My Name Was Tiki — And I Had The Best Sister In The World

My life started out a little sideways.

I got passed around when I was young — different hands, different places, never quite knowing where I belonged. Then one day I ended up with a friend of Nicolette's. That friend made a call. Nicolette talked it over with Berney. And just like that — they drove all the way up from San Diego to San Jose just to come get me.

When I met them I knew. I just knew. These were my people.

San Diego was overwhelming at first. New smells. New sounds. Everything was different and I was only about six months old. I was lonely when they went to work. I tried going with them but the world was just too big and too loud for me back then. So I barked. A lot.

Then one day Berney came home with this enormous dog.

She scared me half to death. So I did what any self-respecting Chihuahua would do — I put on my biggest, baddest face and let her know who was in charge around here.

She swatted me.

Then she laughed.

And that was it. That was our moment. She wasn't a threat — she was a sister. If she wanted to hurt me she could have. But she didn't. She chose me instead.

Her name was Sheba.

We moved around together — San Diego, the desert, Phoenix, Northern California. Sheba and I were inseparable. She was bigger but I was faster. I would hide under furniture she couldn't fit under just to frustrate her. She would chase me until she dropped. I always had more energy. Always.

One night in the desert a coyote had me cornered.

I thought that was it for me. But before that coyote could do anything — Sheba came out of nowhere. She knocked that coyote clean off its feet and chased it out of the area. Then she came back — not to show off, just to check on me.

That's who she was.

I was only three months younger than her. But she was always my big sister.

Then they brought home Lilly — a puppy who just fit right in. The three of us were a pack. We got new kittens too. And Mama B — a cat who didn't play much but had a personality that commanded respect. I liked her. She was nice.

Then one day Sheba told us she wasn't feeling right.

The tests came back. Cancer. Fast moving. It didn't take long before she didn't want to play anymore. We just stayed close — Sheba, Lilly and me. Together until the day she left us.

My big sister was gone.

I wouldn't be here without her. That coyote would have ended my story long before it was supposed to end. She gave me years I wouldn't have had. Years of love, of play, of family.

Then one morning I woke up and something felt wrong inside me too.

Berney and Nicolette took me to the doctor. Kidney problems. They got medicine. I felt better for a while. But then one day — suddenly — I could feel my body saying goodbye.

I laid down in Nicolette's lap.

And I let go.

I had a wonderful life. A forever family. More love than most animals ever get to feel.

Now I need you to help the ones who haven't found their family yet.

Go to our donation page. Look at all the ways you can support us — some of them are completely free. If you shop on Amazon use our link on the Shop to Support page. You'll be taking from the rich and giving to the innocent.

What a beautiful thing to do.

— Tiki 🐾