When Valia Orfanidou saw a six-month-old stray dog walking along the beach in a small village in Greece, she knew that she had to rescue her. Valia could tell that there was something special about this dog, but she could have never predicted that the sweet pup would become the perfect therapy dog.
Valia often rescues and fosters stray dogs, but because there are so many strays in Greece, she can usually only take in sick or pregnant animals that will not make it on the street. The dog she found on the beach was healthy, but Valia noticed that she was desperate for human companionship. Valia knew she had to find the perfect owners for her.
Two days after Valia first saw the dog, she went back and rescued her. The dog, who Valia named Blue, was completely calm as she rode in Valia’s car. She never even made a sound as Valia drove her to Athens. Valia had a friend foster Blue until she moved back to Athens, and Blue quickly adjusted to life with her new foster family.
Valia soon took Blue to her house, and she began looking for the right forever home for this special dog. With the help of Second Chance Animal Rescue Society, she quickly found a family in the Netherlands who were the perfect fit for Blue. So Valia took Blue to the airport and said a tearful goodbye.
In the Netherlands, Blue happily began life with her big new family of eight rescue dogs and five rescue cats. She even has a Facebook page that shows her enjoying her new life.
Blue often went with her mom, Karin, to physiotherapy. Once, when Karin fell down, Blue helped comfort her. Blue was relaxed and not nervous at all, which showed Karin that Blue would be an amazing therapy dog. Many of Karin’s dogs work as therapy dogs, helping people with dementia or Alzheimer’s. The dogs provide comfort to these patients, and they can also help them improve their speech or even just smile.
In January, Blue visited a nursing home for her first big test as a therapy dog. She was gentle and loved when the nursing home residents pet her, and she wasn’t scared by people talking loudly or getting angry. Blue passed this test with flying colors, and it was clear that her purpose was to be a therapy dog.
Now, Blue is continuing to work as a therapy dog and she’s as happy as can be!
Watch the video below to see Blue’s amazing journey from stray to therapy dog with a loving home.
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[Source: The Orphan Pet]
