Photo of forlorn dog walking in rain with stuffed toy sparks Nikki’s rescue

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A forlorn-looking German shepherd spotted walking in the rain with her favourite stuffie has been rescued from the streets of Detroit.

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According to people.com, Nikki’s journey to a forever home started in early May, when a photo of the bedraggled pooch carrying a single stuffed toy in the rain was sent to rescue organizations in the metro Detroit area. That sparked an emotional search for the pup.

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“It was gut-wrenching and heartbreaking,” Gail Montgomery, the cofounder of Almost Home Animal Rescue League, told people.com.

With help from another organization, the South Lyon Murphy Lost Animal Recovery, Nikki, who Montgomery believes was living on the streets for months after the death of her owner, was rounded up on May 3. The dog survived on scraps and the generosity of neighbours.

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“We took her to an emergency hospital, and they treated her,” Montgomery said. “Unfortunately, she’s got heartworm disease and other internal problems. They found plastic bags, twigs, and bones in her stomach.

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“She was just totally stressed out. Her body wasn’t really functioning properly because she was on the roads for so long.”

Nikki was also dealing with an ear infection and liver issues. She was put into a foster home on May 4 and, thanks to a steady diet of chicken and rice and plenty of TLC, is recovering physically and emotionally, according to Montgomery.

“She doesn’t even need her stuffy anymore. She’s constantly hugging her foster parents,” Montgomery said. “She still kind of sleeps on it, but she’s not obsessed with it like she was in Detroit when she was walking around.

“The nicer you are to her, the more affectionate and kinder she gets.”

Montgomery said the once grief-stricken dog is now “living the life” with her foster family.