DANVILLE —

It might take a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village — or close to it — to get a dog from Nicaragua to the United States.

The Ferguson family persevered, however, and now Juju is just like any other much-loved American dog — feisty and spoiled.

“This dog was disrupting all of December (2010) for multiple people,” Rhonda Ferguson said.

Her husband, Mike, added, “It was no small feat.”

Getting all the paperwork in order, meeting airline requirements and driving the dog to Illinois was a headache. But, now, as Rhonda points out: “Officially, she’s a naturalized citizen. She went through immigration.”

A family friend said Juju won the lottery when she met the Americans.

The story starts with the Danville family’s love of traveling and an interest in other cultures. The Fergusons also take in foreign students who are studying at Danville Area Community College. Their two daughters have inherited that love of adventure.

Misty was the first to go to Nicaragua to teach English; she’s a former Spanish teacher at Danville High School. Then, Shea, 23, began global studies at the University of Illinois, which requires a semester studying abroad.

Shea joined her sister in Managua, Nicaragua, last July.

In September, someone found the puppy, who had been tossed in a cement drainage ditch during the rainy season. She was half-drowned and ridden with fleas and parasites.

A girl named Roxana — the true hero of this story, Shea says — nursed the puppy back to health. Roxana’s husband put Juju’s picture on the Facebook site of Fundacion Adan, an organization that is the only one of its kind in Managua.

Shea wrote, “When I saw her picture, I was absolutely in love. Who wouldn’t love a puppy whose pink ears were almost as big as her whole head.”

Shea adopted Juju when she was about 16 weeks old, and the pup began her journey to the states when she was about 6 months. She’s named after the snake in the Disney movie “The Princess and the Frog.”

Rhonda and Mike visited their daughters in Nicaragua in October. At first, they were adamant that Shea couldn’t have a dog.

“You’re not getting a dog. You’re not getting a dog,” Mike recalled saying.

And then, “Even if you do, you’re not bringing it home.”

Rhonda agreed, saying there were too many other things to spend the money on. And there are enough abandoned dogs here.

Shea said life isn’t easy in Managua — not for the people and especially not for animals. There aren’t enough resources to provide food and shelter to thousands of humans in the capital city, much less to the animals.

In the last few years, however, some people have formed small networks that rescue animals and put them in foster homes until they’re adopted.

With all the stress of living in a foreign country, Shea needed something to nurture, and her parents gave in.

Long journey

Shea came home for a visit at the beginning of December, and her sister followed at Christmas, with Juju. The dog needed her own plane ticket.

Before the trip, the sisters had to make numerous visits to a veterinarian for shots and the Ministry of Animal Protection to get the paperwork in order. They needed a special crate and a special water bottle.

They also had to fly the dog into an airport where the temperature was above 45 degrees. They flew into Miami, and then to Houston. Misty drove the dog to Memphis, where her parents met her for the drive to Illinois. (She escaped once, but returned quickly.)

Shea has since returned to Nicaragua and Misty now lives in Texas.

Rhonda and Mike have fallen in love with the exotic dog.

“For the love of a little girl (Shea) … we have learned to love her,” Rhonda said.

The dog is full of energy, however, and often goes on long runs with Sergio Bayona of Colombia, who lives with the Fergusons. One time, they ran 7 miles.

The couple takes Juju to Fetch Dog Park as often as possible so she can run off her energy and socialize with other dogs. She jumps like a deer and runs as fast as a greyhound.

Happy hound

She has a great personality, knows numerous commands — in English — and loves playing with her toys.

She lives up to her “black magic” name by being sneaky and devilish.

“I think she’s a happy dog,” Rhonda said. “She doesn’t feel threatened by anything.”

Rhonda works at Genpact and Mike is a contractor for Lowe’s, as well as maintaining the federal courthouses in Danville and Urbana. With their busy lives, they find time to give Juju a quality life — something she wouldn’t have had in Nicaragua.

They also hope her story raises awareness of the grassroots groups overseas that are trying to rescue animals from lives of misery.

Juju’s story shows, too, that dogs are alike across the world — they just want to be loved.

The Pets column runs every other Sunday. If you would like to have your pet featured, contact Mary Wicoff at 477-5161, send an e-mail to mwicoff@dancomnews.com or write to Commercial-News, 17 W. North, Danville, IL 61832.