When Harry the dog was discovered on the streets of Bulgaria, he was malnourished, missing an eye and couldn’t walk. Further examination at the vet showed that he was paralyzed and riddled with ailments, including mange, a collapsed lung, broken teeth, fractured ribs and an injured spine.
An X-ray revealed that Harry had been shot in his head and body, and also appeared to have been hit by a car.
Despite his grave condition, Harry’s rescuer, Desislava Stoqnova (Desi), founder of the Save Me Foundation, refused to give up on him. She spoon-fed him for months before he was able to move anything apart from his head. With the help of a wheelchair and continued rehabilitation, Harry slowly regained his mobility. After eight months, he finally started walking again, and he has now found a loving and safe forever home.
Watch one of Harry’s rehabilitation routines:
Desi grew up in the roughest part of her city and witnessed animal cruelty regularly. From a young age, she was inspired to rescue as many dogs and cats as possible.
At 19, Desi met her husband and they began taking homeless and injured animals into their small home. She spent her own money on their care — paying for everything from food to vet bills — and took in as many animals as she could handle.
Rescuing animals in Bulgaria comes with a lot of challenges. “Bulgaria is a hard country to do good in; you are not supported by the government, and many people don’t understand missions like mine,” she told Lady Freethinker. “So, I created the Save Me Foundation. I promised myself that I will do my very best not only to rescue, but to educate those around me about the importance of respecting animals!”
Through her organization, Desi aims to change the way animals in the region are treated, and also hopes to raise enough money to build a rescue home for the dogs and cats in her care.
She says, “Animals taught me how to love and even more importantly how to show it!”
You can help Desi continue her heroic animal rescue efforts by donating to her GoFundMe campaign or through PayPal at [email protected]
Follow her work on Facebook here.
Here are some incredible before-and-after photos of other animals Desi has rescued:
What’s New…
Thank you for showing us the before and after pictures. God does great work, and of course with all the love and efforts the caring shelter staff and volunteers do everyday. Go Bless. Keep up the GOOD FIGHT. Amen.
DESI — you are one wonderful, moral, sane, compassionate Human Being — KEEP UP YOUR GREAT WORK — no matter what opinions out there, KEEP AT IT! — simultaneously, enlighten people and change their minds about Animals — slowly but surely, this CAN happen — firmly URGE your Government to make changes — (every week write a letter, make a phone call, send messages on Twitter and Facebook) — tell them what the rest of the world is doing in the field of ANIMAL CARE — it is clear from photos that animals have BEEN extremely neglected by the time they reach you — it is unbelievable that with so many ailments in ONE animal, they are STILL breathing — thank God you crossed their paths — their recoveries are miraculously remarkable –you brought tears to my eyes when depicting how you spoon-fed one of the dogs for MONTHS — you truly NEVER give up — this is a GOOD THING –THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES for DOING the work you do for them — they’re all beautiful, happy, healthy, living good-quality lives — I WISH you the BEST of everything for yourself, your family, your friends and ALL the Animals in Bulgaria, including your Organization — (by the way, this is OFF-TOPIC, not long ago, I went to dinner and ordered STUFFED CABBAGE (without meat) — these stuffed cabbage were the best, the tastiest stuffed cabbage rolls I’ve ever had in my life — I was told the recipe was a Bulgarian recipe — they were truly DELICIOUS.
Angels walk among us in human disguise, and in animal disguise. Angels rescuing angels, here in this hellish world. Thank greatness every day for all who rescue innocents from suffering and evil.
Desi is an angel that’s walks among us! A beautiful, loving and giving soul that blesses God’s creatures by giving them a chance at a good life.
Demi and her husband are true heroes!.
Look at all those happy faces.
Demi is a heroine for helping those without a voice. Thanks to her and husband for all their efforts and hard work.
Mankind can be the cruelest and most dispicable creature on earth.
Desi – thank you on behalf of humanity.
all of these things make me sad. I have too pray the the holy spirit keeps me calm and not say bad things like these people and all the others need too be put away for good not just for awhile theirs no justice any more
Desi – you and your husband are Earth Angels.
Thank you for everything you do. Kindness and compassion is what makes his Earth bearable.
Sending Love & Light, and a few dollars, and the wish that you get everything you need to keep helping animals 💞
Sorry – should read THIS Earth….
Prayers “evil beings” suffer for ETERNITY !!! our Gods precious animals deserve “compassion” and endless amount of “LOVE” furever an ever …….
Thank you Desi and her husband for rescuing all these animals. God bless you. I am so happy Harry can walk again, and all these animals are doing well.
Thank you for helping animals.
Bless you Desi. May God shine his light down on you and your rescues.
Bless. I constantly keep in mind what Mr. Rogers said: “Always look for the helpers.” We have to keep these wonderful people in sight and mind in order to keep our sanity in this sometimes cruel world.
Appalling that people will harm animals this way. Were it the other way round, there would be Hell up.
My compliments ,Desi,for the transformation in the animals you have rescued. I hope there are more kind-hearted peoplle in Bulgaria, who will help you with your great work.
Keep up the good work./Well Done.
Bless poor Harry. Thank you to this kind lady.
What a remarkable lady. Restores my faith in humanity.
Parabéns a todos envolvidos, a causa é mais q NOBRE. Obg.
So good of you and your husband. I hope they spread education starting in schools.
Desi,
You are an angel! Thank you for all the wonderful work you are doing on behalf of these wonderful animals!! It’s people like you that give me hope for humanity!! Thank you again!!
THANK GOD AGAIN, FOR MANY GOOD-HEARTEN PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD.!!! WE MUST CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR CAUSE WHEN POSSIBLE, FOLKS, AS LONG AS THEY ARE LEGITIMATE AND HONEST!!!!
Thank you thank you and thank you. God Bless You!
Desi, you and your husband are miracle workers from heaven. Thank you.
Well done to Desi and her husband. Carrying out such good work in a country that cares so little for animal welfare.
What an amazing woman she is!!! God bless her !!!!!
Merci Desi pour ce que vous avez fait pour Harry. Vous êtes une personne formidable!
Well done and thank you to Desi for doing such a great job in looking after Harry. He is such a lovely dog. Hope they got his abuser and “re-educated” him.
Please help DESI financially just a small amount of money. It won’t last forever. What wonderful work her helpers do for these unwanted abused animals.
Very good person here.
Thank you for all that you’re doing in Bulgaria.
God bless you Desi for saving harry and giving him much love I hope he finds his forever home filled with love and thank you for helping other dogs and cats from harm and helping them have a second chance at life