They say that love can heal a broken heart, and Tiki is the perfect example.
Once a shut-down pup suffering greatly in a hoarding situation, Tiki has found the strength to move on in a new home. He replaced tiny enclosures and dark corners with a spacious yard, comfy nap spots, and doggo parks.
Recently, his incredible life journey has captured the attention of the entire internet, showing how a once-fearful pup can truly blossom into a loving cuddle bug.
The recipe?
Lots of love!
From Hoarding Situation To Loving Home
Tiki’s situation was far from ideal. He was saved from a hoarding situation by a New York City shelter along with other dogs. However, living in such deplorable conditions had taken a toll on this tiny boy.
Tiki was fearful, shy, and wouldn’t even let people approach him.
That’s why, instead of being in the shelter, he was sent to a foster home with Isabel Klee, a New York foster, to decompress. Turns out, it was the best decision possible.
Day after day, Tiki, although still scared and wary of humans, felt a lot better.
Tiki’s daily video updates with Isabel soon won the hearts of the entire internet, including Tiki’s new mom, Aubrie.
This resilient pup was successfully adopted into Aubrie’s family, where his new life began. However, it still wasn’t without challenges. As it turned out, Tiki still had a long way to go, but Aubrie and the family were determined to help him thrive.
During the first week in his new home, Tiki spent most of his days hiding under the bed. He would barely eat or drink anything, and would always run away if someone attempted to approach him.
His mom decided to take things slow. She gave Tiki a lot of space and time to explore the new environment.
Then, one day, she saw Tiki take his first bite from the bowl she left near the bed. The rest, as they say, is history!
Thriving With Each New Day
It took Tiki a few weeks to feel safe in his new home. When he finally started to come out from under the bed, Aubrie used cheese snacks (Tiki’s favorite) to create little trails for him.
Just watching him walk around the house was so rewarding! And it was a big deal for Tiki.
“I was looking forward to the behaviors that you take for granted in a dog. The jumping up on a bed, going for walks, all of these things are for most dogs table stakes. They all do it no matter what. But Tiki doing it felt like such a big deal,” Aubrie told GeoBeats Animals.
Eventually, this tiny furball showed his true personality. Underneath his fear was a dog curious about everything. Tiki loved to explore things inside and outside of the home… he just needed a little push.
And, he loved cuddles! He became “glued” to his new mom, following her literally everywhere.
“I’ve just never had a dog like this who just wants to be glued to me. He follows me everywhere, I’ll catch him staring at me, looking at me. I am head over heels in love with him and I think the feeling is mutual,” says Aubrie.
Today, Tiki lives with two doggo siblings, and he couldn’t be happier.
Although he’s still learning about life, this rescue pup has come such a long way from where he began.
He runs, plays, eats, and drinks, takes cozy naps, and chooses adventures over hiding under the bed. And that, without a doubt, is a huge success!