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Loading...Dog Dumped at Train Depot Waits in Bitter Cold: A Christmas Eve Rescue
Last night I received an urgent plea about a black and tan dog who was dumped by his owner at a train station in Sofia, Bulgaira. (photo below) A witness saw the car pull up, the door open and then the care drove away leaving the confused and worried dog behind.
“He has waited for 3 days now for his owner to return,” explained our Bulgarian rescue squad leader Candy Sasse. “He refuses to move from the spot, despite being attacked by another dog. He stays just in case his owner returns. With no street skills, Joseph’s future is bleak and he won’t survive long. Today it has started to snow and is bitterly cold here now. Joseph is lost in a place where he has never been before, frightened and lonely. What do we do? Our rescue funds are empty, and without funds, we can do nothing. All our foster homes are full to overflowing.”
“What do you need to get him out of there?”
I asked Candy exactly what she needed to get Joseph off the street and she explained, “We need to raise a month’s kennelling at 5 Euros per day to give us the time to get him ready for travel to a new life in Europe in mid January and an additional 125 Euros to cover all his preparation costs to allow him to go. We simply don’t have it.”
And with that, I had just three simple words for Candy. ”Go get him.”
Though Joseph is a four hour drive from the headquarters of our Bulgarian teammates at Colonel Angels Bulgarian Street Dogs, there was no shortage of volunteers to immediately set out to save him. But on arrival, getting Joseph to leave the train station proved challenging.
He Wanted to Stay and Wait for His Family
“When I approached him I first gave him a bag with dog treats,” explains volunteer Nina Tchouparova. “It was no problem putting the leash round his neck. He is, however, difficult to walk on a leash. He walks you instead of the other way around and the only direction he wanted to go was back to the train stop to wait for his family who will, sadly, never return.”
In the end, Nina was forced to call a taxi, and much to her surprise, Joseph jumped right in the car.
“He hoped into the back seat and contently laid down,” Nina continued. ” The cab driver didn’t even realize Joseph had just been picked up off the street. He had definitely traveled in a car before and when we got out of the cab, he walked right into the veterinary clinic.”
Safe at Last & Making New Friends
Today Joseph is in a kennel next to another rescued dog named Buba who welcomed Joseph as though they’d been best friends for years. The video below shows Joseph arriving at the veterinary clinic’s kennel area.
Our gift to Joseph this Christmas is not only his rescue from the train station, but to find him the kind of family who would lay down their lives for him. This dog is incredibly loyal and he deserves to be on the receiving end of boundless devotion.
Truth be told, the rescue of Joseph comes at a time when the Harmony Fund has just exhausted it’s bank account for the year, but we put Joseph’s expenses on credit with the knowledge that donations will begin to come in again once the holiday festivities are over with. For today all that matters is that this dog is safe and now we begin the very tender work of healing his heart.
You can see more photos of our other rescued dogs in Bulgaria here.
Related Stories:
Nevada Airport Worker Saved a Dog, But Lost Her Job
Autistic Girl’s Service Dog Stolen, Found Dead in Yard
Drenched Dog Running to Car After Car, Begging For Someone to Let Him In
Read more: bugaria, dog train station, harmony-fund
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Now that's cute
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474 comments
+ add your ownJoseph is darling, and this story cut at my heart strings. HOW can people abandon a member of the family??!! There is nothing more loyal than a dog to his family. Have thought to give to Harmony Fund in the past, and now I have. Consider a small amount monthly, as this helps the organization plan for the year. I especially like giving to an organization like this, world-based, helping in countries where animals are not revered as they are in the U.S.
awww...he is so cute, that is so sad...how can someone abandon something so beautiful and loyal?
Yep, they sure are- I am trying to find a place to rent that takes pets and I found this 90 yr old farm house on 1 1/2 lots with a fence, and barely any grass- but an insulated (sort of--its falling out of the ceing-probably leaks) shed ( or once degtached garage) and enclosed wrap porches., Do you know they wont let me have a couple of cats much less take in any foster shelter dogs (older , not pups!) because--they refinished the floors in three downstairs rooms! i GUESS i'LL KEEP LOOKING! PEOPLE REALLY CAN SUCK!
rotten stinking humans who would do that to a dog.
How can someone do that? Im glad Joseph is with people who trully care for him and is on his way to finding his family, because the poeple he was with were clearly not his family. Thank you for helping him out even though you didnt have the funds. It makes me soo happy to see their are good people out there willing to help out Animals. This story started off with a know in my throught and ended with a smile on my face. God bless Beautifull Jospeh, and of corse you!
Gotsie.
I don't know how in the world someone could dump a loving dog. I'm so glad he was helped and hope he finds the home he deserves.
Please keep us updated on Joseph. Prayers that his forever home has already stepped up so Joseph can finally know the meaning of love and compassion.
Another heart wrenching story.. Bulgaria is one bad country for stray animals... Too many people do this around the world and they know that a stray pet (cats and fogs) end up being murdered in shelters...
Some people are so stupid and mean! I hope he'll find a family soon !
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