When the Takis Animal Shelter got a call about a dog sitting in freezing cold water on the beach, unable to move, they jumped in their cars and raced to the scene. With constantly changing tides, it was an extremely dangerous situation for the pup to be in. The rescuers knew they had to get there quick.
When they arrived, what they discovered was so sad — the dog was paralyzed from the hips down.
While he could push himself around a little with his front paws still, the dog was too weak to escape the wet sand and get to shore.
As they got up closer, the rescuers also noticed something else peculiar.
The dog had a giant lump on the right side of his face.
It was obvious the pup had been through something extremely traumatic.
He was so scared and nervous. When rescuers approached he instinctively barked and got a little aggressive. We don’t blame him. After all, the pup had no idea if the rescuers were there to help him or make his situation worse.
Eventually, however, they were able to calm him down enough to get him out of the ice cold ocean. Yet, the animal was still understandably extremely defensive.
The rescuers stayed up with him all night trying to gain his trust.
They gave the dog antibiotics and medicine to help with the unimaginable pain he must have been in. The rescuers were also very careful not to move the pup unless absolutely necessary in order to prevent further injury to his spine.
The next day, when the veterinarians finally got a chance to examine the dog, what they found out was heartbreaking.
The lump on his face was not, in fact, from abuse, but was actually a bad form of cancer. The vets said it was terminal. X-rays also showed that he had a broken spine and it was likely he would never be able to use his back legs ever again.
However, Takis Shelter was determined to work with the dog and give him a chance at life anyway.
They named him Black, and from that point on, they did their best to make his final days on Earth as beautiful as possible. Black soon became the coolest dog in town, cruising around the property with an awesome wheel cart made by rescuer Vassilis Tzigouras.
The doggie wheelchair cart made Black so happy!
He was able to run around again just like all the other dogs.
While the rescuers still have no idea who dumped the dog at the beach or how he ended up with the broken spine, they made it their duty to be there for him. Black had no one else and without Takis Shelter, he would have been a total goner! They saved the pup from a horrific death drowning or dying of hypothermia from sitting in the freezing water.
Although some naysayers in the community said Black’s life wasn’t worth saving, Vassilis and Takis Shelter simply just didn’t agree.
“Black’s remaining days will be filled with love and care,” the video description reads. “Because this man (Vassilis) believes that all life is sacred & precious, and euthanasia should be the last option.”
We are sure Black is pretty glad no one euthanized him either.
In the video, he looks like he is really enjoying himself running around playing with the other dogs. It makes us so happy that Black will be able to spend his final days in peace, merrily enjoying everything life has to offer while he still can.
Our thanks go out to Takis Shelter for sharing with us this beautiful story.
Watch the whole incredible video of Black’s rescue and recovery below.
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