On July 23, the seaside resort town of Mati, Greece was overcome by the country’s deadliest wildfire in decades. Along with approximately 90 human casualties, the fires claimed the lives of hundreds of pets and strays.
One little survivor named Loukoumakis has become the poster-pooch for the rescue effort after surviving the blaze by hiding in an outdoor oven.
Artemis Kyriakopoulou, a volunteer for local rescue organization, Dogs’ Voice captured the following video of the 4-year-old Poodle mix. She discovered him cowering inside a charred home’s large brick oven, his white fur singed yellow.
He has become known across Greece as “The Oven Dog.”
According to Elena Dede, the founder and president of Dog’s Voice, Loukoumakis likely had a long, hard life as a stray before the fire hit.
“When he came to us, he was a little bit aggressive because he was very afraid of people,” she told ABC News. “From the way he protected himself and the state of his health, we realized he has spent a long time being severely abused. There were three layers of dead fur on him, which could not have happened in just the week since the fire. But after we spent some time with him and groomed him, he began to relax and trust us.”
Due to his traumatic past, Dede was very particular about who she allowed to adopt Loukoumakis. Luckily, Antonia Paraschou, a young woman with “experience in looking after stray animals,” stepped up and took him in.
“It was a huge signal for us that we must make sure that he will never be in such a bad situation again,” Dede said. “And with Antonia, I am sure his life will be different from now on.”
Over the past week, more than 180 other area dogs in need were brought to Dog’s Voice. If you would like to make a donation to help the pups affected by the devastating wildfire, visit the organization’s website.
H/T & Featured Screenshot via ABC News
