When we first entered Melpo’s space to examine her carefully and take a blood sample, we had a hard time! And the reason we struggled was that the moment she saw us, she rolled onto her back, asking for a gentle touch, a bit of contact. You see, she had just arrived from the municipal shelter of Krestena, and all we had managed to notice at first was a calm and subdued dog, patiently enduring whatever was happening to her.
We stroked her belly, counted on her thin body the marks left by neglect and starvation, took her blood, and moved on to the next dog. And she stayed behind, watching us with a sad and puzzled look, as if she were thinking: “What will happen now?”
What followed in the next period was simple: she ate well, rested, relaxed, and received the veterinary care she needed. That’s what Melpo needed, at least in the beginning. But it was enough to change something inside her. The sadness in her eyes from those first days turned into a bright, confident look, full of curiosity and interest in everything and everyone.
Now our Melpo wears her harness, goes on walks with our volunteers, men and women of all ages, meets the other dogs at the shelter and greets them without any issues. She enjoys human contact, she loves sitting beside the person who walks her and simply taking it all in, and she likes observing everything around her. The sadness in her eyes will never return, because we’ve promised her that a family will be found, one that will open their home to her, and Melpo will stay there forever.
