Fear has a way of gripping us, preventing us from seizing opportunities. It can make us hesitate and hold back from what we truly want to do. Such was the case for a dog named Waffles, who arrived at a shelter in Wildomar, California, overwhelmed by fear.
Waffles, a deeply frightened rescue dog, found hope through Rocky Kanaka—an experienced animal advocate with a unique ability to connect with anxious dogs. Despite Waffles’ initial signs of distress, Rocky believed he could reach out to her through an unconventional method—singing.
Upon entering the room where Waffles stayed, Rocky sensed her anxiety. She was clearly struggling, having come from a traumatic situation into an unfamiliar environment at the shelter. Understanding that Waffles needed to make the first move, Rocky patiently waited for her to become more comfortable.
Waffles’ anxiety was evident when she refused to eat a treat placed nearby, further indicating her significant stress. Her rescuers discovered she had been left alone in an empty, rundown home, barely surviving on scarce scraps, which shattered her trust in humans.
Rocky decided to try an unusual approach to earn her trust: offering a bowl of strong-smelling cat food, which few dogs can resist. This trick caught Waffles’ attention, and she finally tried the food, relishing the taste.
To help her relax even more, Rocky began to sing “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow” from the musical Annie. Initially indifferent, Waffles started showing signs of interest as Rocky continued. Slowly, she moved closer, and by the time the song progressed to the hopeful line “Tomorrow, tomorrow, I’ll love ya tomorrow, you’re only a day away,” Waffles rested her head on Rocky’s lap, feeling secure for perhaps the first time in years.
“We might never know if it was Rocky’s singing talent or Waffles’ taste in music,” reflected Rocky, “but we do know Waffles is now willing to embrace a hopeful future.”
“You’re a good girl, Waffles. You’re safe now, and everything is going to be okay,” Rocky reassured her, promising safety and care moving forward. After she allowed Rocky to take her for a health check, it was revealed that Waffles, a senior Labrador Retriever registered with the shelter, was once known as Shiro Cuma—a name meaning ‘white bear’ in Japanese. The mystery of her abandonment remains, but the good news came in her healthy status according to the shelter staff at Animal Friends of the Valley.
Days later, Rocky revisited Waffles, and it was clear her previous owner had not claimed her. Therefore, Waffles will soon be available for adoption as she grows more comfortable around humans and other animals. Her journey to becoming a trusting and happy dog is ongoing, but the transformation from a fearful canine to a fan of musical tunes is promising.
To you, dear Waffles—may your new forever home find you soon. As you continue to heal and trust, remember that brighter days are always just around the corner, just like the song says, “The sun’ll come out tomorrow, so ya gotta hang on ’til tomorrow come what may.”
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