This two-legged doggo was rescued from war-torn Afghanistan and has fully recovered: 'He's full of joy'

Maz is a Labrador cross who was saved from the streets of Afghanistan in 2015. Since he was first rescued by Dr. Helene Svinos, a National Health Services medical professional based in the United Kingdom, he has made an amazing recovery. The doggo now loves sprinting on his two front legs and even competes in races with Dr. Svinos's three springer spaniels. Maz is now an immense source of comfort to the doctor; his support has been incredibly meaningful to her, particularly during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Good News Network reports. His story also presents an opportunity for us to discuss the humanitarian crisis currently underway in his country of origin, where Afghans are fighting to survive under an oppressive Taliban regime.

Dr. Svinos stated in an interview with the news outlet, "He just lives in the moment and he doesn’t focus on what happened in the past." She first learned of Maz on Valentine's Day in 2015 when she stumbled upon a video of him, then nicknamed the "friendliest dog." She could not stop thinking about him. According to the doctor, Maz was injured in 2013 was struck by a car that crushed both of his back legs. He spent two years roaming the streets of war-torn Afghanistan, which was then being "defended" by soldiers from the United States. Despite his incredibly painful injury, the Labrador cross was "full of joy" and the doctor decided she simply had to bring Maz back home with her in Manchester, England.

Therefore, she got in touch with old friend Louise Hastie. Hastie is a former soldier who rescues dogs from war zones with the organization War Paws, a charity she set up to help dogs in areas of civil conflict. She promptly moved Maz to Kabul, from where he was eventually flown to the United Kingdom in May that same year. He had two four-hour surgeries to remove his back legs in May 2015 before he finally found his forever home with Helene. Once he reached Dr. Svinos's home, he fit right in with her gang of other pups, a pack of rescue dogs including the paraplegic Pomeranian Bambi and the blind Husky Inka (both dogs were rescued from Romania).

Even though he is disabled, Maz enjoys going out for runs and has even beaten the doctor's three springer spaniels in a sprint, who have all competed in CaniCross races. "Maz is just a complete and utter star," Dr. Svinos shared. "You can’t feel sad or unhappy around him as he’s full of joy—except for when it’s raining. Maz has never let anything stop him from doing all the things he wants to do—including rolling in mud! He has been a special source of comfort to her during the pandemic as she was posted to Manchester Royal Infirmary as an A&E doctor. She said, "I’m an A&E doctor working during [the] lockdown, but coming home he just puts things into perspective. It’s been difficult at times during lockdown, feeling lonely, but then I come back to these happy dogs. He’s just the most wonderful dog and I’m so grateful to have him in my life."