I sneaked hamburgers from the hotel to keep him alive

AS the terrified dog darted in and out of traffic on a busy greek road, Paris Dewhurst knew she had to act. On holiday on the island of Zante, she forgot all thoughts of relaxation on a sunlounger and became consumed with the animal’s wellbeing. ‘i was so upset,’ she says. ‘i just couldn’t stop thinking about what a terrible life it had. it broke my heart.’ The dog slipped from her sight and Paris, 24, an administrator from Blackburn, Lancashire, went to look for it with her boyfriend Levi ellis, 24, before finding it hiding by the road (right). ‘i knew i couldn’t leave him. He was so thin and covered in sores. He could hardly stand he was so malnourished.’ So unkempt did the dog look that Paris’s hotel refused to let him past the front door. Desperate, she made a social media appeal for help, which directed her to a charity called Zante Strays, who said that if she was serious about rehoming the dog — a whippet-type who was about a year old — they would help her get him the 2,000 miles from greece to the Uk (where Paris, left, is now happy at home with her dog, called Troy).

‘i sneaked him some burgers from the hotel buffet and stayed with him until about 1am, when i tied him to a tree. i left him a towel for a bed and some water.

‘i returned at 5am and couldn’t believe what i saw. He had bitten through the rope but was sitting, waiting for me. He wagged his tail when he saw me. i cried and hugged him. i knew it was meant to be.’