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Two Puppies Wander Off but Only One Comes Home

| Published on January 24, 2020

In the small New England community of Phillipston, MA, the Gelman family runs an auto business called Grace Quality Used Cars. The people who live in Phillipston love to visit the showroom at Grace Quality because there are always some very friendly faces there to greet them. If customers are nice, they may even get a nuzzle or a wet kiss by these furry greeters.

The Gelman family breeds long-haired German Shepherds. Adult male Clyde can always be found close by the business owner’s side and some of his puppies make regular appearances, too. It brings smiles to everyones faces and makes Grace Auto a welcoming place to be. One year old Nika and four month old Honey were at the dealership but went missing earlier this week. The community rallied to help them come home but unfortunately, only Honey made it back. 

Image Avalon Shepherds Facebook

Nika and Honey Slipped Out the Open Showroom Door

Nika and Honey were at the business having a fun day playing and greeting customers. There must have been a lull in the action because their curious minds lead them to wander off the job. It took a little while but Nika and Honey’s absence was noticed and the dealership sprung into action. The dealership is located on a state road that gets a fair amount of traffic, which runs parallel to a main street that sees constantly heavy truck flow. The main concern with the missing pups was the risk of them being struck by a passing car.

Gelman Family Turned to Social Media for Help

Steven got the word out that two of his beloved pups had wandered off from the dealership, leveraging social media and the notoriety of the pups themselves. People began sharing and the search was underway. Everyone offered words of support and encouragement, promising to do their part to bring both of the puppies home safely.

Image Grace Quality Facebook

Honey Was Picked Up by a Police Officer

Within hours, Steven Gelman received a call that brought tremendous relief to him and the entire staff. The smaller puppy, Honey, had been picked up by a patrolling state police officer and was safe at the Athol Fire Department. With half of the lost pair found, hope was renewed that Nika would also have a happy ending. Unfortunately, it did not turn out that way.

Nika Was Struck by a Passing Car and Did Not Make It

The search for Nika continued for two days. Nika’s body was found near the busy road that runs parallel to the dealership. As Steven Gleman had feared, a car struck Nika’s body and she did not make it. The entire staff and present customers were heartbroken upon hearing the news. There was a silence that filled the air and it hung heavy with sadness. He shared the news via Facebook, saying,

“It is with a very heavy heart and through tears, I need to share that this morning we found Nika on Rt 2 behind our building. She was hit by the vehicle. It was no ones fault, she was just young and curious.”

Image Grace Quality Facebook

Gelman Thanks the Community with Free Oil Changes

Steven extended his deep appreciation to the community for coming together and trying to make this a good ending for both Nika and Honey. As heartbroken as he was, he felt filled with gratitude for being a part of such a special community. In honor of Nika and as a token of his appreciation, he invited all members of the Phillipston community to come in for a free oil change for the entire following business week.

Rest in peace sweet Nika. We are so sorry that you crossed the rainbow bridge so soon. Our condolences go out to the Gelman family for their loss.

Featured Image Avalon Shepherds Facebook

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