While on a mission to rescue 10,000 street dogs in Thailand, animal advocate Niall Harbison came across a dog who would soon change everything.
Her condition was heartbreaking, and even though Harbison had seen his fair share of sick and injured animals, this one stood out.
“I called her Hope because she had none,” Harbison wrote in a tweet.
Hope first appeared near Harbison’s camp, visibly wounded and emotionally shut down. Her fear was so intense that for 10 days, she refused to let anyone near her.
“A team of five people tried everything, but she was just too scared,” Harbison said.
Determined to help, Harbison’s team kept watch around the camp, gently trying to earn Hope’s trust. Eventually, their patience paid off — they carefully and successfully secured her.
“We had finally caught this beautiful, scared girl and could get her to safety,” Harbison wrote. “She’s in a safe place now and never has to face being attacked again.”
Physical healing came quickly under Harbison’s attentive care. Every day, he tended to Hope’s wounds and showed her love. But emotionally, Hope was still deeply shut down.
“For weeks, she would stare at the wall. She wouldn’t move. She barely ate or went to the toilet,” Harbison shared. “I knew it was going to take a long time …”
Slowly, with the help of other dogs, including a cheerful pup named McMuffin, Hope began to open up. She learned how to play, trust, and enjoy affection again.
“With patience, training, and a lot of love, she got her confidence back,” Harbison said. “All she needed was time.”
As Hope’s transformation unfolded, one thing still remained: she needed a forever home.
Then one day, a woman named Steff visited the camp. She happily greeted every dog, but when she met Hope, something extraordinary happened.
Hope walked right up to her, gently kissed her on the nose, and rolled over for belly rubs — her way of saying, you’re the one.
In that moment, Steff fell in love, too.
She decided she wasn’t leaving Thailand without Hope. Steff extended her trip by two months to prepare for Hope’s journey to the UK and ensure every step was taken with care.
Four months after her rescue, Hope was ready. She stood proudly as Steff clipped on a brand-new collar and leash, then trotted away with a glowing smile.
“Look at that smile,” Harbison wrote in a joyful update.
Today, Hope is thriving in her new home in the United Kingdom. Though Harbison and his team miss seeing her at the sanctuary, they’re overjoyed knowing she finally has the life she always deserved — safe, loved, and truly home.
To support dogs like Hope, you can donate to Niall Harbison's mission here.
Follow more of his rescues on Twitter or Instagram.
