“He’s smart and determined to be with people!”
Tiki, a 9-year-old senior dog with a knack for escape artistry, has proven that nothing can stand between him and his love for human companionship. Found as a stray near Ann Arbor, Michigan, on July 4th, Tiki’s journey began when rescuers took him to the Humane Society of Huron Valley after being unable to locate his owner through his microchip.
From the start, Tiki made it clear he was a people-loving pup. According to Wendy Welch, the shelter’s director of marketing and communications, Tiki arrived with a wagging tail and a big heart for affection. However, his desire to be around people led to some unexpected antics. Due to overcrowding, Tiki was placed in a crate in an administrative office instead of a kennel. This arrangement didn’t sit well with him.
Tiki’s first escape was impressive: he broke out of his crate, opened the office door, roamed the shelter, and eventually walked out the front doors, where he greeted a veterinarian arriving early in the morning. Initially, staff assumed his crate hadn’t been properly secured, but Tiki soon proved them wrong by repeating his escapades. Not only did he escape his crate again, but he also navigated locked office doors and the shelter’s hallways to find the front doors. Security footage revealed Tiki’s impressive feat, including his intuitive use of the automated doors to make his grand exit.
After his adventures, Tiki found temporary solace at the nearby Matthaei Botanical Gardens, where staff recognized him and returned him safely. Welch remarked on his intelligence and determination to be with people, saying, “He’s smart and determined to be with people!”
Tiki’s charm soon earned him a home, but his separation anxiety proved too challenging for his first adopters. Thankfully, his story didn’t end there. Tiki later found a second chance with a new family, and this time it seems to be his perfect match.
“A few months later, [he was] adopted again, and it looks like it’s a forever love,” the Humane Society of Huron Valley shared in an update.
Tiki’s tale is a testament to his resilience and unwavering desire for connection, and his second adoption marks the happy ending he truly deserves.