The Courage to Tell Little Sophia’s Story
Every time my husband reminds me that I haven’t written Little Sophia’s story yet—even after four years—it stirs up a whirlwind of emotions. The truth is, I’ve avoided it because it’s painful. I wish I had the same courage, strength, tenacity, and toughness that Sophia embodied in her tiny 3lb body. She taught me more about life than I could have ever imagined, and being a Pommy Mommy has been the greatest endeavor I’ve pursued. So, I’ve decided it’s time to let it all out. Some of it will sound like a rant. You may see tears on your screen, that’s where I was crying – and of course you will find yourself laughing, because Sophia’s little grumpy face is always shining through. Here’s her story:
The Beginning of Little Sophia’s Journey with Us
Our little Sheika passed away suddenly from complications related to seizures and heart problems on March 24, 2010. I was devastated. I had never experienced the loss of a dog before. Maggie, her sister, was left all alone, and I knew she needed a companion. Two months later, I found a 5lb ball of cuteness on Petfinder.com named “Twitter” (yes, the name was ridiculous). I called the number on the post, booked a flight to Cincinnati, and drove to Kokomo, IN to pick her up. Within seconds of meeting her, I renamed her Yoki.
I flew back to Albuquerque, NM, with Yoki as Maggie’s new friend. Over the summer, Maggie and Yoki bonded and became inseparable. Then, in October, my husband saw a listing for a blind Pomeranian on Petfinder, and we planned to adopt her. However, just as we were about to leave, the rescue called to say they had decided to adopt the dog to someone local. We were disappointed but decided to hold off on adding another dog for a while.
Finding Little Sophia
I wasn’t even looking for another dog when I accidentally clicked on a bookmarked page and came across the picture of a PomChi named “Princess”. As I showed her to my husband, he immediately said, “When are you leaving?” I called the number on the post, and, as fate would have it, Princess was in Kokomo, IN—where I had picked up Yoki.
I booked another flight to Cincinnati, and my sister and I drove to meet the woman who had “Princess.” When we arrived at a gas station (yes, it was bizarre), she handed me the tiniest dog I ever saw, shaved, puffy mane, and weighed 3.8lbs. I couldn’t believe how fragile she was. When we arrived back in Albuquerque, I had already started calling her Sophia.
Sophia’s Health Issues
Once the excitement of bringing her home settled, I noticed a lot about Sophia that I hadn’t before. She had a hunched back, didn’t like being held unless in a certain way, and squirmed whenever I touched her feet. Our vet diagnosed her with luxating patellas, arthritis in her hips, and evidence of other injuries to her back, legs, and neck, which was unusual for such a small dog. She also had terrible teeth and bad breath and was malnourished at some point in her life.
We inquired about surgery for her legs but were told it would be too much for a dog her size and age. Instead, we focused on feeding her a raw diet, adding coconut oil, bone broth, and supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin. Slowly, Little Sophia began to thrive.
Moving to Las Vegas: A Fresh Start
After a few months, my husband and I decided that Albuquerque wasn’t the right fit for us. We began to consider moving to Las Vegas. One day, he got a call from a client, and after some research, we decided to explore moving there. With all the Poms in tow, we started house hunting and eventually found the perfect place.
Vegas became the place where Little Sophia could truly spread her wings. We had a big yard for her, Maggie, and Yoki to play in. The dry weather helped with her ailments, and my husband built ramps and other things to make her life easier. Everything seemed perfect until the bottom fell out.
The Vet Visit That Changed Everything
Arrow’s 1, 2, & 3 point to severe separations in her vertebrae which expose her spinal cord. Arrow 4 points to her luxating patella.
We took Sophia to a new vet for a check-up, shots, and treatment for an ear infection. After we returned home, she wasn’t herself. She was panting, circling, barking, and even falling down—nothing we had ever seen before. We rushed her to another vet, who suspected a neurological issue but couldn’t confirm without an MRI. My husband wasn’t convinced, so we had X-rays taken.
Arrow’s 1, 2, & 3 point to severe separations in her vertebrae which expose her spinal cord. Arrow 4 points to her luxating patella.
The results were devastating. Not only did she have a severe ear infection affecting her balance, but the new vet also found injuries that were likely caused by abuse. Sophia’s vertebrae, ribs, legs, and neck showed signs of trauma, most likely from being kicked repeatedly. I was horrified. The woman who had fostered her hadn’t disclosed anything about her past.
Little Sophia’s Fight for Life
Despite everything, Sophia continued to fight. We gave her ear drops, monitored her breathing, and kept her comfortable. Over the past year, her body has aged, but we’ve done everything to keep her healthy. She eats well, gets small amounts of food every six hours, and still enjoys her supplements, coconut oil, and love.
The Princess Warrior
Sophia spends most of her time either in my arms, lounging in her six beds, or walking her “catwalk.” Despite everything she’s been through, she’s a true warrior. I’m not sure how much longer we will have the privilege of her presence, but I am grateful for every moment. She has taught me so much about resilience, strength, and love.
I thank God daily for this precious gift—wrapped in 3lbs of red fur with the heart of a princess warrior.
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