When Elika Mansouri, founder of I Care Kuwait, received a message about a dog lying motionless in the middle of Kuwait’s Friday Market, she didn’t hesitate — even though her plate was already full.
“I already had so much going on, but I couldn’t ignore her,” Mansouri told The Dodo.
When she arrived, the scene was exactly as described. The dog, later named Ella, was lying in the same spot, completely still. For a terrifying moment, Mansouri feared she was already gone.
“As I got closer, I realized she was still breathing,” Mansouri said. “The relief I felt in that moment is something I’ll never forget.”
Mansouri asked nearby shopkeepers what had happened. In broken Arabic, she pieced together a heartbreaking explanation: someone had tried to sell Ella at the market. When no one wanted her, they simply abandoned her on the ground and walked away.
But the moment Ella noticed Mansouri approaching, something incredible happened.
Summoning the last of her strength, the weak dog slowly pushed herself up. It was as if she knew help had finally arrived. Mansouri gently slipped a leash around her neck and carefully guided her to the car — away from the market and toward a chance at life.
The next morning, Ella was taken to a veterinary hospital, where she tested positive for parvovirus, a devastating and often deadly illness. But Ella had already proven she was a fighter. She battled through the virus and survived.
Even after leaving the streets behind, Ella’s journey wasn’t easy. She struggled in a kennel environment and repeatedly tried to escape.
In Kuwait, finding permanent homes for dogs is incredibly difficult, and Mansouri knew Ella’s best chance was abroad. With the help of rescue partners, Ella was sent to Canada in hopes of finding the family she deserved.
Adjusting to her new life wasn’t immediate. Ella experienced anxiety in her unfamiliar surroundings, but her caretakers patiently worked to help her feel safe. Then, one ordinary morning, everything changed.
Ella was playing in the yard when a woman passed by on her daily run. Their eyes met — and that was all it took.
“She fell in love instantly,” Mansouri said.
Years later, Ella’s life looks nothing like it once did. The dog who had been discarded like trash is now cherished beyond measure, living a joyful, secure life with a loving family in Montreal, Canada.
“Ella ended up being one of the luckiest girls,” Mansouri said. “Her new family welcomed her with open arms. Today she’s spoiled, adored, safe — and finally getting everything she always deserved.”
To help other dogs like Ella get a second chance, you can support the lifesaving work of I Care Kuwait through donations.
