While driving, Natasa spotted an abandoned bin bag on the side of the road, and a gut feeling told her to stop. Inside, she found five puppies, trapped and unable to breathe properly, waiting for someone to rescue them.
"Someone put them in this bag and threw it on the side of the road," says Natasa Voulgaropoulou from Hopeland Dog Sanctuary (USA), in a video published for The Dodo. "They could have died."
A last-minute rescue
If the bag had been discovered a few hours later, the puppies might not have survived. Thanks to Natasa's quick thinking, they were taken into care and transported to the shelter. There, a small safe space was set up for them to rest and feel protected.
During five days of quarantine, Natasa watched their personalities emerge. Four puppies were very shy and spent most of their time hiding behind their basket. Only Loui seemed comfortable from the moment he arrived, setting an example for the others to learn to feel safe.
Growing confidence
"In the following days, I stayed close to them, giving them time to trust me and feel secure," explains Natasa. Soon, the four other puppies followed Loui's lead. Today, all five are enjoying the affection of the shelter's team and volunteers.
Hopeland is a sanctuary: the puppies can stay as long as they need. But Natasa's dearest hope is that they'll soon find their forever families and finally know a stable, loving home.
