A couple’s trip to the Greek island of Andros unexpectedly turned into a life-changing experience when they visited an animal rescue center—and brought home a new family member.
The story was captured in a slideshow video on TikTok that has now been viewed more than 408,000 times since it was uploaded on October 3.
Mia and Paddy, both education professionals from northwest England in the United Kingdom, posted the video on their TikTok account @sadiethegreekrescue.
It begins with a scenic shot of the couple smiling against a mountainous backdrop. The overlaid text reads: “We’ll just have a look at the animal rescue center in Greece.”
What follows is a slideshow of heartwarming photos showing the pair fawning over a small dog, eventually introducing her as their new pet: “Meet Sadie the rescue all the way from Greece,” the caption of the post reads.
Speaking to Newsweek, the couple revealed that the trip was originally a surprise for a family member. “My mom has always wanted to go visit the animal center, so we surprised her with this trip for her birthday,” they said.
Though they hadn’t intended to adopt a pet, plans quickly changed. “My partner and I didn’t plan to adopt a dog whilst there, but we took one look at Sadie and fell in love,” they told Newsweek. “Sadie was abandoned at a monastery a few days before we got there so we think it was fate.”
The couple stayed at an Airbnb located on the rescue center’s site. “It was stunning and cheap,” they said, noting that “the island of Andros is a hidden gem.”
Since arriving in the U.K., Sadie has been adjusting to her new home, where she’s lived for three weeks. The couple is still unsure of her breed, but a DNA test is in the works and results are expected in about four months.
Sadie’s story comes amid an ongoing strain on animal rescue organizations. According to 2024 data from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), 5.8 million dogs and cats entered U.S. shelters and rescues in the past year—a slight decrease from 2023, but not enough to significantly reduce overcrowding.
The ASPCA also noted that “the length of time dogs, especially large dogs, are staying in shelters before being adopted has increased in the last 5 years,” worsening the capacity crisis. Of the animals processed in 2024, approximately two million dogs were adopted, 554,000 were returned to their owners, 524,000 were transferred to other organizations, and 334,000 were euthanized.
‘Best Holiday Souvenir Ever’
TikTok users reacted enthusiastically to the couple’s decision.
“How could you ever have said no to that face,” wrote ktlout.
Alex Garcia commented: “The way I could come home with 5 puppies.”
User @xmawoods simply noted: “The best holiday souvenir ever.”
Anna Kathryn said: “That is a top runner for cutest baby I’ve ever seen.”
User heinmeister84 said: “What a darling!”
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