Our story is just a normal every day story, nothing exceptional, just a story about a dog who was given a last chance.
     Six years ago we were mourning the loss of our lab-husky, Kody, and started a search on the Internet for local shelters and societies. That is how we found Akita Rescue Society of Florida. We had never heard of an Akita before, but saw some gorgeous dogs needing homes on that page. We inquired about one who reminded us so much of our Kody, same coloring, same curled tail. We were told that he really wasn’t good with children, and we definitely needed a dog that would like children as we had small grand children that visited.
     We forgot all about it, and we went on a short vacation. When we returned there was a message saying that there was an Akita available if we were still interested, that liked children and was used to seniors. Tiko was in the pound, and was due to be euthanized, so sight unseen, we drove to a rest stop along the Florida Turnpike to arrange transfer.
     We will never forget our first meeting! We spied a woman across the parking lot with a large black and white dog that was practically dragging her over to us. Tiko was the handsomest dog I’d ever seen, and so friendly! It was as though he just KNEW that we were going to take him to his forever home. In a sense HE picked us, though we know differently.
     He has been the joy in a very quiet life of two seniors. He has given us love and loyalty and have no doubt he would lay down his life for us. He is the most intelligent, and also the most stubborn dog we’ve ever had, and we’ve had dogs for 40 years. We have learned so much about Akitas, and learned so much from Tiko, it is just a shame we didn’t discover this amazing breed earlier in our lives.
     Being King for a Day would be nice, but we know he is OUR King!