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Nemo (Shaldra Mikater Elam)

Nemo was adopted from a breeder in Maryland when he was 18 months old. His tale (as it was related to us) is a real sob story. He was bounced from home to home at least 5 times before we met him. As a puppy one of his owners came home to find his wife and all the furniture gone, and a Dear John letter on Nemo's crate. Another family moved and left him with a neighbor. He lived for a short while with a model who was a student at VCU in Richmond,VA. Apparently he posed with her for a painting that now hangs in downtown Richmond. His last home before us really cared for him, but it didn't work out. We're grateful that they cared for him while they had him, and saved him from going to a shelter.

It took a few weeks for Nemo to settle in and realize we weren't leaving him. We changed his name to Nemo since he didn't respond to any of his other myriad names including Bud, Red Bud, Data, and Kelsey. He spent a lot of time sitting at a safe distance staring at us, as if trying to figure out who the heck we were. We learned quickly that he hates being crated, as he would shake violently and drool to the point where it soaked the carpet. He was so insecure he would panic if we tried to roll him on his back or pick him up.

Today Nemo is an extremely well-adjusted well behaved member of our family. He's extremely quiet and laid back. He's gone through some changes in his advanced age, he developed hypothyroidism and a Grade IV-V heart murmur. The cardiologist diagnosed him with moderate mitral valve disease.

April 2009 - Nemo loses his Quasimodo hump click here

Nov 30, 2007 - Nemo's One Vice

Oct 2007 - Nemo and Zoey travelled to Dewey Beach, Delaware for Greyhounds Reach the Beach. Click here for photos.

Aug 31, 2007 - Nemo celebrated his 12th birthday! He's still doing well and enjoyed his cake and trip to the Izaak Walton preserve.

Sept 30, 2005 - I noticed Nemo's right pupil was red and on closer inspection it was actually filled with blood. He saw Dr. Bromberg, an opthamologist, who dialated his eyes and did an ultrasound and found a tumor in his iris. It doubled in size in a week and was starting to distort his pupil so Nemo had to have his eye removed.

Dec 23, 2004 - Kill Me (or How the Dogs Ate Nicorette) the story of how the dogs ended up vomiting for the Holidays, and Nemo ended up in the ER with his throat ripped open. (adult language)

October 31, 2002 - Nemo dressed up for Halloween and helped give out candy! Check out the pictures here.

June 17, 2002 - Nemo was attacked by a German Shepherd outside of Starbucks. He required a trip to the emergency vet for sutures and a drain and we had to take the owner to small claims court to recover the vet bills. Full Story

Latest news:

Aug 18, 2010:
Nemo is still hanging in there, although he's been having bouts of confusion and disorientation. His 15th birthday is in 2 weeks.

Apr 30, 2009:
Nemo had yet another surgery, click here for details.

Mar 15, 2007:
The path report came back clean - Nemo has been declared cancer free!

Mar 6, 2007:
Nemo had surgery to take wider margins on a mast cell tumor on his nose.

Feb 6, 2007:
Nemo had surgery to remove a mass from his rump.


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