Abandoned Puppy Transforms Into A Ray Of Sunshine After Being Found With Swollen Paw

Sometimes, a dog's paw gets so badly injured that amputation seems like the only option. Other times, a little bit of medical attention and a lot of patience allow the dog to heal and keep the paw. That's exactly what happened to an abandoned puppy named Zena.

In a video by The Dodo that's been watched more than a million times on YouTube, the founder of Takis Shelter on Crete in Greece rescues a puppy with a paw so swollen it looks like a baseball mitt. Takis whisks the puppy to a veterinarian, who considers amputating the leg, but Takis asks for more time. Slowly, Zena gets healthier, and her paw shrinks back to a normal size. By the end of the video, the precious pooch is happily running around as if nothing traumatic has ever happened to her, and she finds a forever home.

Immediately, viewers fell in love with Zena, and several noted how she embodied the fierce spirit of television's Xena. "She really lived up to her warrior princess name," one wrote. Another commented, "A strong and beautiful girl with gorgeous eyes, now with a loving family!"

Viewers familiar with Takis Shelter — a no-kill animal shelter that doesn't use cages or chains and doesn't receive government funding — were quick to praise Zena's rescuer. "Takis!!!! Forever my favourite rescuer. His sanctuary is a beautiful safe haven," one commented. Another added, "Takis, always with his kind heart and dedication to animals 😃🐶💖🙏 Who save a life save the whole world."

More than 800 dogs and cats are housed at Takis Shelter. New ones show up all the time, sometimes left tied up outside the shelter along with their babies in a cardboard box. Shelter surrender is worse for a dog than you thought, wreaking an extreme emotional toll on the animal. Takis Shelter, like so many around the world, is funded entirely by donations and relies on volunteer help in order to function. Luckily, there are ways to help pet shelters without adopting or giving money, such as volunteering your time or fostering an animal. If you're ready to adopt a dog or adopt a cat, be sure to check out the animals available at your local shelters.

One viewer of Zena's story on YouTube accurately summed up the video, not to mention the journey of any animal that is abandoned before being adopted: "Tears of sadness from the start and tears of happiness at the end."