Finding an abandoned dog on the side of the street is a devastating prospect, but when that became a reality for Hollie Wild, she didn’t hesitate to act.

Wild was out walking when she came across the heartbreaking sight of a terrified dog who’d been tied to a gate. The large dog was incredibly thin, and she was panting profusely as the intense heat at the time left her so dehydrated.

Wild, of Wakefield, UK, told Newsweek that she has “no idea why she was left,” but she could have been used for hunting and was now deemed “too old” to serve a purpose. In that moment, Wild, 28, unraveled the leash that was tying the dog to the gate and took her home to show her proper love and care.

“When we took her home, we ensured she had plenty of space, a safe place (a dog bed) to go to whilst she adjusted, plenty of water, and food,” Wild said. “She has no health concerns physically, but she is very damaged mentally from whatever happened to her before I found her.”

Of course, the dog also needed a new name, so Wild and her family called her Nova—a shining star that suddenly increases its light before fading away.

Although it seemed that Nova, a Saluki and greyhound mix, had been left behind, Wild was sure to do her due diligence in case she had an owner.

Wild contacted a dog warden, an officer employed by the local council to ensure pet safety and responsible ownership. She also contacted a volunteer from Scan Angels to come and see if Nova is microchipped.

“This provided her owner’s phone number and email address. I contacted both and they bounced, which suggests they were fake,” Wild said.

“Legally you have to tell the dog warden, which I did. A lovely lady from the council came out and gave me a 28-day finder retainer and let me keep Nova. If they are unable to contact the owner within 28 days, I can officially adopt her at the end of that period.”

On the day she was rescued, the 6-year-old dog barely looked at her new owners and “wouldn’t give eye contact.” She hid in the garden at first, trying to keep her distance from the house and the family.

But as the days went by, she grew in confidence and realized that Wild and her family were there to help her, not hurt her.

“Within three days, she was doing happy zoomies around the garden, rolling around, and hopping onto our bed for cuddles,” Wild told Newsweek. “As a very busy mum of 4 with her own skincare business and a lot of animals already, taking on a rescue dog is very difficult and a huge commitment. But I’m hoping she settles and fits into our family well.”

After seeing how much she’s grown, Wild hopes to provide Nova with her forever home. But as there’s still so much uncertainty, she explained that they’re just taking each day as it comes.

“Whether I’m her forever home, or I have to rehome her down the line, the main thing is that we saved her, she’s safe, and she’s coming out of her shell. Nova is a great lesson for everyone that love and kindness change everything,” Wild continued.

Wild shared a video on TikTok (@holliewildmusic) showing how scared and fragile Nova was at first before revealing what a difference a few days made. The clip has melted hearts online, leading to more than 61,800 views and over 4,700 likes on TikTok at the time of writing.

With over 300 comments on the post so far, many people thanked Wild for saving Nova and giving her a second chance.

One comment reads: “Looks like a saluki. Probably been used for hunting and breeding then dumped when she got too old.”

Another TikTok user wrote: “She was meant to found by you, look how content she looks.”

Another person replied: “I think she’s meant to be yours. I hope you know how special you are for taking her in.”

While one commenter added: “Welcome home baby girl. Now you have the life you deserve.”

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