In March, we are in the middle of our neutering campaign in Gotze Delchev town when we receive a call from local animal lovers that a wounded, terrified dog is limping around town with a mangled front paw. They ask us to help catch him.

We visit the locals that leave food out for him but are still unable to get close. We set up a trap but the dog doesn't show up in the next few days. We have to wait for another visit.

Luckily, we get another call in April that the dog has trusted his benefactors and they have got him. They ask us to give him temporary shelter until a home is found for him.

We give him his name: Avram, after our dog friend Avram who we lost recently and who also had an injured front paw.

We discover that the dog's paw has healed but he has lost two toes. He has some residual limping. We don't know what happened to Avram but the character of his wounds suggests either that he was caught in a trap or was hit by a car.

Avram is a little skittish but sweet-tempered, especially considering what he has been through.

A lovely walk in the Valley with his friends. Avram behaves very well on leash; it seems he was once someone's pet. He is soon to be neutered and vaccinated.