Patrick takes over LiamLicks

Patrick Shea McNiff-Nikol

adopted from North Shore Animal League on Sunday May 4, 2025

born 11/16/24 in Louisiana

DNA 

shows  

52% Redbone Coonhound

42% Siberian Husky

3% Alaskan Malamute

2% American Eskimo Dog

1% German Shepherd Dog

35

 Why keep the name LiamLicks?

several IT techs advised me to keep the name

it's brand recognition they told me

highly ranked in search engines

a known brand

meaning you type a few letters it comes up; people pay for level of easiness of access I am told

also it is 

evocative of Liam 

a tribute

 

Why is he Patrick?

many ancestors named Patrick

in fact the name is rampant on my Ancestry tree

 and never Patty...he is a boy..Paddy is the male...Patty the female

so people... Happy St Patty's Day...no good 

It is Happy St Paddy's Day

oh and of course my boy toy, the Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes 

maybe that's the first reason

AND WHY

the middle name Shea?

birthday 11/16 same as grand niece 

Samantha Shea whose

middle name is for Shea Stadium

dad Adam (my nephew) a Met fan

and

add in that 

I worked the Mets and Jets at Shea  

sold hot dogs behind the counter

Patrick's hot dog toys gifted by his Godmother Joanie-my Shea coworker

who was he at the shelter?  

BILLIE

that's Liam in Irish

synchronicity?

Kismet?

Bashert?

PATRICK PERCHING

Patrick immediately made himself at home. The first night he followed Paul upstairs jumped on the bed and slept in the lovable puppy position on the back with feet in the air

kind of the yoga pose Happy Baby 

Here are some around the house Patrick positions

 

PATRICK'S POSES

and then we have the expected puppy curiosity often resulting in destruction

The NYTimes Sunday Weekend Edition

My dire-wolf Ghost's nose

Jen Psaki (library Book) 

The lamp cord multiple shreddings

Paul's dress shoe 

my left croc

one backyard mum (dug up and tossed) 

thumb of oven mitt 

my readers (glasses)

a robin 

•  

most of these fun activities could have been prevented by puppy parent awareness.  

You dont leave a book on the couch.   

The New York Times no longer should reside on the cocktail table on weekends.

Lamp cords, wires, UBS cords must be secured or sprayed with Puppy proofing product 

 stuffed animal populations have found a nook in which to hide and on the right Patrick's toys spread out and available for play

some of the already gone 

 

Puppies need sleep 

and here he is Patrick puppy up close and personal

 

Hi all

It's me Patrick

I am taking over

 

I have stories to tell already

I am an escape artist

5X

My parents have gates and shut doors and chain loops 

 

so look forward sharing everyday life around here 

 those episodes and more about my unique Ancestry

 

AROOOOO

(sound a hound makes) 

Liam Lives on in a Different Way

 

 walk with Me...It's not physical anymore

but we can do it

spiritually

Liam taught me in his death

there is another world of grief and loss and love and understanding and shared pet parent stories

and I am in it 

and totally moved by the expressions of sympathy and solidarity through the condolence gifts and cards we have received

see collages below

gifts and cards

and generous donations in Liam's name to Animal League and to Greater Good

and the hundreds of Social Media messages on Insta, FB and Twitter (X) as well texts and emails

AND

I received Liam's paw prints and Paw impression from our Vet through Pet Meadow

Unexpected...my first time...I did not know...New Year's Eve 12/31/24 

Liam came back

I was 

VERKLEMPT

I created a thank You collage

my thank you collage to Garden City Vet whose staff and Doctor Buscemi

signed personal notes see top left

 oh and the house

the mess at the end

Home Hospice is a commitment and a gift and a full out cleaning job

rugs and floor and couch

Liam had bleeding lipomas and half the time could not make it outside to do his business

we will rip up the rug, get new furniture and have the floors cleaned: all of it doable 

 the furniture is very old

thank you Liam for propelling us to get rid of this stuff that Stanley Steemer refused to clean

 

the last night and day and minute of Liam's life

Liam had a bleeding lipoma on his face

 

people shared their coping mechanisms and what they did to memorialize

special tribute walls

garden stones and flowers

tabletops with ashes and photos

I liked these ideas

I made a

 Liam tribute nook and populated it with Liam themed memorabilia 

 

I like touching his collar

I took it off his neck immediately before his death and was surprised to see a bald neck ring

of course no hair grew there 

wow

never knew 

I put my fingers in his paw print  and smile at his inked paw prints

"Liam, you got inked!"

 

I gaze on the shells, rocks, pothos plant in a gifted vase

all collected and meaningful items

 some of you will recognize your contributions  

thank you

I talk to Liam

yep

I do 

My first born

My  first dog

Liam

who made me a 

MOM

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woof, woof