Some doggos just need that little extra love!
Unlike the majority of family dogs who have spent their entire lives in their comfortable home, surrounded by the people who love them, there are many canines dealing with trust issues.
Take Gabriel (a.k.a., Icky) for example!
Before he even made it to a rescue, this tiny little doggo was used exclusively as a breeding male. Skittish, and scared of hoomans and loud noises, Icky needed some time to learn that people are not bad.
But, things weren’t that easy for this black-and-cream boi!
Icky Had A Turbulent Past
Icky was surrendered to Spark of Love Animal Rescue, in Woodhaven, Michigan, as an extremely anxious dog. From the moment they took him in, the staff knew he would need some time to adapt to human presence, and that he’d definitely need an extra-loving foster!
According to Kari Nulph, the SLAR president, Icky was very skittish and had a hard time relaxing around anyone, so they decided to assign him an experienced family who would patiently guide him through tough times.
Little by little, he was getting there, turning into a real sweetie and a real quirk around his foster pawrents! Once he got entirely comfortable in his temporary home, Icky became popular for the silly boi he truly is!
He enjoys playing with other dogs and cats, and he just showers his people with so much love.
“He is silly and special with his play and love. He gets the zoomies when he plays with other dogs, he is good with cats but does like to chase sometimes, and bonds close to his person once he trusts you,” the SLAR team wrote.
Slipped Away After The Firework Trauma
Once they made sure Icky was ready for a permanent home, the SLAR team was more than happy to link Icky with a family who wanted to give a trial adoption a try. Sadly, only a week into having Icky in their home, the family lost him!
They took him to a Fourth of July firework show at Sterling State Park, in Monroe, Michigan, and it turned out to be a terrible idea! For Icky, fireworks triggered a major trauma and he immediately ran away.
Nulph, Icky’s foster mom, and a group of rescuers, including Kim and Rick Canales, local dog trappers, immediately started looking for Icky. They even put flyers all over the place, but after almost a week of searching, they feared the worst.
A Miracle At The End Of The 6-Day Search
Even though they feared that Icky would never show up again, they continued the search for the sixth day – when a miracle happened!
Nulph and the crew were scoping the area and watching for him through binoculars, and then, out of nowhere – a familiar face showed up at the top of a walking path!
They were so relieved and happy to see Icky alive and healthy after so many days in the wilderness. He was standing there in fear, not being sure whether or not to approach his rescuers.
They began to call out familiar words, hoping that Icky would recognize them. And, little by little – this poor doggo remembered! After he recognized his saviors, he immediately rushed into his foster mom’s lap and started cuddling with her!
“He got close enough to be sure it was us and finally crawled into my lap. He is so happy to be home, back with us,” the SLAR wrote on their Facebook.
Everyone was so thrilled to finally have Icky with them, and this little guy sure knew how to appreciate their effort!
Icky Learns How To Trust Again
After his missing incident, Icky got back to being a nervous, anxious doggo, but he’s slowly recovering around his foster mom. The important thing is that he is finally safe and at a home filled with love and understanding.
He now enjoys his time with familiar faces, but there’s no doubt that when the time comes – he’ll be the ideal candidate for adoption again!
“He is looking for that forever home that will love him and continue to work with him,” the SLAR team wrote.
After all, he’s Icky – the tiny, loving goofball who only needs a little push and some love to reveal his amazing identity!