This little pup had every reason to be suspicious and scared after being abandoned on the side of a rough road.

Despite her ordeal, the puppy’s instinct to trust and love never left her.

Georgia Neagυ, an animal rescuer, recently posted heartbreaking footage of the moment she encountered the best pup while traveling in Rome.

The terrified dog lunges at Neagυ as she stops her car, only to hide and howl as Neagυ approaches her. The trauma the dog had suffered apparently left her skeptical that anyone would treat her gently.

But once protected, the little cub flourished, licking Neag as if to thank him for allowing her to feel safe enough to be herself and sweet.

Here is a video of the moment:

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A post shared by Georgiaпa Neagυ (@sos_arms_georgiaпa_пeagυ)

“When I saw it, I knew I had to look for it,” Neagυ told The Dodo. “Every broken heart can be healed by universal love. In my arms, she felt protected.”

It is clear how the dog ended up in such a dangerous situation. But one thing is certain: his future has never been brighter.

“Her name was Paula. “She is very fucked up and she is attached to my shadow,” Neagυ explained. “She will stay with me until she finds a permanent home.” She is around 11 months old and is very happy.”