Stray Dog Finds Forever Home After Unexpected Hiking Encounter

During a hiking holiday in Montenegro, a couple from Colorado had an unexpected encounter. Shaylin and her husband, featured in a now-viral TikTok video under the username shaylingandhi, shared their story earlier in June.

The couple was hiking through Durmitor National Park in 2016 when they met a stray dog, later named Cara, who appeared out of the bushes, looking malnourished and scared. Despite her initial shyness, the couple offered her some leftover pizza, which she eagerly ate. From that moment, Cara decided to join them, following them for the next two miles and eventually throughout their entire three-day hike.

During their journey, they encountered a shepherd who had been chasing Cara away to protect his sheep. Determined to help her, the couple led Cara away from the shepherd and continued their hike, with Cara faithfully following them. She slept outside their tent each night and, by the end of the trip, allowed them to put a makeshift collar and leash on her.

When the hike ended, the couple’s determination to save Cara led them to drive her from Montenegro to Italy, stopping in Sarajevo to get her vaccinations and a “pet passport.” Back in Colorado, Cara thrived, gaining weight and becoming an integral part of their family. She even served as the ring-bearer at their wedding.

Cara has since taken on the role of big sister to the couple’s twin daughters and their other dog. Now nine years old, Cara remains a beloved companion, often joining Shaylin, an author, as she writes her romance and women’s fiction novels. Their story has touched many hearts, with the video amassing over 136,600 views and 16,400 likes on TikTok.

We encourage everyone thinking of getting a pet to only adopt instead of shopping and use this amazing pet adoption search tool by WildWatchers to find shelter animals near you!

Read more resources about adopting animals on One Green Planet, including 7 Reasons to Adopt Your Next Furry Best Friend, 5 Reasons Why Everyone Should Adopt a Pet, and These Heartwarming Before and After Pictures of Adopted Rescue Animals Will Make Your Day! Read tips for pet adoptions and what to consider before adopting an animal.

Best Things In Life Are Rescued by Tiny Rescue: Animal Collection

Related Content:

• Couple Adopts Dog with a “Wonky Face”, TikTok Falls in Love
• The More the Merrier! Couple Adopts Dog Who Unexpectedly Has 5 Puppies Weeks Later
• Amputee Adopts Three-Legged Cat!
• Great Dane Adopts “New Grandma,” Brightens Up TikTok

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!