'I couldn't leave him to his fate': Compassionate solo traveler devotes her trip to saving a sick puppy, changes both their lives in the process

Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor

Jul 9, 2024 7:00 PM EDT

Traveling changes your life for the better. While many people critique the lifestyle, there's something about putting yourself in the shoes of another culture that teaches you more than any schoolhouse could. One woman, a solo traveler in Sri Lanka, recently learned some of life's biggest lessons on a trip. And no, it's not because she missed her train, ate bad curry, or forgot to book a hostel for a night–it's because she stumbled upon a sick, stray puppy who she was determined to save.

As a full-time traveler, Valerie had no pets. Although she loved animals, the logistics of pet ownership were never in the cards for her. Until she came across a bloated sad doggo in the streets, begging for food and desperately in need of a helping hooman hand. Quickly, she stepped up to the plate, devoting the rest of her trip to saving the life of one little pup, changing the course of both of their lives for the better. Scroll for the entire heartwarming story that'll have you misty-eyed, happy, and wholly fulfilled by the end.

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