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Cico

Mixed Breed · Male · Adult · 6 years

Cico, a small soul who has known abandonment and neglect, but is now rewriting his story. Cico was found wandering the streets alone. His condition was deplorable: his poor little body was almost hairless, his nails had grown out of control. He was an invisible dog, one that someone had tried to break. The shelter welcomed and cared for him with infinite love. Unfortunately, tests confirmed that Cico is positive for Leishmania. But Cico is a warrior! He immediately began treatment and is facing it with incredible strength. And the results are visible: every day he becomes more beautiful. His fur is growing back, his skin is healing, and his eyes are regaining the light of hope. The photos show his evolution. Cico is a small dog, about 4 kg. We don't know his exact age, but from his movements and energy, he doesn't seem like an old dog at all! He is very sweet and resilient. Leishmania is a frightening disease, but with the right treatment and regular check-ups, Cico can live a long, happy, and completely normal life, the important thing is to be aware and know this disease. Let's not let a label deny him happiness.

IT·Show original

Cico, una piccola anima che ha conosciuto l'abbandono e l'incuria, ma che oggi sta riscrivendo la sua storia. Cico è stato trovato mentre vagava da solo per strada. Le sue condizioni erano indecenti: il suo povero corpicino era quasi senza peli, le unghie erano cresciute a dismisura. Era un cane invisibile, che qualcuno aveva provato a spezzare. Il rifugio lo ha accolto e curato con amore infinito. Le analisi hanno purtroppo confermato che Cico è positivo alla Leishmania. Ma Cico è un guerriero! Ha iniziato subito le terapie e le sta affrontando con forza incredibile. E i risultati si vedono: ogni giorno diventa sempre più bello. Il suo pelo sta ricrescendo, la sua pelle guarisce e i suoi occhi stanno riacquistando la luce della speranza. In foto vede la sua evoluzione. Cico è un cane di piccola taglia, circa 4 kg. La sua età esatta non la sappiamo, ma dai suoi movimenti e dalla sua energia, non sembra affatto un cane anziano! È molto dolce e resiliente. ​La Leishmania è una malattia che spaventa, ma con le giuste cure e controlli periodici, Cico può vivere una vita lunga, felice e del tutto normale, l'importante è essere consapevoli e conoscere questa malattia. Non lasciamo che un'etichetta gli neghi la felicità.

Size
Small
Age
Adult · 6 years
Location
🇮🇹Italy
Shelter
Rifugio San Francesco
Living with Cico
  • Vaccinated
  • Neutered
Cared for by Rifugio San Francesco · ItalyLearn about Mixed Breed

Listed 4 days ago

Bringing Cico home

What you'll need for Cico in week one.

Hand-picked · prices indicative

  1. 01
    Required by most shelters

    Trixie Transport Box

    Sturdy plastic carrier — what most shelters require for pickup.

    View on Amazon
    €35–45
  2. 02
    Editor's pick

    Folding Wire Crate

    First-week safe space. Shelter dogs settle faster with a crate.

    View on Amazon
    €50–80
  3. 03
    Legal · EU

    Car Seatbelt Tether

    Legally required in most EU countries for transporting dogs.

    View on Amazon
    €8–12
  4. 04

    Adaptil Calming Spray

    Dog-specific pheromone diffuser. Worth it for the trip home.

    View on Amazon
    €18–25
  5. 05

    Orthopaedic Dog Bed

    Worth the upgrade — rescues often have joint issues from kennels.

    View on Amazon
    €30–60
  6. 06
    Safer than a collar

    Padded Y-Front Harness

    Escape-proof for spooky rescues. Safer than a collar in week one.

    View on Amazon
    €20–35

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About Cico

What life with Cico looks like

Cico is a small adult mixed breed dog waiting at Rifugio San Francesco in Italy.

An adult dog fits most household rhythms once the first couple of weeks of adjustment pass. Two reasonable walks a day plus play time is usually enough. Plan a "decompression fortnight" — quiet routine, no visitors, no off-leash adventures — to let them settle.

🇮🇹Adopting from Italy

Italian canili require adopters to sign a stewardship contract (affido) and may retain the right to verify the animal's wellbeing post-adoption. Animals are chipped and sterilized before leaving (Legge 281/91). Public canili rifugio typically waive adoption fees.

Italy, Italy browse more dogs in Italy.

Frequently asked

Adopting Cico, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Cico?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Rifugio San Francesco handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Cico on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Cico if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Rifugio San Francesco will tell you what they need (EU pet passport, rabies titer, transport coordination) and whether they handle transport themselves or refer you to a partner. Plan for an extra €100–€350 in transport costs depending on distance.
Is Cico already vetted, vaccinated, and chipped?
Most dogs on TailHarbor leave their shelter with sterilization, current vaccinations, microchip ID, and an EU pet passport included in the adoption fee. The vet status on this page reflects what the shelter has reported — ask them directly if you need details on specific vaccines, recent bloodwork, or chronic conditions.
What happens if Cico isn't the right fit?
Every reputable rescue accepts an animal back if the adoption genuinely doesn't work — that's part of the standard contract. Talk it through with Rifugio San Francesco early rather than rehoming privately; they know Cico and can place them more successfully than a second-hand listing can.
Why does the description sometimes read awkwardly?
TailHarbor translates shelter descriptions into English from the source language (IT). Translation is imperfect — names of streets, donors, and shelter-specific terms occasionally slip through unidiomatically. For the cleanest read, click the source link to see the shelter's original page.
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