Kindness in Action: A Homeless Dog’s Resilience Sparks a Wave of Helping Hands and Compassionate Hearts.TS
“Stray Dog on the Beach Reveals Unexpected Treasure
Valia Orfanidou often encountered stray animals on the streets of Athens, Greece. With a heart for those in need, she would rescue the sick, hungry, or injured among them.
In August 2017, she spotted a stray dog on the beach. At first glance, nothing seemed particularly wrong or distressing about the dog. However, something about him touched her heart, prompting her to take action.
The dog lay on its back, allowing Orfanidou to massage its belly. Although he had no one in the world to care for him, he still had a lot of love to share. Orfanidou said, ‘She was desperate for attention.’
Observing the puppy for a few days, Orfanidou noticed that it was a female. She would play alone in the sand and chase after cars and people passing by. Her yearning for attention was evident. Orfanidou couldn’t ignore it and decided to find a way to rescue her from the beach.
Unable to stand by any longer, Orfanidou placed her in her car one day. Along the way, she decided to name her Blue, a reference to the water that had accompanied her during her early months. Although Blue found someone to save her, she needed a permanent home.
At that moment, a family in the Netherlands had recently lost one of their puppies. The Folkerts family fell in love with Blue, and with the help of the Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS), the adoption became possible.
Orfanidou had several conversations with the Folkerts to ensure that Blue would be a good fit for their family, which included another dog and several cats. A week later, with the assistance of the Animal Association International (AAI), Blue was on her way to the Netherlands.
From the very beginning, everything went well. Karin Folkerts shared, ‘Rincewind, who was with us, quickly fell in love with her. She was very welcome, and she and Rincewind became the closest of friends.’
Blue went on to become a therapy dog and began visiting a nursing home, bringing joy to the residents who lit up when they saw her.”
