A Norwegian woman died on Monday, two months after rescuing a puppy she found while on vacation in the Philippines. The animal was infected with rabies.

Birgitte Kallestad, 24, of Hordaland saw the dog wandering around in the streets of the Philippines, her family said in a statement reported by the Daily Mail, and she chose to take it back to her resort.

"Our dear Birgitte loved animals,” her family said. “Our fear is that this will happen to others who have a warm heart like her."

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Kallestad ended up sustaining small cuts and bites from the animal while playing with it. According to her family, she became sick after returning to her home in Norway.

Kallestad was hospitalized several times as her condition worsened. She died on Monday night, eight days after being admitted to the hospital where she worked.

Birgitte is the first person to die from rabies in Norway in over 200 years.

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In this image, a Dobermann dog is seen running toward his trainer in Beirut, Lebanon, Oct. 27, 2010. JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images
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