Fleeing the relentless hunters, he descended down the hill and finally collapsed next to the river. There, in a state of fear and pain, he remained stranded for days: hungry and thirsty, unable to move or quench his thirst even though the river flowed nearby. Sleep was difficult for him and the cold increased his suffering.
Upon receiving a distressing complaint, Fahrudin Caki Bravo and other shelter volunteers quickly organized to rescue a dog in extreme conditions along the river. When they arrived at the place, they found him in rugged terrain: cold, hungry and desperate.
Fahrudin observed that the dog was unable to stand. Expressing concern, he revealed: “The puppy we rescued today near Sarajevo is in an extremely terrible condition! He may never walk again! Maybe he will never run happy and free again!… Maybe it’s all about tonight!”
The dog, named Cuko, was taken to the vet. X-rays revealed the extent of his ordeal: he had survived a shooting and was riddled with pellets, two of them lodged in his spine.
Despite the discouraging situation, the veterinarian proposed surgery to remove the sac from his nose and remove the bullet. The next few days were critical, focused on strengthening Cuko physically before contemplating surgery that could potentially restore his ability to walk.
Fahrudin expressed his determination and stated: “There is one thing definitive for now: our will to help you is and will be as great as your will to live, and from what we have seen so far, your will to live is immense! ” The journey to rehabilitate Cuko, marked by pain and resilience, was a testament to the unwavering commitment of those working to give him the opportunity for a better life.
