Love at first sight. How did the macedonian puppy end up in Spain?

When going abroad, not only for holidays, but also as part of projects or business meetings, we try to get to know the culture of another country as much as possible. We gain new experiences, meet friends and leave our comfort zone. Many of the moments we live stay with us for a long time, sometimes for the rest of our lives. Each trip is different for us, gives us different stories, and teaches us something different. And although the emotions that accompany us stay in our heads, we also like to get attached to material things. For this reason, we often buy small souvenirs that, after returning home, will remind us of the place where we have been. Usually, they are magnets, postcards, clothes, or decorations, which then decorate the interiors of our homes. Hardly anyone, however, takes home a living souvenir.

Nobody expected that one of the Spanish volunteers, who came to Macedonia for a two-month exchange, would take a puppy to Spain. David Valero Torrado tells how this story began: "I found her in the entrance to the Old Bazar, I was eating with my Spanish colleagues, and we heard a puppy crying, she was inside a box amongst rubble and trash, and she had some infection on the nose and on the side." It is very easy to find homeless animals in the streets of Skopje, including cats and dogs. People get used to this sight, so not everyone reacts to the animals they encounter. So why did David decide to take care of the puppy? "At first, I was planning on bringing her to a vet and find her a foster family, but eventually, I got attached to her and decided to get her back with me." David lived in a hostel with other VET volunteers. The very fact that many people lived in one room indicates that these were not the best conditions to take care of a puppy. Nevertheless, David made such a decision and decided to take care of Bruna. Caring for animals is a very demanding job. "Due to the infection and her early age, she cannot walk much, but my day usually starts with her waking me up at 6-7 am, then I clean up everything she has left over the night and walk her until she is tired. Once we are back, I have to put an ointment for the infection and another one in the afternoon after another walk, and I also have to bathe her with a special shampoo twice a week. The rest of the day, I play with her most of the time." – adds David. After some time, a specific bond developed between David and Bruna: "I got really attached to her, and all the Refuges in Skopje only accepted dogs at least seven months old. So, I decided to bring her with me."

Transporting a dog over 3,000 kilometers is a real challenge. So, David had to arrange many errands to legally take the puppy to Spain. "I had to fully vaccinate her and get her a Macedonian passport and chip, sadly because of her age, I had to stay two more weeks in Macedonia in order for her to fly." - says David. The puppy's health was also a problem, which, thanks to David's help, is getting better: "She is still recovering from the infection, but every day she grows stronger, bigger and more active. Now she is almost double the size than when we found her, and she spends all day playing." – adds David.

Bruna is very lucky to find David. Not every dog changes its place of residence and becomes an international dog. Will the puppy be a dog of two nationalities, or will it be a Spanish dog? "She will be fully Macedonian; the paperwork and the chip are from here, and they can be updated from Spain, so it will still be that way." - David replies.

For me, David's attitude is exemplary, and one can only follow it. He is also undoubtedly the greatest hero of this pooch. Did this create a bond between them? "Yeah, for sure, we are almost too close sometimes, and every time I must go shopping, or somewhere else, she cries a lot, and even when I have to go to the bathroom. She is still a puppy after all, and I am the one taking care of her." – says David. I also asked David what his opinion was about homeless animals in Macedonia? "Well, they look well-fed most of the time, and the government vaccinates most of them, even then there are so many dogs and cats living on the streets, so the issue is still there."– says David.

An unexpected friend made a volunteer from Spain stay two weeks longer in Skopje on his own. Tuesday 11 August was Bruna's last day in Macedonia. Before leaving for Spain, David and his puppy visited our office to say goodbye. Bruna was very energetic. To be able to take her, her guardian left most of his belongings to make room for her belongings. He also bought special transport to be able to take her to the cabin of the plane. At 11.00, a taxi arrived at the VCS office. These were the last moments in Macedonia for David, who returns home with new experiences, memories, and the best souvenir that could happen thanks to his good heart, Bruna, who is just starting a new life. Kacper Król