he was older and not as "adoptable" as the little puppies or younger dals. He also had to be on the special diet for his urine problems, and he had to be operated on while he was with us for a kidney stone - and it was HUGE!!! Then one day Erin called inquiring about a dal. Sadly, her dal had recently passed away and she was missing him horribly. Nigel sounded like the perfect match. We were going to visit Long Island and Erin would meet us there to meet Nigel. It was love at first sight! Erin came to a screeching stop in the road when she saw Nigel and we both broke down in tears. He loved her immediately and we knew he would be loved and spoiled rotten. Erin keeps in touch with us letting us know how Nigel is doing, and they just love him so much and cannot imagine their life without him. It is always hard to say goodbye to fosters who have shared our home and stolen our hearts - Nigel was especially hard. He had come from such horrible conditions and yet was full of love and gentleness. He will forever be special in our hearts. But he is without a doubt where he should be - and is proof that there are happy endings - and great beginnings, even for an older guy like Nigel.