The police in Greece had received calls from a few people about a dog that was being mistreated in the hands of a violent owner. Unable to handle the aggressive dog, which was tied to a chain, the cops called a nonprofit animal shelter to intervene. With their incredible support and love, the dog made an unbelievable transformation.
Takis Shelter is based in Ierapetra, the South of Crete, Greece. The organization was set up in 2013, with the sole motive to rescue stray and abandoned cats and dogs. The animals that are rescued enjoy running around in 33,000 square meters of private enclosed olive groves.
In 2019, their founder, Theoklitos Proestakis, also known as Takis, received a call from the police to help handle an aggressive dog.
In a video filmed and uploaded on YouTube by the nonprofit, the dog, named Phoenix, is seen being taken to the shelter. Sitting in an enclosed box, the canine, which was believed to have been tied to a chain all his life, refused to come out.
However, Takis wasn’t going to give up so soon, as he was aware that Phoenix was terrified of human hands and feared that they would hurt him.
Every time Takis made a step forward and approached Phoenix with his gloves, trying to pet him, the scared dog would snarl and snap at him. Phoenix even attempted to bite Takis many times. However, unperturbed by Phoenix’s defensive nature, Takis continued to show love and pet him.
After a few hours of Takis trying to comfort the frightened canine, Phoenix melted and immediately warmed up to Takis. He placed his head on Takis’s palm and accepted the love and care he was long yearning for.
The mistreated dog seemed to enjoy the warm touch of a human being after such a long time. As he started to trust Takis, Phoenix also gave him his paw.
In the heartwarming video, Phoenix is seen responding to Takis and even reciprocates by placing his paw on Takis’s palm.
In a few weeks, Phoenix finally understood that not all human touch would lead to pain and suffering. The dog that once didn’t want to get out of his crate soon got along with all the other shelter animals and adapted to his new environment.
Phoenix’s former owner had complained that the dog was aggressive and killed cats in the past; however, at Takis shelter, he was doing very well and got along with the felines just perfectly.
Alluding to Phoenix’s transformed persona, Takis said: “Now he loves me, I hug him, we play together.”
The happy dog has also gotten accustomed to those around him and enjoys running around and playing.
Many that came across Phoenix’s transformation video from an aggressive dog that was chained all his life to a happy, free dog that is getting all the love and care he deserves were touched.
“My heart broke for him. All he wanted was love. It makes me sooo angry that someone could do something so horrible,” one YouTube user wrote.
While another commented, “Unbelievable how he softened up in one day.”
A third one chimed in writing: “You can literally see his eyes change once he understands he is given affection. Sad and beautiful at the same time.”
(Courtesy of Takis Shelter)
As for Phoenix, Takis Shelter told The Epoch Times via email: “Phoenix is still in the shelter but is now in a very good condition, very happy and not aggressive at all.”
Watch the video:
(Courtesy of Takis Shelter)
