n a small corner of the Greek Peloponnese, one dog is making herself heard after waiting for over five years for a forever home.
Affectionately dubbed “Crazy Nelly,” she has a habit of “screaming” every time she sees a human, calling out for attention and love.
Living at a shelter run by Foundation For the Strays—Paws of Greece, Nelly is a husky mix who howls out whenever she sees people coming by.
“When I arrive at the shelter, I hear her above everything and I’m already talking to her, because I think she’s speaking too” says Petra Brouwer, co-founder of the shelter told Newsweek.
Despite being sweet and affectionate with people, Nelly hasn’t found a home after half a decade in the shelter. She came into the care of the foundation after a difficult start to life.
In 2018, she was found as a 4-month-old puppy in the square of Kyparissia, Greece, wounded and with bite marks from other dogs. A man named Giannis, who had been rescuing dogs in a small house in Memi, took her to the vet and brought her into his home.
Though Nelly was once adopted, she was returned several months later due to a health issue. Life with Giannis became harder for Nelly when she began clashing with other female dogs, eventually leading to her transfer to the shelter in 2022.
Since then, Nelly has shared a kennel with her best friend, a male dog named Wii. While the two get along wonderfully, it’s human interaction Nelly craves the most.
While she has the nickname “Crazy Nelly,” Brouwer explained it is really just a playful name. “She is not really a ‘crazy dog’ of course, it is actually a pet name given to her by Giannis and myself, because of her being vocal at times,” she said.
Despite her lovable personality, Nelly has still had no interest from potential adopters. Brouwer believes this is because people are usually more interested in adopting puppies, leaving older dogs like Nelly behind.
“Of course it is hard to make people, who did not meet her, understand how wonderful and loving she really is,” Brouwer said. “To capture our dogs in words, so that they are noticed, oftentimes is not easy.”
Great with children and other animals, Brouwer said that Nelly has a lot to offer a potential family. “She can be with cats and chickens,” she said. “We are looking for someone who has a lot of time for her. She is loyal and caring.”
The shelter would prefer to find Nelly a home in the Netherlands, Belgium, or Germany, where it has connections, but is open to exploring other options if the right home was found.