Valia Orfanidou, who was traveling with her dog through a historic region about 100 kilometers from Athens, would take evening walks by the sea. During one of these strolls, a stray dog, wagging its tail, came up to her. Valia explained that the stray had spotted them from afar and, in its desperate search for companionship, joined their group in an attempt to fit in.
The skilled rescuer known as The Vagrant Pet recently shared the song “I Froze” on YouTube. Living in Greece, where it’s common to see homeless dogs roaming the streets, one might become accustomed to the sight and feel compelled to protect those who are most vulnerable: the weak, underweight, injured, young, and pregnant dogs.
According to Valia, Greece likely has millions of lost dogs, and with the prevailing attitudes towards animal welfare, many more are expected to appear in the future. Valia dedicates her time to various shelters and rescue organizations across Greece. Being in the outdoors while on vacation can be challenging; you might find yourself either intentionally ignoring the plight of these animals or ending up bringing home twelve rescued dogs.
Valia referred to the dog as Blue, and despite not being mad, she was a bit unsettled. At just around 7 months old and still somewhat clumsy, Blue didn’t seem to need much in terms of structure. Yet, there was something about the dog’s friendly demeanor that reached out to Valia. She could feel the dog’s inner restlessness, a deep yearning for a family where she could belong and a sense of order from her humans.
Valia noted, “For half the year, she would chase after people and race after any car she spotted on the beach, wagging her tail and pleading for attention.”
For two days, Valia struggled to sleep as she devised a plan to rescue Blue from the beach. She decided to change her approach to save Lan, not realizing that her choice would lead to an unexpected outcome: the gentle wanderer would soon be on his way to becoming a therapy dog in Holland!
Reflecting on their first encounter at the beach, Valia contemplates, “Maybe she wasn’t just seeking help; perhaps she was offering it to those who didn’t realize the fortune they were continuously missing.”
