When she was found, she was just a small, trembling body on the roadside — ignored, unnoticed, abandoned. Meet Annabelle, a young dog whose story began in pain and neglect yet is now unfolding toward hope. Discovered in August 2025 near a village in Cyprus, she weighed barely 9 kg (about 19 pounds) and had a wound under her neck. Her ribs were visible. No collar. No chip. No indication anyone cared. Her name may not have even been hers yet, but the moment someone stopped for her, the turning point started. Her journey says a lot about the neglected, the vulnerable creatures among us — and about the power of a second chance.
The Roadside Discovery
Annabelle was found on 24 August 2025 by a young man who spotted her lying by the roadside near a village in Cyprus. She was visibly malnourished, her ribs showing, and she had a wound beneath her neck.
With no collar or microchip, she appeared to have been invisible to every passer-by until that moment. The charity Stronger Together Animal Rescue (STAR), which has been rescuing stray dogs in Cyprus for nearly a decade, described how without intervention she would have been sent to a municipal pound — facilities where dogs often receive little food, minimal medical care, and are frequently euthanised.
The Rescue and Recovery
Once STAR was contacted, Annabelle’s life shifted. She was immediately taken into private boarding under STAR’s care, where she began receiving the food, medical care and safe space she had never known.
Her behaviour revealed the depth of her past trauma: she would hide from humans, tremble when approached, because being invisible had been her default state. “She is very timid and nervous due to her past traumas…She hides because that’s all she’s ever known,” trustee Linda Demetriou of STAR said.
Gradually, thanks largely to the presence of other rescue dogs nearby, Annabelle started showing signs of change. She began to accept gentle head scratches. She wagged her tail — cautiously — as though discovering joy in small pieces.
Preparing for a New Life
Annabelle’s next major step is planned for 14 December 2025, when she is set to be transported from Cyprus to the U.K. where she will meet potential adoptive families. Before that, STAR will complete full medical checks and behavioural assessments. The charity emphasises that life-long rescue-back-up will be offered to whoever adopts her.
Because of her timid nature, Annabelle will require a very specific kind of home: “She needs a quiet, calm home, no children, rural, quiet area and a secure garden is essential,” Demetriou said. Also, having another kind, confident dog in the home will help guide her into the new life she’s just beginning to imagine.
In a post just yesterday, STAR wrote:
“Annabelle is still nervous with strangers — and after what she’s been through, who could blame her?
There isn’t a single bad bone in this little girl .
She adores other dogs and finds safety in their company.
Because of her timid nature:
✅ She must have another kind, confident dog to guide her
✅ She needs a quiet, calm home, no children
✅ A secure garden is essential
✅ A patient adopter who understands that trust takes time — and is worth every moment
She is playful, happy with other dogs, gentle and sweet. Once she relaxes, she loves to play and would be a joyful companion for someone who wants a loving, fun, but sensitive friend.
✈️ READY TO FLY
Annabelle is healthy and can travel to the UK on 14th December if a forever home is offered.”
The Road From Invisible to Seen
Annabelle’s story is heart-wrenching yet hopeful. A dog cast aside and overlooked finds herself now looked after and wanted. It’s a transformation from “invisible” to someone with a name, a chance, a future. Her weight, her visible scars, her fear of human contact — all spoke of a life of neglect. Her slow progress — accepting affection, trusting others, finding comfort among other dogs — speaks of resilience. And the fact that her future home is being carefully matched shows the level of commitment needed when a dog carries trauma.
For anyone considering adoption: meeting dogs like Annabelle requires patience, compassion and understanding that trust may take time to build. The gentle wag of her tail, the cautious head-lift when someone approaches, the safe retreat into the presence of other dogs — those are her first steps toward belief that she matters. And they show us, too, that sometimes the most silent voices are the ones screaming for help the loudest.
Annabelle’s journey reminds us that rescue is not just about saving a life — it’s about restoring dignity, offering love, and turning someone from unseen into irreplaceable.
For adoption information on Annabelle: Rescue back up by Stronger Together Animal Rescue (STAR)
UK registered charity
Andrew Alpin from India is the Brand Manager of Doggo digest. Andrew is an experienced content specialist and social media manager with a passion for writing. His forte includes health and wellness, Travel, Animals, and Nature. A nature nomad, Andrew is obsessed with mountains and loves high-altitude trekking. He has been on several Himalayan treks in India including the Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
