A Dog Found Barely Alive Finds the Strength to Stand for Rescuers
Ella lay motionless in the middle of Kuwait’s Friday Market. She hadn’t lifted her head or shifted from the spot where someone had left her. She simply stayed there, still and silent, until help finally arrived. When a rescuer stepped toward her, something in her changed. It was just a small recognition, and the rest became a story worth retelling.
Left Behind in the Middle of a Market
Credit: Facebook
Ella had been dumped after someone failed to sell her. Shopkeepers said she was placed on the ground and left there when no buyer came along. By the time rescuers were called, she hadn’t moved at all, and her stillness made Mansouri fear she might already be gone.
Rescue Arrives, and So Does a Flicker of Life
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When Elika Mansouri from I Care Kuwait reached the market, Ella was lying in the same exact place. With what little strength she had left, she slowly stood up. It was a small movement but a clear one, and Mansouri slipped a leash around her neck and guided her toward the car.
Diagnosed With Parvovirus the Next Morning
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At the vet, Ella tested positive for Parvovirus, a highly contagious and often deadly illness in dogs. The virus attacks rapidly dividing cells, often in the intestines. Without immediate treatment, the odds of survival drop fast. Even with the diagnosis, Ella fought through the illness and made it to the other side.
She Didn’t Like Kennel Life One Bit
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Ella survived the streets and a serious illness, but adjusting to the kennel was another story. She made frequent escape attempts and had difficulty settling into kennel life. Some dogs take to shelters easily—Ella wasn’t one of them. Since she wasn’t adjusting well, finding a better long-term place for her became important.
Street Dogs in Kuwait Face Steep Odds
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Finding Ella a permanent home in Kuwait would be difficult, so I Care Kuwait turned to one of its rescue partners in Canada—Ella’s best chance at a real future.
A Plane Ride to a New Beginning
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Once she was strong enough, Ella traveled to Canada through one of the rescue’s established partners. The move opened a door that didn’t exist for her in Kuwait by placing her somewhere with a higher chance of adoption.
Meeting Her Future Family by Chance
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A month later, Ella was outside playing at the Canadian rescue when a woman jogged past the yard. Their eyes met for just a moment, but it was enough. The runner asked about her, learned her story, and eventually applied to adopt her.
Adjusting to a Home Took Patience
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Ella arrived with some anxiety and needed time to understand her new surroundings. Despite this reality, she grew more comfortable and slowly began to settle into her new life with each passing day.
Today, She’s a Completely Different Dog
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Years later, Ella is thriving in Montreal with the family who welcomed her in. She’s safe, loved, and far removed from the concrete floor where she was left behind. Her life is steady now, built on the routines she never had before.
She’s Not Just a Survivor—She’s a Reminder
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Ella’s story stayed with her rescuers because of that first moment—when she stood up despite everything working against her. It was simply a dog choosing to meet a stranger halfway, and that small shift changed the rest of her life.