Hi there! My name is Nika! I had a very rough start to life, living in garbage, along with my 8 puppies and some other poor furry souls. Thank goodness for rescue networking! With a lot of determination from a few kind people and a couple trips, we were all saved from the squalor and placed with Humane Tomorrow fosters with hopes that we have a new beginning. I arrived with a bad case of non-contagious mange and fleas. I was missing a lot of hair but with the right medicine, food & care, I am quickly blossoming into a black beauty. I am currently 47 lbs. of pure sweetness and expected to gain a few more as I am now getting plenty of yummy, nutritious food. I have settled in quickly to my new surroundings. I have good house manners. Ok, recently I started counter surfing to sniff out any goodies that may be left there, but that's because I'm smart with a good nose. I haven't chewed anything in the house except my toys (I like stuffed squeaker types). I'm getting the hang of fetch and even frisbee (sort of) if my foster mom could throw it the right way consistently:) I enjoy walks and my leash manners are good until I see a rabbit. I am stronger than I look and my foster mom learned to be on the lookout for critters that may catch my interest because I can get to the end of my leash fast. Squirrels, birds, ducks & geese are not all that interesting but those rascally rabbits on our evening walks are the most fascinating to me. I may do just fine with cats, but I can't say for sure. I am gentle so I think I would be good with kids. I am great in my large crate, but I am confident enough to have free reign in the house when left alone and at night. I sleep on one of my beds, although I certainly wouldn't mind sleeping on the couch or with my people if they allowed me to. I learned the dog door in no time and haven't had an accident. My least favorite thing is taking a bath. As my coat continues to heal, maybe I'll learn to love them. I love car rides and am ready to go when you are. I sit like a champ and am working on other commands. Did I mention I am smart and eager to please? I am a good dog on my way to greatness! I have heartworms because I wasn't kept on heartworm prevention. Humane Tomorrow will pay for my treatment which is very successful! Please submit your application, and an adoption counselor will contact you.