by Katerina Lorenzatos Makris ~

UPDATE: Aero has been adopted!  Check back with us for more info about him soon!

The other day my buddy Hera told me the story about how she ended up in foster care alongside me here at Lynda’s house. Then she asked, “Well, how about you, Aero? Why are you here?”

So I told her my story…

One day last winter here on our Greek island Kefalonia, my person said, “Let’s go for a ride.” She put me and her two kids in the car, and drove to the airport.

I thought, “Wow, cool, are we going on a trip?”

At the airport, she opened the car door and told me to get out. That seemed kind of weird, but I did it, because most of the time, I’m a good boy.

Being a good boy didn’t seem to matter, though. My person shut the door behind me, drove away, and didn’t look back.

I don’t know why. I’ll never know why.

I love everyone

What did I do wrong? OK, so I’m an enthusiastic young guy, only two years old, and sometimes I jump on people for attention, and sometimes maybe I chewed stuff that my family didn’t want me to chew, and maybe it’s wrong to do that kind of stuff. But is it that wrong?

It’s not like I ever hurt anybody. I loved my family. I love everyone. It’s fun to hang out with people to play and cuddle, and well… just hang out.

I guess that wasn’t enough.

Anyway, some people standing outside the airport saw my person dump me there, and they looked like they felt sorry for me, but so many other dogs get dumped around there that they weren’t able to help me too.

Pretty soon, I realized I had to help myself. So I set out walking, feeling sad and scared, but at the same time hopeful. You know how it is with us dogs. Bad stuff happens, but no matter what, ya gotta keep the wag in your tail, the love in your heart, and just keep on keepin’ on, right?

Turns out that was exactly the right attitude, because that’s how I found Kate and Themis.

Taking a chance on sweet voices

It’s no fun to be on your own out on the streets, you know? Dogs can’t just drop in at the corner store and buy some themselves some chow. It’s hard to find a cozy place to sleep, and shelter from the rain and wind, and even just a quiet spot where you can feel safe from cars and from scary people throwing rocks at you.

In a neighborhood near the airport, while I looked for something to eat in trash bins, I heard voices. They came from a certain house. I went closer. It sounded like a man, a woman, and a kid. I liked the voices. They sounded soft and sweet.

For a minute I just closed my eyes, imagining that the sweet voices belonged to great people who would never even think of doing to a dog what my person had done to me.

By then I was really hungry. It had been a while since I’d found anything to eat. Or even water to drink. I never thought I’d be in that situation, like other dogs out on the streets, but boy do I know how they feel now! The hunger and thirst really get to you. It’s hard to keep up your hopes when you’re in that kind of shape.

I guess that’s why I decided to go for it—to stroll into the family’s garden, then go right up to their doorstep. I was so hungry and tired that I just took the chance and kept my toes crossed that it was the right move. Maybe, just maybe, this family could help me.

Hope pays off

Well, all that hope I had in my heart sure did pay off! To make a long story short, the mom and dad of that house are named Kate Hendry and Themis Kavvadias, and they have a little girl, and just as I thought, their hearts matched their voices—really soft and sweet.

As soon as they saw me sitting on their doorstep, starved and stressed, they fed me, hugged me, and loved me. They explained that although I couldn’t stay there for very long, and although they couldn’t be my forever family, they would help me find one.

Themis went on something called Facebook, and asked if anybody might want to adopt me.

A lady who’s got a website called SpicyStoriesSaveLives.com saw his message, and said that her website would sponsor all expenses for my upkeep and for the vet and groomer and all that stuff, and she would make sure I got a loving forever home.

She asked a really nice lady named Lynda Thompson if she’d take care of me in the meantime, and Lynda said yes, so here I am!

Will I be someone’s forever Fido?

Meanwhile, the Spicy lady asked a group called Graeske Hunde, in a country called Denmark, if they could find me a home there, since there aren’t enough to go around here in Greece. They said yes too!

Kate and Themis and their little girl haven’t forgotten me because sometimes they come to visit and take me for walks. They and Lynda and the Spicy lady and the Graeske Hunde people all care a whole lot about me.

Now I’m just waiting for someone to care a whole, whole, whole lot… enough to make me their forever Fido!

Now here’s some stuff that Kate says about me. She answered questions that the Spicy lady sent her. Kate is really honest so she lets you know about my naughty habits along with my good ones… but hey, you bet it’s mostly good ones!

P.S. Due to all the people who are trying to help me, next time I’m driven to the airport, it’s gonna be for a much better reason than the last time!  🙂

INFO ABOUT AERO FROM RESCUER KATE HENDRY:

Spicy Stories Save Lives: Can you tell us about the first time you saw Aero, and how and why you rescued him?

Kate Hendry: He turned up on our doorstep in February. Being unable to see any animal go hungry, we decided to feed him. We later found out from one of the neighbors that he had been dumped down at the airport by a woman with two children. She just drove off and left him.

Spicy: Describe his personality?

Hendry: He is a very happy, friendly dog. A bit overenthusiastic at times but then he is only young. We called him a big galumph as he is a bit like a teenager, not really sure of himself.

He has showed no aggression towards anyone even over his food. Loves people and will stand on your foot to prevent you escaping when you should be petting him! He just wants a family to love.

Spicy: Does he get along well with other dogs? How about kitties?

Hendry: He appears to get along with dogs. He played well with our dog if a little rough but then she is a lot smaller than he is! We have no idea how he is with cats although he did chase them in the neighborhood when he was loose.

Spicy: Any funny/cute stories about him?

Hendry: While he was with us his favorite trick was to drop his food bowl (and anything else he could get hold of) over the balcony. We were never sure where we’d find it!

Spicy: Any naughty behaviors/habits? We like to give prospective adopters the whole picture.

Hendry: Needs to learn basic commands and jumps up on people a lot. This could be an issue with small children especially. He enjoys getting in the car and going for a ride but does not stay still. In the car he needs to be restrained. No idea how he would behave inside the house. He did enjoy emptying our flower pots so maybe he would chew things in the house?

Spicy: Does he walk OK on leash?

Hendry: He walks very well on the leash although he is very nervous in traffic. He lunges and barks at passing cars unless there is someone between him and the vehicle. We have been walking him along roads as much as possible (although there is not much traffic on Kefalonia) and while he has improved he still needs work.

[Editor’s note:  While in foster care, Aero’s manners on leash have indeed improved, but training will still be important.]

Spicy: Do you have any comments regarding the situation of homeless animals in Kefalonia?

Hendry: There are far too many homeless animals on Kefalonia largely due to uncontrolled breeding. There are many people working hard to rectify this situation by sterilization programs.  The rest of the population has to understand that this is not the animals’ fault and work together to protect them rather than the indiscriminate poisoning we often see.  [Editor’s note: One sterilization program on the island is run by Kefalonia Animal Trust (KAT), which Spicy Stories Save Lives assists with donations and other support.]

Spicy: Why do you feel it’s important to care about animals?

Hendry: Being an animal lover myself this is an easy question. We share the same planet with countless species of animals. We need to learn to care for the animals we count as friends and companions before we look further. Charity should begin at home.

To learn more about Aero, please contact Graeske Hunde, the wonderful Danish group who are working to find him a new home.

UPDATE: Aero has been adopted!  Check back with us for more info about him soon!

For updates on Aero and Spicy’s other sponsorees such as Hera, and for helpful articles about animal care, rescue/adoption tips, and more, please click the SUBSCRIBE’ button above. You’ll receive email notifications of our new articles. It’s FREE, and we NEVER give your email address to anyone else.

Here at Spicy Stories Save Lives, we depend on sales of our romantic fiction to help create  real-life happy endings.

Won’t you please use a couple of bucks to enjoy a fun read, to spice up your life, and to replenish our rescue fund?

We, the animals, along with our fellow rescuers will thank you kindly!

Spicy Stories Save Lives proudly sponsors needy animals in the U.S. and around the world.

For example we help Kefalonia Animal Trust (KAT) provide free spay/neuter for hundreds of animals per year, which is one of the best ways to prevent the abandonment and misery of puppies like Noah and Kyla. Please give to KATs via PayPal or bank transfer. Spay/neuter and education are the animals’ best hope for a better future.

Also please consider Animal Rescue Kefalonia (ARK), another group on the Greek island of Kefalonia who run a shelter  and work miracles with terribly few resources. 

Spicy Stories Save Lives and the author of this article have no affiliation with the rescue groups mentioned above, other than as a volunteer and donor.

Seen our book?  Your Adopted Dog: Everything You Need to Know About Rescuing and Caring for a Best Friend in Need, by Shelley Frost and Katerina Lorenzatos Makris, available through Amazon.com.