Well, that last bit wasn’t exactly doctor’s orders, but Nicole swears by it. Each week, as a way to deal with the stresses of fighting cancer, she volunteered with Adopt-a-Dog in Armonk, New York. It was at Adopt-a-Dog that Nicole met her first pit bull, and she fell head over heels in love.

Pit bulls are illegal back in Nicole’s neck of the woods, so she hadn’t had the opportunity to meet one until her time with Adopt-a-Dog. Nicole met a charmer named Grace and couldn’t believe how friendly she was. Grace is a gigantic lap dog with enough affection to bowl over anybody who comes within kissing distance. As Nicole worked with Grace, she grew to know and love pitties. So it should come as no surprise that another pit bull caught her attention.

During a physical therapy session in New York City, Nicole saw a Best Friends magazine. Pictured on the cover was one of the dogs rescued from former football star Michael Vick’s dog-fighting ring. Intrigued, she picked up the magazine and began to read. That was her first experience with Best Friends, but not her last.

Nicole went home from physical therapy that day and visited the Best Friends website. After reading all about Best Friends, she decided to come out for a visit once her treatment was over. That day finally arrived and Nicole came to the sanctuary for three weeks to volunteer.

She walked dogs, visited potbellied pigs and worked with horses. She played with cats, and learned about parrots and rabbits. And she spent time with a pit bull named Nicole (destiny, surely). In short, she tried to cram as much as she could into the three weeks.

While at the sanctuary, Nicole heard about Give the Gift, so she decided to give Best Friends memberships to her friends in places as far away as England, Italy and Switzerland. Many of her animal-loving friends have never heard of Best Friends – but Nicole says she aims to change that. “Finding Best Friends was the one good thing to come from my cancer treatment,” she says.

Her treatment over at last, Nicole is planning the next grand adventure in her life. Wherever she ends up, however, she plans to come back to visit Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. And when she does, all the animals – not just the pit bulls – will be thrilled to see her.

Photo by Sarah Ause

As part of Best Friends’ 25th anniversary in 2009, our goal is to double our membership, so we can double our efforts to bring about a time when all companion animals have a forever home. What can you do to help? Give the Gift of a Best Friends membership to family and friends.