TRAVERSE CITY — Thirteen years ago on Christmas Eve, a young stray dog received a Christmas miracle when people from around Michigan and beyond came together to pay for a life-saving surgery. The story was reported by the Record Eagle in 2012. Readers may want to know what happened next: how the pup recovered, found a forever home and received a new name — Saint Nick — in honor of the day he was rescued.
On Dec. 24, 2012, Benzie County Animal Control Supervisor Jaimie Bemiss received an after-hours call about a dog with two broken front legs. The pup reminded her of her own dog, a detail that still stands out to her today.
“Oh, I remember him,” said Bemiss. “It was an after-hours call — unusual, but unfortunately more common than we’d like.”
Bemiss brought the dog to the local shelter, but with veterinary clinics closed for the holiday, there was little that could be done to ease his suffering. Another animal control officer, Ed Carter, alerted his wife, Doreen Carter, president of the Animal Welfare League of Benzie County. The couple knew they had to act.
“It was Christmas morning, and we just couldn’t see this poor dog sitting there on basic medication,” Doreen Carter said. “So we decided to take him to Bay Area Veterinary Hospital in Traverse City, where he could get the care he needed.”
At first, the outlook was grim. Shelter staff nicknamed the dog “Broken.”
“We thought he might have to be euthanized,” Carter said. But because the dog was found wearing a choke-chain collar — though it had no identifying information — the law required a seven-day waiting period for a potential owner to come forward.
“There was this little loophole that let us keep him for a bit,” Carter said. That time proved critical. The surgery would cost about $2,500, and there was no clear way to pay for it. In the meantime, the dog was placed on pain medication as staff hoped for a Christmas miracle.
Bay Area Veterinary Hospital and the Animal Welfare League of Benzie County shared the dog’s story on Facebook, prompting an outpouring of support. Donations flooded in from across the state and beyond, eventually covering the cost of the life-saving surgery, which was performed at Oakwood Veterinary Hospital.
When veterinarian Dr. Drew Henshaw began the procedure, it became clear the injuries were severe.
“The bones weren’t just broken — they were crushed,” Carter said.
The Record Eagle reported at the time that the injuries may have resulted from the dog jumping from a vehicle, being hit by a car or possible abuse. Carter recalled veterinarians speculating the injuries may have been intentional.
“Had he been hit by a car, there would have been other injuries,” she said. “It was just the two front legs.” Oakwood Veterinary Hospital was unable to comment for this story, citing difficulty locating records from the case.
The surgery, which took place over two consecutive days, was a success.
When the seven-day waiting period passed and no owner came forward, the Carters adopted the dog and gave him a new name: Saint Nick — or Nicki, as they called him.
“We looked at each other and said, ‘We can’t call this poor dog Broken,’” Carter said. “So we named him St. Nick, since he was a Christmas dog.”
Ed Carter passed away eight years ago, but his impact on countless animals lives on — with Nicki standing as one of his most memorable legacies.
While Nicki’s story drew widespread attention and support, Bemiss said many pets face far less fortunate outcomes, especially during the holidays.
“We do get more calls this time of year,” Bemiss said. “I don’t know if it’s necessarily holiday-driven, or if it’s more about people having more bills in the winter and struggling to make ends meet.”
Although animal control can take in animals, Bemiss said it shouldn’t be the first option. She encourages people to contact local shelters or rescues first.
If needed, animal control can help waive the $25 surrender fee or connect owners with resources to keep pets fed.
“There are a lot of options before you reach the breaking point of surrendering your animal,” Bemiss said, noting resources such as Hoops Pet Food Pantry. “If you’re at that point, please call us and surrender them instead of turning them loose,” she said. “The more we know about them, the more we can help — and the faster we can get them out of the kennel and into a new family.”