Lena was found wandering around a dump, her chest full of milk but with no puppies to feed. A heartbreaking image that sums up the deep-rooted problems in the country when it comes to stray animals, and the lack of proper control and implementation of welfare programs.
She seemed to have spent her entire life as a stray, yet when she saw us approaching, she didn’t run away. She looked at us, gently wagged her tail with a hesitant kind of joy, came closer, and lay down at our feet. As if she had surrendered, as if she were saying, “Thank goodness you came—I can’t go on anymore.” So, we took her to the shelter.
Every time she sees us, she does the same thing: she comes up to us and lies on her back, showing both a need for connection and a sense of submission. She had probably never worn a harness in her life. As soon as we put it on her, she froze completely, trying to process this entirely new sensation. She didn’t know how to walk on a leash. She didn’t understand what was happening, but with a look of confusion, she tried to figure out how she was supposed to respond. We didn’t push her. This dog has been through a lot, so we decided to give her all the time she needs. We sat next to her on the fresh grass, stroked her belly, and promised her a new life—a life where she wouldn’t have to struggle to survive among garbage, a life where she wouldn’t wander with her chest full of milk, searching for the lost puppies she can no longer feed.
Lena will soon understand. She will stand on her feet and begin to enjoy her life. We are sure that somewhere out there, her person is waiting for her—the one she will look at with her big, expressive eyes and soften their heart, just as she did ours the very first day we saw her.
