When rescuers were notified about a very sick stray dog, living in a sewer drain somewhere in the outskirts of Athens they found a feral and aggressive dog who never had been around people. However, Save a Greek Stray refused to give up on him.
They caught Monty with the help of a tranquilizer and got him back to town to treat him, but that is only the beginning of his journey.
“He suffered from an old fracture in his hind leg, leishmaniasis, mange and his body was covered in ticks and fleas. He made a full recovery, but remained untamed for too long,” says Valia of The Orphan Pet.
Since arriving at the shelter Monty keeps to his kennel. He’s suspicious, feral and lonely. Everyone who has tried to rehabilitate him has failed – volunteers, trainers. Everyone, says Valia. His distrust towards people runs deep and he seems to hate everyone.
“When Alexandros, his trainer started working with him, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But he did manage to finally get Monty out of that kennel, Valia says. “Life in the shelter will not help Monty progress much more. He might get a bit better, but basically this is it for him.” That is, unless someone opens their home and is up to the challenge of helping Monty become a companion dog.
His rescuers are hoping that the impossible is possible. After all they’ve seen miracles before.
Watch Monty’s moving story below.
Pupdate on Monty:
Save a Greek Stray shared this before-after update a year after his rescue:
“It’s not the before- after of his appearance. Monty had become gorgeous months ago. It’s the before after of his soul, that finally makes us smile. No, out wolf didn’t turn into a sheep all of a sudden, but he is making huge progress. He has a new friend, he stopped hiding in his cage, he enjoys a nice walk outside and he keeps trying every day. He is trying to understand what it is that other dogs enjoy, while he still hesitates.”
“He was found a year and two months ago in a sewer, hiding for everyone and from everything. He spent endless hours in his kennel, alone and so angry, and today he is making his first steps towards a life that some others take for granted, but that is completely new to him. A huge thanks to his trainer, Alexandros Paraschis and to all of you who never stopped believing in our boy.”
And two years after he was freed from the dark tunnel, Monty past over Rainbow Bridge. He had found some peace thanks to his rescuers.
They wrote, “We could only ease your pain, give you the security of food and shelter, remove the smell and look of the dead from you, and show the whole world how beautiful you were. We all loved you very much. We spent hours in your cage talking to you, but you wouldn’t answer us. You stood at a distance, always wary, always ready to defend your right.”
“When your soul calmed down, Alexandros came and started talking to you. And you always listened to him very carefully. You trusted him and told him your pain, your suffering. We eavesdropped, hidden behind pillars, to the continuous clicks coming from your cage and jumped for joy. We were jealous that you let him touch you and take you for a walk. But we were glad that you understood, even slowly, what it is like to be loved and to love. You were a great dog Monty. When we meet again, we hope you will have forgiven us.”
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