Turkey has been renamed Tiki … and has a new home.

Stephanie Goglin, ninth-grade counselor at Liberty Middle School, read about the dog’s plight in the Madison Record. “I lost my beloved Weimaraner, Yoda, in August. My life hasn’t been the same since,” Goglin said.

“When I ready the article about Tiki, it just spoke to me. My heart went out to that puppy. She was all I could think about all day,” Goglin said. With encouragement from a co-worker, Goglin gave in and called the vet on Jan. 23.

“Everyone at Madison Veterinary Hospital has been so wonderful. They’re so attached to Tiki,” Goglin said.

Dr. Lauren N. Smith treated Tiki for life-threatening wounds from its mother. Collaborating with a veterinary surgeon in Sacramento, Calif., Smith performed a skin flap and graft. Hospital owner Dr. Patrick Gorman covered costs for Turkey’s treatment.

When Goglin took Tiki home, most of the staff cried. The vets asked Goglin to continue bringing Tiki to Madison Veterinary Hospital, offering discounted services as encouragement. Tiki doesn’t require any special care, isn’t on medication and won’t require future surgery.

Goglin isn’t leery about owning an animal with past trauma. “Tiki’s the sweetest puppy. I was concerned she’d be nervous around strangers and maybe snappy, but she actually seems almost shy and so very grateful,” Goglin said.

Tiki loves her bed but wants to sleep with Goglin. The puppy has eaten all her new toys and a coaster off the coffee table — even chewed the coffee table’s corner. She knows her name, can sit and shake and indicates when she needs to go outside.

Goglin believes adopting and rescuing animals is the best path to pet ownership. “I honestly cannot recall ever doing anything that made me feel any better inside,” she said.

Goglin realizes how close Tiki came to not having this chance – “my not having this chance.”

“Tiki has made herself right at home. We’re going to be so good together,” Goglin said.