When you go to Greece, you expect to experience the culture, see ancient ruins, and visit some islands. What you may not expect to see are stray dogs (as someone who has spent time there, I can tell you that you will see them). In the spring of 2015, a woman saw just that — and it was likely unexpected. Traveling outside of Athens, the woman noticed a stray dog with a face that appeared to be completely hardened, as if it had turned to stone. She snapped a picture and shared it on Facebook.
The 5-year-old mixed breed, now named Petra (which means ‘stone’ in Greek), was rescued by Save a Greek Stray, a shelter in Oropos, The Dodo reports. The rescue was difficult, as Petra was afraid of people. Treatment proved to be just as difficult, for the same reason. She had mange, leishamiasis, ehrlichia, and more.
Valia Orfanidou, who has assisted in the rehabilitation of other dogs, aimed to help Petra, too.
“I think she’s always been a stray because she looked like she had never been around people,” Orfanidou told The Dodo. “Even dogs in that condition, if they’ve been around people are more friendly. Petra looked like she had never been touched… The problem is she still didn’t trust anybody. She never wanted to leave her cage; she would hide every time she was approached and growl at the other dogs at the shelter.”
Slowly, Petra’s trust began to build. She became a completely different dog. Instead of hiding in her cage, she now goes out and plays with people and other dogs.
While her transformation is amazing, she still needs a forever home. If you wish to adopt her, and live in Greece, email Valia Orfanidou for more information.
