In a cold, filthy, and dark basement, a dog lay exhausted. She had been there for months, waiting for someone who would never return. The residents of the building told us she had been abandoned by her owner, thrown away like an unwanted object. Yet, Faith remained there, clinging to hope, as if her owner might one day change his mind and come back for her.
Her family lived in the apartment just above that basement. But while they went about their daily lives, she weakened with each passing day. Nobody offered her food. Nobody offered comfort. Nobody even looked at her. They passed by her every time they went to get their car, ignoring the frail dog lying in despair.
By the time we reached her, she collapsed at the veterinarian’s door. It was as if she had been holding on for that final moment, waiting until help arrived before letting go. Her body temperature had dropped dangerously low. The doctor told us bluntly she had only a 25 percent chance of survival. All we could do was sit beside her, whisper encouragement, and pray. Her story broke our hearts, and even the doctors fought back tears as they worked tirelessly for two days to stabilize her.
On the fifth day, something incredible happened. Faith pulled herself out of crisis. Slowly, her breathing steadied. Her first instinct, however, was devastating—she tried to walk back to the basement, begging us to let her return. It was clear her heart still longed for the place where she had waited, even though it had brought her only misery.
Her body told the story of her suffering. She weighed just 13.7 kilograms, barely half her normal weight. Her blood tests were alarming; she was anemic and depleted. Her left eye was irreparably damaged, with 90 percent of its vision gone. Though her bones were intact, the neglect had left deep scars on her health and spirit.
After a week, her condition began to improve. She gained agility, her body growing stronger, but the damage to her eye could not be reversed. At best, we could preserve what little vision remained. We reported her case to the authorities, demanding justice for what had been done to her.
Even as her body recovered, her soul carried the weight of trauma. She often lay down and cried without reason, as though mourning parents she would never see again. She acted like a child yearning for love that had been denied her. It was both moving and heartbreaking to witness.
But love began to surround her. People from far and wide sent small gifts—blankets, food, toys, and warm wishes. Under good care, she gained weight, her blood improved, and her spirit brightened. She revealed herself to be a gentle, affectionate, and intelligent dog. It baffled us how anyone could abandon such a soul.
Finally, official answers came from the authorities. The family admitted they had found caring for her “inconvenient.” She had soiled their apartment, they said. They claimed leaving her in the basement was better because “she had space to run.” Feeding was rare—just a few times per week. Her eye was left untreated because they did not want to pay for medication. Their excuses exposed the truth: Faith had not been loved. She had been neglected, starved, and abandoned to survive in darkness.
But Faith refused to give in. Within a month, her weight increased to a healthy 20 kilograms. Her coat grew shinier, her step steadier. She was moved permanently into our home, where she finally belonged. We named her Faith, a symbol of the unbreakable bond between her and those who would never betray her again.
Her former owners later tried to reclaim her, suddenly claiming they wanted her back. But we refused. Their intentions were not sincere, and Faith deserved so much more than false promises. With us, she would never again be discarded.
Faith’s journey from the basement to a warm home has been filled with tears, struggles, and small victories. Today, she is a symbol of resilience, a living reminder of the cruelty animals sometimes endure, but also of the incredible power of love to heal.
Her past was filled with neglect, but her future is filled with promise. She will never again be left alone in the cold. She will never again cry for an owner who does not come. From now on, Faith will be cherished, respected, and loved—for all the days of her life.
