Elika Mansouri was finishing another long day when her phone lit up with a message about a dog lying in the middle of the Friday Market in Kuwait.
She paused for a moment, trying to catch her breath from everything already weighing on her.
But the thought of a helpless dog alone and not moving pulled at her heart in a way she could never ignore.
She whispered to herself that she would just take a quick look, even though she knew it would never be quick.
Her heart simply didn’t work that way, and every sweet soul who crossed her path became part of her world.
So she grabbed her keys and headed toward the busy market, hoping she wasn’t already too late.
When Elika reached the Friday Market, the noise and crowds felt distant compared to the sight in front of her.
A dog lay perfectly still on the ground, as if the whole world had forgotten she existed.
Elika’s stomach tightened as she feared she was already looking at a life that had slipped away.
She walked toward the dog slowly, afraid of what she might discover.
Then she saw the faint rise and fall of a fragile chest.
Relief washed over her like warm sunlight, and she felt tears sting the corners of her eyes from the heartbreaking fear she had carried.
In her broken Arabic, she asked nearby shopkeepers what had happened to the poor dog.
They explained that someone tried to sell her earlier in the day.
When no one wanted her, they simply dumped her on the ground as if she were nothing but unwanted trash.
The dog, later named Ella, did not lift her head when Elika first approached.
But when she finally realized that someone gentle was coming for her, she gathered every little spark of strength inside her tired body.
Slowly, shakily, Ella pushed herself up from the dusty floor.
Her legs trembled as she stood, but she held Elika’s eyes with quiet hope.
It was as if she was saying she was ready to leave this pain behind.
Elika slipped a leash around her neck with soft hands and whispered that she was safe now.
Walking to the car took time because Ella was weak, but every small step felt like a victory for both of them.
Elika opened the door and helped her inside, promising her that this ride would be the beginning of a new life.
And for the first time in a long time, Ella closed her eyes without fear.
The next morning, Elika carried Ella into the veterinary hospital.
She already loved her deeply, but she also knew the streets had taken a heavy toll on the fragile girl.
The vet confirmed her worries when Ella tested positive for Parvovirus, a dangerous illness that many stray dogs never survive.
Ella lay on her blanket quietly as the vet explained the treatment plan.
She looked so small in that big space, and Elika felt her heart ache for the gentle dog who had already endured so much.
But Ella had a fighter’s spirit hidden beneath her tired eyes.
Day after day, she pushed through the sickness.
Every tiny improvement felt like a miracle, and every small tail wag felt like a gift.
Slowly, Ella fought her way out of danger and stepped into the light of a life she never thought she could have.
But even when her body healed, her future remained uncertain.
Kuwait was a difficult place to find forever homes for dogs, especially dogs who had already been abandoned.
Ella struggled in the kennel, feeling trapped and scared, and she tried to escape again and again.
Elika knew she needed something more than a kennel.
She needed a real chance at happiness in a place where compassion was easier to find.
So Elika contacted her rescue partner in Canada, knowing that sending Ella across the world might be the only way to save her future.
The journey was long, and Ella was confused by so many new sights and sounds.
She arrived in Canada with anxious eyes and a trembling body, unsure of what waited for her.
But the rescue team welcomed her gently and gave her soft blankets, warm meals, and patient hearts.
It took time for Ella to feel safe.
Some nights she paced nervously, unsure if this new place was temporary like everything else in her life.
Yet the rescue team stayed with her, whispering soft words and offering comfort until she finally curled up and rested.
Weeks later, Ella was playing in the yard when something unexpected happened.
A woman jogging by slowed down as soon as she saw Ella.
Their eyes met, and time seemed to stop just long enough for something beautiful to spark between them.
The woman couldn’t take her eyes off the sweet dog with the soft spirit and cautious smile.
She visited her again, and again, until Ella gently leaned into her arms.
Elika later said that the woman fell in love in an instant, and Ella felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time — belonging.
Ella went home that same week.
Her new mom held her close, promising her a life filled with comfort and second chances.
Ella looked around her new home and seemed to realize she would never be thrown away again.
Years have passed since that day.
Ella now sleeps on soft beds, enjoys long walks, and runs through the snow with joyful energy.
She has become a girl cherished by a family who sees her worth in every wag, every sigh, every soft look.
Elika often thinks about the dog she found lying helpless in the market.
To see Ella now, living in Montreal with a family who treasures her, fills her heart with overwhelming pride.
Ella went from being discarded like garbage to being a dog who is spoiled, adored, and wrapped in the safe arms of people who love her deeply.
“Ella ended up being one of the luckiest girls,” Elika said.
Her voice still softens when she talks about her.
Because Ella didn’t just survive — she finally became someone’s whole world.