The Story of Nutmeg and Nora, Rescue Pups

Ann Silverthorn

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January 30th, 2026

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January 30th, 2026

Nutmeg & Nora as pups. (photo credit upon request)

In September of 2011, my husband and I welcomed a pair of Cairn terrier rescues, named Nutmeg and Nora, into our home. We knew little of their background, except their owner had died, they had been in a kennel for two months, and they were no longer house-trained. It seemed like this would be a good experience to share, and after several posts, a few people who knew the pups contacted me.

Nutmeg and Nora’s story is one of heartbreak, but also of hope, because after multiple acts of compassion, these dogs made it into our arms.

Their story begins in Kansas, daughters of sire “Sable’s Little Boy” aka “Bear.” Their names were originally Nutmeg and Olivia, and they were adopted by a couple in Ohio, who changed Olivia’s name to Nora.

Just two years later, on an 80-degree day, the wife collapsed in the garage, and the dogs spent four hours by her side until her husband came home. Then, as soon as the ambulance pulled away, they were sent to a kennel. After the wife died a week later, the husband decided that the dogs should be put down. A note in the veterinarian’s record states, “We will not euthanize healthy young dogs.”

Upon hearing that the dogs might be euthanized, a friend helped the husband place Nutmeg and Nora with a rescue organization. So, after two months at a boarding facility, Nutmeg and Nora became available for adoption, at the very same time I was searching Petfinder.com for two Cairn terriers. It was meant to be, don’t you think?

When we brought Nutmeg and Nora home, as you’ll see in the posts below, things did not go smoothly. Not only weren’t they house trained, they needed to learn to trust us. Many times over the next year, I wondered if we were capable of dealing with their issues, and several times, I considered sending them away. But each time I thought, “If we give up on them, what will be their fate?”

We had Nora until 2017, when she died of Cushing’s disease after a two-year period of various meds, lab tests, and even going blind. Then, in 2022, Nutmeg passed away after seeming perfectly healthy until suddenly developing bone cancer.

The same week that Nutmeg passed away, Blanco, the black cat who belonged to our daughter, but who had been living with us for a couple of years (and had lived with us previously from the time he was a kitten) passed away.

Then, in March of 2024, my late parents’ cat, Molly, who had lived in our basement for five years, finally came upstairs and started cuddling with me. When it became apparent she was sick, the vet told me she had finally come up because she needed comforting. We got plenty of cuddles in over the next few months and as I held her in my arms sobbing on the day she went to the Rainbow bridge, she looked at me as if to say thank you.

All of these memories came back as I re-added the many blog posts to my new website. I was just telling my husband this morning how much of a challenge they were and how I feel like after 11 years of special-needs dogs, I don’t ever have to feel guilty about not doing more for animals. We did our part. He just looked at me.

We’re retired now and over the past 20 years, we have said goodbye to four dogs, two cats, and one goldfish, which wasn’t mine, but for whom I cried as his death was my fault due to ignorance. I can’t say goodbye to another pet.

Anyhow, as I added the blog posts you’ll see listed below, I remembered how many good times we had with Nutmeg and Nora and also how many trials we faced. My posts express great love for these animals, and I guess over the past several years, I’ve put up a shield against the pain of the loss. I’m glad this experience made me realize what a truly rich and rewarding time we had with our pups. It’s been more than a bit emotional today. . .