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I'd had a very traumatic life experience to heal from, and after cocooning myself in a secluded cabin in the woods for two years, I was finally ready to adventure out into the world a bit. Having always had pets growing up, I was anxious to find a dog to adopt.

My current living situation clearly stated "no pets", but after a year of begging the landlord to change the policy, he finally let me adopt a "small" dog. My daughter-in-law has allergies, so I wanted to find something that she could tolerate when the family visited. I had researched breeds that would fit the bill and jumped on PetFinder.com to start looking.

I knew it when I saw the picture of this adorable Cairn Terrier, Mini Schnauzer mix with the giant ears and inquisitive eyes that I had to have this one, and I filled out the application to adopt her. I was the first in a line of 15 requesting Nakita, the 5 month old cutie who had already lived in five places in her young life. My son drove me and the grandkids two hours to pick her up (I wanted to make sure she liked kids and men).

That was more than three years ago. In that time, her stubbornness, cat-like independence (gotta love terriers) and love of people and critters (unless you're a mouse) have challenged me to step outside my protective bubble and explore the world again.

I've since adopted a shy, skittish male cat named Quincy, who's now come out of his shell; Addie, another lovely little lady dog in need; and this summer welcomed an abandoned momma cat, Jumelle, and her kitten, Solo. I also adopted another kitten, Kitty Carson, from a litter I was fostering, all while caring for my father and his older diabetic Schipperke, Niki. We're one big happy family!

I was so wounded before getting Nakita that I don't think I'd be where I am today, whole and loving life again, if it hadn't been for her. Thank you, Nakita!

Story submitted by Marjorie Triplett from Salem, Oregon.

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!