When he was first discovered wandering the streets of Nafpaktos, Greece, Menios was barely clinging to life.
A local veterinarian who examined him described his condition as “critical.” Starved for weeks, his frail body had wasted away. Even more shocking, part of his rib cage had snapped and pierced through his skin. The wounds suggested something far worse than an accident — the poor dog had likely been tortured by his former owner before being abandoned.
Menios had been left to die. But fate had other plans.
From the brink of death to a second chance
The heartbreaking story of this Greek hunting dog quickly captured the heart of Joanne Lowen, a primary school teacher from Lower Halstow, United Kingdom.
Without hesitation, Joanne decided to adopt Menios and give him the loving home he had been cruelly denied. Under her care, surrounded by kindness and security, Menios began to recover — not just physically, but emotionally as well.
Within months, the once-broken dog regained his strength, energy, and playful spirit. His elegant stance and lively nature returned, reminding everyone of his origins as a proud Greek hound.
A dog’s love repaid in the most extraordinary way
They say “a rescued animal never forgets,” and Menios would soon prove it true.
One day, Joanne noticed something odd. Whenever they sat together on the sofa, Menios would repeatedly sniff a particular area near her chest and underarm. At first, she brushed it off, thinking it might be her deodorant.
But Menios persisted — day after day, his behavior became more intense and agitated, as if trying to warn her. Trusting her loyal companion’s instincts, Joanne went to see a doctor.
Her initial check-up showed nothing unusual. Yet, on the doctor’s advice, she underwent further tests — and that’s when the shocking truth was revealed.
Scans detected a tumor in her breast tissue near the armpit, later confirmed as invasive lobular breast cancer — a form of cancer that starts in the milk-producing glands. Although it typically spreads silently within the breast, if ruptured, the cancer cells can travel through the body.
Menios saves his owner’s life
Joanne underwent surgery to remove the tumor. Thankfully, the cancer had not yet spread to her lymph nodes, though doctors remained cautious about the possibility of its return.
After her first surgery, however, Menios continued to sniff her anxiously, as if telling her the danger wasn’t over. Trusting him once more, Joanne agreed to a second surgery in June 2019.
This time, something remarkable happened: after she returned home from hospital, Menios stopped his unusual behavior. Days later, her medical results confirmed what Menios already seemed to know — the cancer was gone.
“Menios truly saved my life”
Reflecting on her ordeal, Joanne says with gratitude:
“Menios truly saved my life. I believe without him, I might not be here today. He was once a broken dog in need of saving, but in the end, he became my savior. That’s the power of love and trust between a human and a dog.”
She now encourages others to consider adopting and caring for a dog in need:
“When you give them love, they give it back in ways you could never imagine. One day, your rescue might just become your rescuer.”
From a tortured stray in Greece to a beloved family member in the UK, Menios’ story is proof that even in the darkest moments, compassion can turn despair into hope — and sometimes, save more than one life along the way.