Reunite me with my best friend, my Moon.

Hello, my name is Joe and this is Killa, pronounced ‘key-ah’. Don’t let the spelling fool you, she’s a loveable lifesaver that I hope you'll take some time to read all about.

Beginning at, well, the beginning.

June 10 2017

I'd been travelling for just over a year. Buses and hitchhiking were the main means of travel and on this day I'd just arrived in Puno, Peru.

I started exploring a street market with some friends I'd made a few months earlier. However, among the hectic traders and stalls I soon became separated from the group - as I quickly turned to look for them a local lady thrust a tiny bundle of warm and fuzzy fur into my arms even quicker. 

Looking down, I saw this tiny snout, big beaming eyes and the most adorable little face... Yes, I fell in love right there and then.

Shocked and confused, my eyes followed the woman through the crowd, back to a stall with a small cage of puppies all cramped together - I couldn’t put her back, on account of our instant love connection, obviously. I'm not a cold-hearted maniac, obviously. So, I did what any normal solo backpacker travelling around South America with little money and even less food would do: I bought the love of my life for a tidy $1.

*What was I supposed to do? 

At this point, the others had caught up and they were just as happy as me, gushing: "Oh Joeeee, you're so lucky. You look great together. You need to get your bitch checked out."

"Say whaaat?" I fumed. "Oh... Right." I took her to the vet quick time.

Vaccinations were injected, boxes were ticked, paperwork was signed and within a few days, she was mine for life. The vet said she was about three months old.

*No money for toys at the time (don't try this at home) 

Why the name Killa?

One, because there are already enough dogs called Milo, Frank, Samson, Rolo, Max, Dolly, Molly et al out there. And two, I wanted her to have a traditional name from her hometown. So, we all agreed to name her a name in the local language of Quechua.

Translated, Killa means Luna/Moon. My friend came up with it and it was perfect for her.

*The naming ceremony

A plan for the New Moon

Before Killa joined us, the plan was to travel south towards Patagonia, Argentina. So, we kept it just the same only now with our new furry friend and maybe we could find her a loving home along the way. But as time went on it became clear that Killa didn’t hinder us at all, far from it. She became part of the group, an amazing travelling companion.

*We hit the road together

*A born traveller

From camping to Couchsurfing to staying in hostels, Killa was always happy and brought a smile to the faces of everyone we met on our travels. She helped break the ice, soften the frowns of stern accommodation managers and, as she grew, beefed up our security.

She kept me company when I waited alone for buses that never turned up, she guarded my backpack/home/worldly possessions for me outside if I had to nip in somewhere and couldn't take it, but mostly she was the one who lifted up my spirits when they started to wane. As anyone who's travelled for even just a few days alone will know, it can be quite a lonely planet sometimes. Thankfully, our bond grew stronger every passing day.

*Guard dog sleeping on the job

*Hiding in boxes to travel

*Soaking in the views of a lifetime 


November 2017

We arrived in Uruguay and after making lots of friends and falling in love (with a human this time, 'cos I'm a sucker for love you see) I decided to stay. I built a small home for us on a friend’s property, this was new to Killa. She had spent the first months of her life travelling from place to place but now, we had settled down together. She was no longer a rambling pup. She could run free in the same area every day, see new dog pals every day and have her own permanent bed to sleep in every night.

Once the house was built it felt amazing to have somewhere to call home, within a close-knit community, helping one and other, a big diverse family.

*Helping me build our home

*Our humble home in the making


February 25 2019

Killa gave birth to a litter of seven, my girl was a mother.

Not for the first time, the father didn't stick around... So, I rose to the challenge and together we cared for them until they were old enough to live without Killa. I used social media and the community to help find caring homes for them all. It was a tough choice emotionally.

*The magnificent seven 

*They were blessed with their mother's looks

Thankfully, I did the best I could to ensure they went to good owners with even better homes - and that they weren't destined to be chained up all day every day, often with poor shade/comfort/food/water like so many I have seen on my journey.



Time to go home 

After more than three years on the road and having scrimped, scraped and skipped meals to make every penny last, I'd run out of money. I knew it was time to return to the UK. I'd known for a while, but leaving Killa was an unthinkable hurdle that I didn't want to tackle.

I didn’t want to leave her but I had no way to get her back with me. Plenty of people told me she could stay in Uruguay. It was difficult to finally accept that this was the safest option. I tried very hard before I left to find her someone who I could give her a happy life with.

After months of toiling over what to do, I realised I couldn't give her up. I wanted to bring her with me. We'd hitchhiked all day and all night together, I'd sneaked her onto buses in a cardboard box, she'd fought, barked and snarled at people during the odd sticky situation, we'd even raised seven puppies together! There was no way I could leave for good.

 *It's never easy to say goodbye


August 7 2019

My good friend Juan agreed to take care of Killa whilst I returned to the UK to get everything prepared for her travel. I started the process and knew it would be costly. I moved in with family and friends, landed a job in a local bakery and bagged an unwanted bicycle to cycle back and forth so I could start saving as much as I could. I sold whatever little possessions I had left and started sending money over to pay for anything she needed.



Today, August 10 2020

It's more than a year on since we were last together. And, it's more than a year of trying to get her to the UK. I have completed all the vaccinations and blood tests. She has been micro-chipped and undergone de-parasite treatment, all necessary for her to come over. So far it has cost $800 and took far longer than expecte to complete given the delays caused by Covid-19 lockdowns across the world.

The next step is to pay the shipping and administration fees.

Coming to a total of £3,000.

It's a lot.

And, it takes a lot to even ask for donations.

But as the months roll on it's becoming increasingly clear I need the help of kind-hearted strangers if I ever stand the chance of being reunited with her. I think of her every day and it hurts to wait any longer.

If you, your friends, your family can help with anything you can spare to help raise the funds to help pay for her air travel over my thanks would be immeasurable.

To any extra generous donors, I can offer my time, labour and love to anyone who needs. I currently work in a bakery in Failsworth, Oldham, from 6am to 1pm Monday to Friday. I'm a good carpenter (having built my own house, chicken coops, furniture, sheds etc.), willing workhorse and semi-accomplished baker.

Let me know what you need.

This isn't a get rich quick scheme, nor a request from a mysterious uncle on email. It's not Covid-related or world-changing.

It's simply a desperate plea to reunite a soppy traveller with the furry friend that saved him day after day during the often lonely world of solo backpacking.

If you have read this far... Wow! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you can find it in yours to help, you'll be free to come round for cuddles, kisses and homemade baked goods as often as you like.

She is my Killa, my Moon.

Thank you

Joe (and Killa, obvs) xxx

*Hoping to have the good life back when we're together again