Woman rescues dog with broken spine while on vacation

Pets have a funny way of finding their way into our hearts when we least expect it. Kiara Ijzendoorn was on vacation in Crete, Greece, when she spotted an injured dog while driving down the street with her family. Ijzendoorn was immediately drawn to the pup and knew she had to help.

“His leg was totally paralyzed. He had a big bump on his back that was his broken spine,” Ijzendoorn told The Dodo. “We stopped the car so he could crawl out of the way, but he looked like a heap.”

The dog did not appear to have an owner and was instead living alone in a nearby barn. Even though she was on vacation, Ijzendoorn could not bear to leave her new furry friend alone, returning to the barn to visit with him and feed him during her stay.

Ijzendoorn then decided that it was time for the dog to find his forever home. She took him to a local rescue organization, where he was treated for his injuries, and she officially adopted him as her own:

Ijzendoorn named her new pet Fos, which means “shining” in Greek. Fos now lives with his new family in Holland and, indeed, his future looks a whole lot brighter. Watch Fos’ incredible journey through photos in the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWDuPyETEvs

Although Fos is still recovering from his injuries, he’s made some major improvements. “He walks better now and his bump isn’t as big,” Ijzendoorn said. “He is scared of older men and some cats.”

We’re so glad Fos found a happy home! However, many more dogs in Greece are not so lucky. The country suffers from a high prevalence of stray dogs, and thousands of pups are in need of care. To find out how you can help, check out some local charities that are working on the problem, including Friends of the Strays of Greece and Hectors House Crete.