Sunday Success: Nuka
Nuka’s journey to his forever home was anything but ordinary. Our amazing volunteer director, Ali, wasn't really looking for another canine companion when Alina sent a photo of Nuka from the Uricani kill shelter. Ali, known for her soft spot for husky-type dogs, fell head over heels for him at first sight.
Nuka spent time living with Alina in Romania while getting ready for his big move and preparing for travel. Once he arrived in the UK, he was welcomed with open paws by Ali’s family and his new doggy siblings, but It hasn’t always been smooth sailing; Nuka’s transition into home life has been filled with challenges.
Ali affectionately refers to him as her “big idiot,” but despite the ups and downs, she and her family never wavered in their commitment. Here’s what Ali had to say about life with Nuka:
"Nuka is a dog that could have been surrendered - and believe me, we considered it on more than one occasion. He’s the most chilled husky (mix) that you will meet, though one of his most endearing qualities is when he does his dinner-time bouncing - all four feet off the floor, rather like a pogo stick. When he arrived, it was clear he and our other, smaller, male dog were not happy together. Some poor management from us did result in a few fights between them over food. It was really important to separate them for a few days after that to let them both decompress, together with careful management around food which will likely always be the way - but that’s easy to do with routines in place.
We also discovered he guards food and items from people - most recently a pad of post-it notes…. But for all his silliness, his behaviours come from a place of fear, something that became very clear the day he visibly cowered at an unexpected move from me, and which broke my heart as he has clearly gone through a lot. He is getting much better with his food guarding as he’s learned that no-one will take it away and, again, it’s as much about setting him up for success by not leaving food lying around in the first place.
Nuka has been with us for almost a year and a half now, and he’s come so far. He’s a very sweet and funny boy. He likes to be constantly close to his people, to chase his tail, is very well-behaved on walks, and everybody loves him. Nuka Bazooka, Nooks, Idiot…if there’s food involved he answers to them all! "
Nuka’s story is a testament to the power of patience, perseverance, and unconditional love. Ali and her family’s dedication to helping Nuka find his place in their hearts is truly inspiring. Nuka’s success is a shining example of their dedication.