Back in February, a Good Samaritan traveling near a Romanian village noticed a ball of fluff nestled in a cold patch of grass next to the highway. The passerby quickly realized the animal was a dog. They posted a picture on Facebook, encouraging local rescuers to help.

When Sonia Antonela Costas, of Sonia’s Safe Animal Haven, saw the post, she knew she had to do something. She hopped in her car and raced to the scene.

Pulling off the road, Costas saw the pup standing in the frigid field. The dog, later named Fox, immediately ran over to Costas and showered her with affection.

Costas cradled Fox in her arms and assured him that he would be OK. She took him back to her rescue facility, which she runs out of her home, and began the arduous process of removing hundreds of ticks from his fur. The next day, Costas brought Fox to the vet, where veterinarians made sure he was healthy and up to date on his vaccinations.

Finally safe, Fox began to relax into his new life. He met other rescue pups at Costas’ home and made fast friends with all of them.

“[H]e is the most happy dog that we have,” Costas wrote in a post about Fox.

Costas knows that Fox is ready to meet his permanent family, if only the right adopters could find him. She thinks Fox would do well with younger parents who’d be excited to keep up with the energetic 1-year-old.

Fox, for his part, is being a good boy, brightening Costas’ days, waiting to meet his people. With any luck, he won’t be waiting much longer.