Clobaldo Dongo, an avid cyclist from the arid desert coast of Peru, often pedals for dozens of miles along remote stretches of sand and dunes. But on a recent ride, he came across a sight that made him stop in his tracks.
In the middle of nowhere, Dongo spotted a small black figure huddled in the sand. It was a dog, scared and alone, struggling to survive in the harsh desert conditions.
“She was very scared,” Dongo told The Dodo. “At first, she tried to bite me when I tried to touch her, but she must have realized I was there to help.”
Dongo offered the frightened pup some water — her first in who knows how long — and then cradled her in his arms. For two hours, he carried her across the barren terrain until they finally reached the nearest town.
“I said to her, ‘No matter what, I’m going to get you out of here,’” Dongo recalled.
As video from the rescue shows, the little dog had found her hero:
Once in town, he bought the dog some food and connected with a local animal lover who could provide her with long-term care. Though Dongo couldn’t adopt her himself, he knew she was finally safe.
“I plan to return to the spot later this month to see her again,” he said.
Videos of the rescue captured the moment the little dog found her hero, and online, Dongo’s act of kindness touched countless hearts.
“It feels good to save a life,” he wrote on social media. “We can all be angels for someone. It was my turn.”
