Animals have a remarkable way of brightening our world. They bring joy, loyalty, and comfort, becoming cherished members of our families.
That’s what makes it so heartbreaking to know how many of them endure cruelty and neglect. Instead of living safe and happy lives, countless dogs are left to survive alone on the streets.
Yet, every once in a while, a story reminds us that compassion still exists. This is one of those moments when kindness made all the difference.
The Moment Everything Changed
One sweltering summer afternoon, Rosa María Segura Alcántar and her husband, Erick, were driving down a busy highway when they noticed something unusual ahead.
As they slowed down, they realized it was a small, frightened dog standing dangerously close to traffic. They stopped the car.
“She looked confused, dehydrated, and malnourished. We stopped, and she started coming towards us,” Rosa told The Dodo.
Erick waited for the cars to pass, crossed the road carefully, and gently lifted the trembling dog into his arms before carrying her back to safety.
After spending a few minutes with her, Rosa and Erick noticed an old wound around her neck. It looked as if she had been tied up for a long time before being abandoned.
No one knew what she had endured, but what mattered most was that she was finally safe. For the first time in a long while, she wasn’t alone.
A Heart Ready To Heal
As they drove away, the couple saw the little dog, later named Manzana, slowly relax. She nestled into their arms and fell asleep, as if she finally knew she was safe.
What Manzana didn’t realize was that she had found two people who dedicate their lives to saving animals. Rosa and Erick run Refugio Xollin, a shelter that rescues, heals, and finds homes for countless dogs in need.
“We feel relieved to have Manzana with us. She would have died out there, either hit by a car or from a lack of food and water,” Rosa said.
Now, Rosa and Erick are giving her all the love and care she needs while searching for her forever home.
“She’s already gained weight since her rescue. She is not aggressive at all. She is very calm, loving, caring and gets along with other dogs. Her little eyes are shining,” Rosa concluded.
With people who believe in her worth, Manzana’s days of pain are behind her. Soon, she will find the home where she is loved exactly as she deserves.
