New York Woman Adopts Her Foster Chihuahua, Then Discovers Just How Far His Attachment To Her Goes
When a tiny New York foster dog decided he had found his forever home, he made it clear exactly who his favorite person was, leaving her boyfriend in the dust.
A Temporary Stay Turns Permanent
When a tiny rescue dog named Niko first arrived in his foster home, no one expected him to stay forever.
But the little Chihuahua had his own plans for the future.
He quickly became what animal rescuers affectionately call a “foster failure,” cementing his permanent place in the household.
For his new mom, Arielle, the bond was so profound that she even got a tattoo of his little paw print right on her chest.
Making His Preferences Known
Niko didn’t just decide to stay; he decided exactly who he belonged to.
While Arielle’s boyfriend, Glenn, is a loving presence in the home, Niko has made his loyalties hilariously clear.
“Now Niko, he has dubbed me his mother,” Arielle explained. “And, um… I just buy food,” Glenn joked.
Whenever it’s time for a walk, Glenn can crouch down and try to coax the pup onto his lap, but Niko will simply bypass him and head straight for Arielle.
A Shadow With Paws
The tiny dog’s devotion means he follows his mom around everywhere she goes.
He is totally obsessed with her, preferring the company of women and sometimes giving a skeptical reaction to the guys.
Despite his funny little attitude toward Glenn, he gets away with quite a lot because of his undeniable charm.
For Arielle, having a constant, loyal shadow has become one of the greatest joys of her daily routine.
The Princess Pillow Routine
Niko’s royal treatment extends well past his waking hours and right into his bedtime routine.
He has his own special spot on the floor next to the couple’s bed.
They affectionately call his cozy sleeping area the “princess pillow.”
But the pillow alone isn’t quite enough to help the little dog drift off to sleep peacefully.
A Scent Of Comfort
To feel truly safe at night, Niko requires a very specific security blanket.
When he goes to sleep, he must have Arielle’s sweatshirt placed on his side of the bed.
Without her sweatshirt there to comfort him with her scent, the tiny dog simply refuses to settle down.
It’s just another sign of how deeply connected he is to the woman who gave him a second chance.
Dining Like Royalty
“I’ve always loved working with kids, but I never envisioned myself as a mom,” Arielle shared.
“And now I am a mom, and I have a child, but it’s a Chihuahua.”
This maternal instinct means Niko’s needs always come first, especially at dinnertime.
Arielle makes sure to feed him before she even takes a bite of her own food, letting him sit at the table “like a hooman.”
She admits she simply cannot be comfortable until she knows her little boy is comfortable first.
The Perfect Surprise
Recently, the family faced a small shift in their routine when Glenn had to go away for five weeks.
This meant Arielle was about to experience life as a “single mom” to her demanding little Chihuahua.
Knowing how attached the two were, a friend from The Dodo decided to drop by with a special gift to make solo parenting a little easier.
They surprised her with a doggy BabyBjörn—a wearable carrier designed to hold Niko right against her chest.
One Big Happy Pack
The moment Arielle slipped Niko into the carrier, his little face lit up with contentment.
“Oh my gosh, I have hands. This is the best day ever,” she laughed, thrilled to finally have her dog close while keeping her hands free.
The new gear made their daily outings, like walking to get coffee in the rain, an absolute breeze.
Tucked safely against his favorite person’s heart, sharing an umbrella with his pack, the former foster dog proved that sometimes, the best place to be is exactly where you are.
