One year ago, Nixon so nearly died on the streets of Thailand. But just 12 months later he is living his best life in Sweden.
When Lanta Animal Welfare rescued Nixon in March 2022, his prognosis was bleak, to say the very least.
We genuinely feared he would not survive his first night with us because the burn wounds to his head were so severe, and he had gone into septic shock.
It’s hard to imagine he has come so far in just one year.
Nixon amazed us all with his powers of recovery, and he continued to amaze us throughout his time with us.
He had been so badly treated. Someone had caused him so much harm. How could he be so friendly?
Remarkably, however, he was. He has the most wonderful, sweet nature.
And that nature was what endeared him to his new family – Frida, Olivia, Charlie and Dante.
“I had read about him on the website him before we visited the centre for a tour,” says Frida (pictured below with Nixon). “His story captured my heart and I felt like I needed to take care of him.
“We didn’t actually meet Nixon as part of the tour that day, although we met him as were leaving as he was going out for a walk. We gave him a stroke and he laid his head in my hands and at that point I knew.”
Frida still had to convince Olivia of her adoption plan, however.
“We went home and I talked about him for several days and at first she said no, but she always says no at first! She needs more time to think, I am more spontaneous.
“We had two dogs before, one who passed away and one who lives at Olivia’s dad’s house because she didn’t like children.”
Liking children would obviously be crucial to Nixon’s chances of a successful adoption, with Frida and Olivia having two young kids, Charlie and Dante.
No one need have worried.
“We met Nixon with [canine behaviorist] Ben in the office at LAW, and he was just sitting at the doorway, barely interested in us. When we were getting ready to leave and we were saying goodbye, Nixon went up to Charlie and kissed her on the cheek, and he kissed Dante on the knee. It was like he was saying, ‘OK, goodbye, you are OK’.
“Charlie is very happy and I think it’s going to be very good for her. She wants to be a vet when she grows up, so I think it will be perfect.
“I can’t understand how no one has adopted him before. I love that he looks a bit rough, he has some scars and you can see what he has been through in his life. And still he is so nice, relaxed and calm.”
To watch Nixon’s story, click below.