BOULDER, Colo. -- A 3-year-old Fox Terrier named Nemo has had a rough couple of months and his journey to Colorado has had about as many twists and turns as the animated character he's been named after.

Nemo was staying in a Kentucky shelter when it experienced a flood.

A Fox Terrier rescue group learned of the situation and reached out to a Boulder County woman who happened to be looking for a new Fox Terrier rescue dog.

Diane Jackson said she typically takes on older dogs and Nemo would be, by far, the youngest on her property. But she said she agreed anyway.

Weeks went by, though, and Jackson said the shelter was slow to release Nemo and then he was transferred to Kansas where he was relying on several volunteers to care for him.

Jackson said she finally decided to go up there and get him.

"I just thought one more week, probably eight more hands. I said, 'No, we're done. I am going to go get him,'" said Johnson.

Johnson said she was shocked to see how sick the dog was though. Johnson said he was emaciated and had trouble breathing. She said she rushed him back to Colorado to see a veterinarian but the journey was slowed by Nemo's bladder infection, which required stops every 20 minutes.

When she brought him to Boulder's Alpen Glow Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Matt Booth said Nemo was in bad shape.

"He was malnourished and had severe bronchial pneumonia which can be fatal at times," said Booth.

Nemo will finally go to his new home late Wednesday night. Johnson said she calls it a "magical kingdom" where dogs can enjoy four acres of fenced in property and a sanctuary that she hoped peace would find Nemo.