By: Catherine Thomas

Takafumi Nishimura always knew he would do anything for his dog’s well being. But he never thought he would be called upon to travel more than 10,000 miles just to see his beloved pup one more time.

The story of Tiki and Taka

Most puppies cry when they are initially separated from their mother and littermates; for Tiki however, this was not the case. At just eight weeks old, the tiny black Lab did the choosing and walked right into the arms of his new dad, Taka.

“My college name was Tiki-Taka,” said Nishimura, who at the time was a sophomore at the University of Denver. “I didn’t really like nickname so I gave it to my dog.”

According to Nishimura, Tiki grew up like a true Colorado wolf --- going up mountains, swimming in lakes and playing in the wilderness regardless of the season. No matter the occasion, Taka said the two were inseparable. But this was until three years ago, when Nishimura was offered a position as general manager at an up and coming restaurant in the heart of South Florida.

Nishimura had worked hard at earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management and a Master of Science in Hospitality Management from the University of Denver. The call from the Por Fin restaurant in Coral Gables was a fantastic opportunity for the young graduate.

“In the process of opening the restaurant, I had to leave my dog a lot with friends,” said Nishimura. “Then I started realizing that the restaurant business was going to take a lot of time and it was best to send Tiki to stay with my family.”

Taka was forced to send the 11-year-old Lab to live in Chiba, Japan with his parents, Tomio and Miwako. There, Taka knew he would have plenty of space to roam and lots of companionship from his family.

A sad day

Unfortunately, about one month ago, Nishimura was contacted by his mother with both shocking and regrettable news. Tiki had become ill.

According to his Miwako, Tiki had suddenly developed a high fever and refused to eat. His family, acting quickly, immediately took the dog to a pet hospital, where he was hospitalized for almost three days.

“Veterinarians are pretty simple over there. They tell you your dog is old and is not going to make it, so you never really know when he’s going to go,” said Nishimura.

Uncertainty and concern overwhelmed the Nishimura family, as Tiki was known to have a clean bill of health since birth. With the diagnosis believed to be simply old age, the family was told to keep Tiki comfortable and to enjoy these last days or months with his company.

“My mom called me in desperation after she heard that and said, ‘Hey, Taka your dog is not doing very well I think you should come and take a look,’” explained Nishimura.

That was all it took, and he was on the next flight home to Chiba, Japan. A flight from Florida to Japan can costs upwards of $1,000.

“It’s not the most pleasant think to watch; he was always so vibrant and energetic,” Nishimura said. “Two months ago he was running fine, and next thing you know, he can’t even get up. He could barely drink water so they had to feed him ice cubes and you could see it was hard for his back legs to function.”

Despite his deteriorating health, Tiki, Nishimura’s first and only dog, was still able to recognize his best friend when he arrived. However, pressed for time and unable to extend his visit, Nishimura had to return to Miami.

“I think I spent the same amount of time on the plane as I did in Japan,” said Nishimura. “I’d say about 36 hours in total.”

Tiki was not well enough to fly back to Miami, but as Nishimura explained, perhaps it’s for the best. Though he wishes he could be with Tiki in his last days, with his busy schedule managing the Por Fin Restaurant and Lounge he knew he would be unable to provide Tiki with sufficient attention.

“He loves to be around people and my family loves him,” Nishimura smiled. “They spoil him like he’s a person.”

Looking back

Happiness and warm memories radiated from the pages of an old photo album Nishimura flipped through with countless photographs of Tiki, a shiny, black being rolling around in the snow, cuddling on the sofa and watching the sunset along a beautiful skyline.

With a supporting family that spans across oceans, Tiki has been surrounded with love since the day he went home with Nishimura. We hope same love will continue to embrace him every day, until his last day.