A claim emerged a few years back that Duke, a young puppy, was severely ill with a highly contagious disease. As a result, people were warned to stay away from him.
This misinformation led to Duke, just 10 months old at the time, being tied to an old, worn-out trailer with no one to care for him.
For ten painful days, Duke sheltered beneath a broken caravan on the outskirts of a Bulgarian village. He was subjected to an inhumane form of quarantine, confined to his bleak surroundings. Among the villagers, one compassionate woman noticed Duke’s dire situation. She reached out to Rudozem Street Dog Rescue, a Bulgarian nonprofit dedicated to helping animals in need.
Tony Rowles, the founder of the rescue organization, responded to the distress call. When he arrived, he found Duke in a pitiable state, covered in flies and living in unsanitary conditions. “He was very scared,” Rowles told The Dodo. “There was an ammonia smell. He couldn’t move. It was completely overwhelming.”
Despite his terror, Duke responded affectionately to the first sign of kindness. Due to overcrowding at the organization’s shelter, Duke was taken to the Rowles’ home, where he met several other rescued dogs and cats. Surprisingly, instead of being contagious, Duke exuded a gentle charm. However, he struggled with a fear of men for some time.
“When I first approached him, he seemed okay, but his fear was evident in his movements and the way he backed away,” explains Rowles. “He formed a strong connection with my wife Diane. He really loved her.”
Duke’s ordeal was not only emotional but physical. His feet were broken and deformed. A veterinarian examined him and came to a distressing conclusion: Duke had suffered trauma to his feet.
“The vet’s diagnosis was shocking,” Rowles recalls. “His feet were broken; ligaments were gone, and bones were just floating around.”
Besides his injuries, Duke was also severely malnourished, and the heavy chain that once bound him had damaged his throat, causing a harsh cough. Treatment involved splints and multiple surgeries, accompanied by proper nutrition and supportive care.
A turning point came when Rowles realized, “He could actually go for adoption now.”
Since starting their work in Bulgaria eight years ago, Rudozem Street Dog Rescue has found homes for more than 1,000 dogs, sending them to new families in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, and the United States.
Duke’s journey led him to England, where he was adopted by a woman named Diana Romaine. “It was a tearful goodbye,” recounts Rowles, describing their departure. Duke’s arrival in England marked a bittersweet beginning, turning a once-untouchable dog into a beloved companion.
His transformation underscores the power of compassion. If you wish to support the efforts of Rudozem Street Dog Rescue in saving more animals like Duke, consider making a donation through their website.
