A dark road, in the middle of the night, and three figures moving on the side of the road. On the night of April 14 to 15, 2026, Inès Benazzouz, aka Inoxtag, comes across a scene that will change the course of her evening. Known for his extreme challenges, such as climbing Mount Everest, the 24-year-old YouTuber, followed by millions of people, does not yet suspect that he will become a hero for a night.
Inoxtag faced with three dogs abandoned on the side of the road
Thin and frightened, they wander a few centimeters from the speeding cars. Inoxtag stops, puts on its warnings and goes down. In the light of the headlights, he discovers three adult dogs, extremely emaciated, who seem to be looking for something to eat. He would later say in his Instagram stories: “They were skinny, hungry and panicked“, a phrase that describes the animals’ state of distress when he approaches them for the first time.
The content creator speaks softly, hands out food, gradually gains their trust and, within minutes, Inoxtag saves three abandoned dogs by putting them in his car. At home, he transforms a bedroom into an improvised shelter, with the transport cage of his own dog, Ace. Later that night, moved to see them finally sleeping, he shares: “They are so cute, all three of them are sleeping“.
From the vet to the pound: the journey imposed on dogs
In the early morning of April 15, Inoxtag took the three dogs to a veterinarian to check their health and identification. They are then taken care of and then entrusted to the pound, an obligatory step before possible passage by the SPA and adoption. One of them, whom he nicknames Paco, already seems to have found a special place in the YouTuber’s heart.
This very shared story comes in a country where the abandonment of animals remains massive: each year, around 300,000 dogs and cats are abandoned in France, and the SPA had to refuse nearly 38,000 requests for care in 2024 for lack of places. Article 521-1 of the Penal Code provides for up to 3 years in prison and a fine of €45,000 for abandonment, 5 years and €75,000 if the animal dies.
Inoxtag’s message against compulsive adoption and good reflexes
Marked by this night, the YouTuber took the opportunity to send a message to his subscribers: “I take advantage of this story to warn you to never adopt a pet if you cannot afford to take care of it, and to never adopt compulsively. If you ever see abandoned dogs, I’m counting on you to call the police or the pound directly and make sure they can end up adopted.“.
