09/27/2026
🔴 Mike could REALLY use our help.... 🔴
Mike came into the Tehama County Animal Care Center wearing a collar that had become embedded in his skin. When his owner removed it, shelter staff discovered how badly it had grown into him, and Mike had to be taken to the vet for treatment.
I don't know what Mike's life was like before he came to the shelter. I wasn't there... but I heard he was painfully shy when he came in.
One of the amazing shelter volunteers, Sylvana, started taking him out during her lunch breaks. She does this for so many of the dogs there, giving them a little time outside of their kennels and reminding them that there is a world beyond those walls.
Then she texted me and asked if I would come meet Mike.
She was worried about him.
The shelter is incredibly full, and Mike is a black mixed-breed dog. He's not fluffy. He's not a tiny designer puppy. He's not the kind of dog who automatically catches someone's eye when they walk through a shelter.
He is being overlooked.
So I took Mike out.... (By the way, I started calling him "Michael." I found the formality of it hilarious. It reminds of Jackie from -That 70s Show 🤣)
First, I had to lift him into my truck because he hasn't learned "load up" yet. He sat quietly, looking a little nervous, almost like he was thinking, "Okay... where are we going? What is this?"
We went to McDonald's and got a burger. We sat at the picnic table by the boat ramp in the river park and shared it.
And I'm not going to lie...
Mike saw that burger sitting on the table and made a quick little attempt to sneak it.
But I can't blame the guy. ❤️🤣
From there we went down to the water. Mike took a few sips, and then we headed out onto the trail and into the woods.
And something changed.
Little by little, that nervousness started to melt away.
By the end of our walk, Mike was walking confidently ahead of me. Not pulling. Not dragging me.
Just walking.
Like maybe, for the first time in a while, he was starting to believe that wherever we were going was going to be okay.
And then there is his smile.
And his eyes...
Mike has this incredible sparkle in his eyes that is hard to explain. It's almost like when someone looks at you and you can just feel the love in their eyes.
A little glimmer of this beautiful soul that has so much love left to give.
I really see him turning into a silly happy boy in the better part of a day with someone ❤️
Mike is at Tehama County Animal Care Center.
He's been good with other dogs.
He showed zero interest in cats. Just ignored them.
If you can't adopt him, please share this post. You never know who might see it and realize that Mike is exactly the dog they've been looking for.
The shelter is open 7 days a week.
1830 Walnut St, Red Bluff, CA 96080
530-527-3439
