(TOUCHING TALE) CALIFORNIA — Los Angeles has over 30,000 stray dogs at any given moment, and last year, Fiona was one of them. When Hope for Paws founders Eldad and Audrey Hagar found her, she was abandoned and blind in both eyes. Thanks to the generous donations of people who watched her Youtube video, Fiona now enjoys sight in one eye and a loving family. Read more and watch the video of her rescue and amazing transformation below. — Global Animal
If you’ve recently encountered (and cried over) a video of a pup named Fiona, you’re not alone. More than 1 million people have watched the clip — which follows Fiona’s transformation from a squalid, blind street dog to a spiffy, happy fluffball with partially restored eyesight — since it made its debut online a week ago.
We tracked down the folks who rescued Fiona, and posted the video, to find out about her skyrocketing fame thanks to the freaky powers of social media and the Internet.
Fiona was actually rescued more than a year ago by Eldad and Audrey Hagar, a married couple who run a non-profit organization called Hope for Paws out of their Los Angeles apartment. The Hagars operate their rescue organization on a shoe-string budget; Eldad, 36, has grown fond of posting YouTube videos of their often-dramatic street rescues when time permits.
Fiona’s saga was originally conveyed in two separate videos last year. The first one showed her being saved from the streets, shaved, bathed and freed of a terrible flea infestation. That video made a plea for donations to help pay for Fiona’s medical care. The second follow-up video showed footage of Fiona undergoing surgery, being able to see again for the first time, playing happily and snuggling with the Southern California couple who adopted her.
“About 10 days ago, I had this idea to combine the two videos into one video,” Eldad Hagar told TODAY.com. “It was the best decision I ever made in my life.”
The new seamlessly edited video has become a viral hit online and was picked up by major news organizations such as CNN and the Huffington Post. It packs quite an emotional wallop and calls attention to the plight of stray animals everywhere.
“In L.A. alone we have 30,000 stray dogs at any moment,” Hagar said. “People are walking by, seeing dogs like this and doing nothing. We would just love to have people change their behavior. Call someone. Call me. Call a rescue organization. Become a foster parent to a dog. …
“Fiona would have died a miserable death out there, but now she’s so happy.”
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So glad Global Animal covered this story! I love Eldad, he has helped me with a few rescues and he never says no!
that was one of the most beautiful stories i have ever seen ,what truelly wonderful people,if only everyone was like that animals wouldnt end up in a situation like that.
Beautiful story, Brilliant to see some great people out there helping these unfortunate animals & giving them a new life <3 x
thanks to the people who saved the life of this creature… although its impossible to help all of them, one life means a lot… may God bless you
Omg I am sobbing like a baby right now!
What a great ending to this tale! Made me laugh watching her bounce about!!!