βIβm sure he wouldnβt have made it …”
Several years ago, Maxime and Issy were hiking Bobotov Kuk, the highest mountain peak in Montenegro, when they reached the summit and encountered an unexpected sight. Lying motionless near the top was a dog who appeared unable to stand.
The dog was thin, exhausted and had an old, dirty bandage wrapped around one of his legs. Despite his condition, he was gentle and welcoming. When the couple offered him water and a can of tuna, his tail began to wag, as if he understood they were there to help.
Maxime immediately tried to figure out how to get the dog down the mountain. He attempted to place him into a backpack, but the dog was simply too big. With no safe way to transport him, the couple faced a heartbreaking choice: leave him overnight and return with proper equipment. They spent the entire night worrying about whether he would survive.
Early the next morning, Issy stayed behind to gather supplies while Maxime returned to the 8,000-foot summit alongside BlaΕΎo, a member of a local mountain rescue team. Together, the two men carefully carried the injured dog down the steep terrain.
βWe wrapped him in a blanket, grabbed the corners and took turns carrying him over our shoulders,β Maxime told The Dodo.
During the long descent, Maxime grew increasingly attached to the dog and decided to name him Bobo, inspired by Bobotov Kuk. He knew the timing of their discovery had been critical.
βI really donβt think he would have survived much longer up there,β Maxime said.
When Maxime reached the base of the mountain, Issy shared surprising news of her own. While preparing supplies for Bobo, she had also rescued a stray kitten, whom they named Voli. In a single day, the couple had unknowingly saved two lives.
Bobo was rushed to a veterinarian, where his badly infected leg was treated. At a follow-up appointment, the vets discovered the cause of his injury: a gunshot wound. To ensure Bobo could live pain-free, they made the difficult decision to amputate the leg.
Though the surgery worried Maxime and Issy, Bobo recovered remarkably fast. Within days, he was hopping, running and eager to move again.
βHeβs unbelievably agile,β Maxime said. βWhen we hike now, heβs always ahead of us, waiting.β
Today, Bobo and Voli travel the world with their humans in a camper van. Their days are filled with outdoor adventures, and their nights are spent curled up together inside the van.
βWe often find them cuddled together,β Maxime said. βSometimes Voli even grooms Bobo.β
Looking at Bobo now β energetic, joyful and full of life β itβs hard to imagine he was once left injured and alone on a mountaintop. Thanks to Maxime and Issy, he was given a second chance and a future filled with love and adventure.