The Magical Tale of Tiny Tim

Tiny Tim has been waiting for a home for almost a year.  This little guy was dropped off in a carrier with all his belongings a few days before Christmas 2019.

Tiny Tim is a dog with special needs -- he was born with bad knees and  has difficulty walking sometimes. 

Despite his challenges, he's had a wonderful year filled with love and cuddles from his amazing foster family! And, like magic, when the clock struck 12 on Christmas Eve one  year later, his wish was finally granted. He found his FOREVER HOME!  ​ 

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​The story below was shared by Cheryl Ives, MHC Adoption Center Staff member,  Tiny Tim's former Foster Mom and new Forever Family 

Tiny Tim has made a perfect addition to our family and pack of “littles”.  As a rescuer, I am drawn to the underdog and that is why I was drawn to Tim with his bad knees and his constant pain.

However, the timing wasn’t exactly the best to take on another dog. You see, I wasn’t in my own home and we had just lost our big dog, Trixie, who died of old age during the days of COVID.

I initially fought bringing him home because of this. It was actually my husband who kept asking about Tiny Tim and saying "just bring him home".

Timmy was very stressed in the kennel environment and he was biting some of the staff members. It really did take him a good three months to feel totally safe in our home. He’s really settled in now and even plays with the other dogs.

Tim is a really fun, playful dog and we really enjoy his little antics. He loves to chase a ball and now he uses his legs more and doesn’t have to be carried out for breaks. He really has brought joy to us in these trying times. I would encourage anyone to take home a special needs animal as it can be very fulfilling. It certainly has been for us!

 

Follow up Questions..

How did Tiny Tim end up in your care?
I have been fostering him some during COVID because the Adoption Center was so stressful for him and he became a biter with some of the staff.  I am sure some have followed his story and wondered whatever happened to him. I lost one of my dogs during COVID (due to old age) and that's when we decided to foster him.  He chose us and we think he is fitting in with our small pack of dogs.

Poster Pooch for MHC!

How did you pick Tiny Tim?  And what made you decide to adopt him?
Sometimes they just pick you!! We did not intend to keep Tiny Tim, but after no one stepped up that really would care for him the way we knew we could, we decided to put a deadline of December 24 on him and my husband and I agreed that he would have a forever family with us if no one adopted him. 

Why December 24?
I planned to adopt Tiny Tim on Christmas Eve this year because that was his drop off date in 2019 and we had not found anyone that was a good fit for him that is really committed to his care. 

What advice/tips would you give people who are thinking about adopting a special needs dog or cat? 
Really, I would just say not to shy away from the special needs animals. They can adapt and compensate for any deficits. I used to have a blind cat and she made a wonderful pet. Her sense of smell was so keen and you wouldn’t really know she was blind. All they really need is a routine and a lot of love. 
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Here's a glimpse of Tiny Tim's life in his new home

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Midland Humane Coalition is honored to be a recipient of the  PetSmart Charities Adoption Preparation Grant for 2021.

With the help of this grant, we are able to prepare rescues for their new homes!  

Thank you, PetSmart Charities!

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