Two years ago, on the busy streets of Brooklyn, a tiny Yorkshire terrier was seen digging through garbage bins, searching for scraps of food. This heartbreaking routine was his daily reality — his owner rarely let him inside. So, the little Yorkie wandered the streets, weighed down by clumps of matted fur, just trying to survive.
A neighbor watched this sad scene play out for months. Every day, they saw the same small, scruffy dog dodging traffic, scavenging for anything edible. Finally, they couldn’t bear it anymore — they called AMA Animal Rescue (AMA) for help.
“He was snappy,” recalled Mariya Vlasova, AMA’s director of veterinary care. “Whenever anyone tried to approach him, he’d growl, run away, or try to bite. He was terrified.”
Rescuers visited the area several times, using pieces of hot dog and calm voices to earn his trust. Slowly, the frightened Yorkie began to let his guard down. Eventually, they were able to catch him safely — and they named him Mickey.
Their first stop was the vet clinic. What they found broke their hearts.
“He was extremely matted,” Vlasova said. “His fur hadn’t been groomed in years. He had an eye infection, and the fur around his eyes was matted with discharge — he literally couldn’t see.”
It was clear Mickey had spent nearly all of his 13 years outside, neglected and alone. AMA convinced his owner to surrender him so Mickey could finally get the care he deserved.
Mickey had to be sedated so vets could shave off the painful mats and treat his infections. When he woke up, he was still feisty — but now, he could see again. And for the first time in his life, he was surrounded by people who truly cared.
For a full year, Mickey lived at the AMA shelter, slowly learning what it meant to trust humans. Day by day, his walls came down. The once-fearful little dog began wagging his tail and seeking affection.
After many months, AMA found the perfect foster — someone patient and gentle enough to help Mickey heal completely.
“With his current foster, he’s a different dog,” Vlasova said. “She can wash him, hold him, even touch his face. All he needed was time and kindness.”
Now 15 years old, Mickey spends his days cuddled on soft blankets, surrounded by other small dogs. And there’s one thing he especially loves — looking at himself in the mirror.
“We always joke that since he couldn’t see for so long, now he’s making up for lost time,” Vlasova laughed. “He just loves admiring himself.”
Mickey is now ready to find his forever home. But AMA wants anyone interested to understand that love with Mickey takes patience.
“If you are gentle and kind, he’ll mirror that right back,” Vlasova said. “Once he trusts you, he’s the sweetest little soul you’ll ever meet.”