Yasuki’s Journey: From Muddy Field to Forever Home

In March 2023, I was driving along a Serbian road when, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a dog lying in a field. I pulled over to check on her and immediately I could see that something was wrong. She couldn’t move her back legs, and there was a strong infection at her back end. She didn’t seem in pain, but she clearly needed urgent care.

Realising I needed help, I called one of our followers, Dragana, who had previously translated Nala’s World into Serbian. Dragana connected me with a vet just an hour away in Novi Sad so I loaded the pup into the van and drove her to the clinic. At first, the prognosis wasnt looking good, her back was thought to be broken, and there was a high chance she might never walk again.

I gave her the name Yasuki, a name that came entirely by accident. When I recorded a YouTube video about her, at the end I said, “Yeah, so, ok.” The auto-captions on the video misheard it as “Yasuki,” and the name just stuck. In Japanese, Yasuki can mean “peaceful” or “tranquil,” which seemed perfect for her, a little puppy with a calm and loving spirit, despite everything she had been through.

Yasuki went for further x-rays with a specialist surgeon in Belgrade and they revealed that her spine was intact, but her pelvis was badly fractured and they broke the news to me that she was infact shot. Thankfully, her vital organs were unharmed, though she had no control over her bladder or bowels. Despite these challenges, Yasuki’s personality shone through. She was playful, affectionate, and full of life, clearly a fighter.  I decided to go ahead with surgery and to help cover her urgent medical care and rehabilitation, I set up a fundraiser, knowing that her recovery would be also long and complex. The support from the community was overwhelming, and every donation made it possible to provide her with the best treatment and care during this critical time.

On March 14, Yasuki underwent surgery with a team of incredible vets. By the next day, she had six screws holding one side of her pelvis, and the other side was carefully realigned to heal properly. I visited her as she began to wake from sedation, giving her chin tickles and encouragement. Over the following days, Yasuki began moving her back legs and even started walking short distances.

Yasuki was showing remarkable progress, but she needed specialist physiotherapy to fully recover. I discovered Dr. Anastasija, an animal physiotherapy specialist in Belgrade, through recommendations from local vets. Anastasija agreed to see Yasuki and personally treated her, carefully working through exercises, hydrotherapy, and recovery techniques to support her healing. At the same time, the vets recommended a safe place for Yasuki to stay near the clinic, so Anastasija connected me with Vera, a former veterinary professor with extensive experience in animal care. Vera welcomed Yasuki into her home, giving her her own bedroom, a private garden, and round-the-clock care.

With this support network, Yasuki thrived. Hydrotherapy, targeted exercises, and gentle encouragement helped her regain strength in her legs and back muscles. By May, she faced another hurdle when she tested positive for Giardia, but with treatment and ongoing care, she bounced back, playful and happy as ever. I was amazed by her resilience and the difference consistent physiotherapy and love were making.

As the weeks went by, I had considered keeping Yasuki with me. I loved having her around and had grown attached to her playful, resilient spirit. But her ongoing medical needs required a stable home with a large garden, a consistent diet, and dedicated care. All those were things I couldn’t provide while traveling and looking after Nala. I knew Yasuki deserved a forever home where she could continue to thrive and receive the care she needed.

At the end of June, I traveled with my mum to Germany to meet Yasuki’s potential family. The connection was instant. The family was already in love with her, and their dog Luca adapted beautifully. And then it happened, she officially joined them in her forever home in Belgium, where she is now thriving, loved, and continuing her recovery with everything she needs.

Yasuki’s story is a testament to resilience, compassion, and the power of community. From the moment she was rescued, through surgery, physiotherapy, and the care of amazing people like Dragana, Dr. Anastasija, Vera, and the team at Darvin Vet Clinic, Yasuki has shown that with love and support, even the toughest journeys can have happy endings.

Every donation, message, and shared story made her recovery possible. Yasuki reminds us why we do what we do because every animal deserves a chance, and with care, patience, and love, lives can be transformed.