I’ve always loved dogs and have always tried to help them. When I met Wega, I wanted to give her love, safety, and a true forever family. We also have a cat and a horse rescued from slaughter. Wega is a sick dog—she suffers from syringomyelia, a spinal cord disorder. Even though she is a purebred, no one at the shelter wanted to adopt her because of her mobility issues. Just a year ago, she couldn’t walk at all. We were her only chance at a loving home.

Someone had abandoned her, likely due to her illness. That’s why we want her to feel safe with us and to treat her like a full-fledged family member. Wega is our seventh dog—all our dogs have been rescued from shelters or the street.

I first read about Wega on Facebook on the page of Fundacja Człowiek Dla Zwierząt near Kraków. I don’t support breeding dogs, especially for profit. Someone once said, “As long as there is even one homeless dog in a shelter, we have no right to breed animals.”

We prepared for Wega’s adoption for about a month. We visited her at the shelter so she could get used to us. Adopting a dog—especially a sick one—is a big responsibility, and we wanted to be absolutely sure. The pre-adoption visit was very positive. The founder of the shelter is a woman with a huge heart who puts animals first. We still keep in touch and regularly send her photos of Wega.

Wega bonded with us immediately. She’s a very emotional dog who loves people deeply. At first, she was anxious when left home alone, but she soon realized we always come back—and now everything is fine. She also gained six new dog friends with whom she loves to play and go on walks.

Wega is my best friend. I love her simply for being who she is. We sleep together, go for walks, travel—she’s a true member of the family. Her beautiful eyes always look at me with a pleading gaze, especially when I have food in my hand. I love the way she jumps and runs—those little things mean the most considering her illness.

Currently, we have 7 dogs, but in two years we’re planning to build a new house, and then we’ll surely adopt again.

A dog is a man’s best friend—love cannot be bought. I recommend adoption to everyone. I’ve also volunteered at the animal shelter in Kielce, and I deeply believe in giving rescue animals a second chance.