His fur was so long he couldn’t even see.
Two years ago, a tiny Yorkshire terrier dug through some garbage in Brooklyn to find food. This was his routine because his owner rarely allowed him inside. So, the Yorkie shuffled about, bogged down by clumps of matted fur, in search of a meal.
A concerned neighbor watched the Yorkie’s routine for months, horrified as the small dog dodged traffic. They finally called AMA Animal Rescue (AMA) for help.
“He was snappy,” Mariya Vlasova, a board member and director of veterinary care at AMA, told The Dodo. “When somebody tried to approach him, he would run away, growl and try to bite.”
After several visits to the area, during which AMA staff used delicious hot dogs and a gentle approach to earn his trust, they were finally able to grab the Yorkie, later named Mickey. Their first stop was the vet’s office.
“He was extremely matted,” Vlasova said. “Yorkies … have to be groomed often, but he didn’t seem like he had been groomed in years. He had an eye infection, and the fur had grown over his eyes, matted with discharge, so we realized he couldn’t even see.”
Mickey’s condition made it clear to staff that he’d spent most of his 13 years outside and alone. AMA staff urged his owner to surrender Mickey, which they eventually agreed to do.
Mickey was sedated while the vet examined and groomed him. Though he woke up as feisty as ever, Mickey was no longer buried in mats of fur. His eyesight was clearer — and he had a team of people eager to show him the love he’d never received.
For a full year, Mickey lived in the AMA shelter, learning how to trust. It took patience and time, but eventually he softened. Instead of fearing the world and everyone in it, Mickey began to enjoy himself.
After a long search, a foster willing to devote the extra care necessary to socializing Mickey arrived at the shelter. He’s been with the same person for nearly a year.
“With his current foster … he has completely changed,” Vlasova said. “He allows her to do anything … wash him, pick him up, even touch his face. All he needed was time and patience to feel safe.”
At 15 years old, Mickey now sleeps on a soft bed every night, enjoys the company of other small dogs and can’t stop looking at himself in the mirror.
“We always joke that since he couldn’t see for so long, because the fur was growing over his eyes, now he can’t get enough of his own reflection,” Vlasova said.
While Mickey is up for adoption, AMA staff want anyone interested to understand that this sweet boy will need plenty of time to get to know his new family.
“If you are soft, gentle and kind, he will respond the same way,” Vlasova said. “Once he knows he can trust you, though, he is an absolute sweetheart.”