Amid the cold silence of a cemetery in Chișinău, Moldova, a small dog lay trembling between gravestones, covered in blood and dirt, barely clinging to life. That dog was Aika—abandoned by her owner and left to fend for herself among the dead.
Stanislav Fosnea, founder of the rescue shelter Animal Terra, explained that in Moldova, many unwanted dogs are cruelly dumped along highways or in deserted places. Aika had become one of those tragic cases.
While scavenging for food one day, she was struck by a car. When Svetlana, a shelter worker, arrived at the scene, she found Aika terrified, injured, and slowly fading away. At first, Aika resisted being touched, but exhaustion overcame fear, and she allowed Svetlana to lift her into safety.
The vets soon discovered just how grave her condition was: a ruptured peritoneum, her organs exposed, alongside a severe tick-borne infection called piroplasmosis. Before surgery could even be attempted, Aika had to fight off the deadly disease. During this fragile period, Svetlana brought her home, administering IVs and injections multiple times a day, determined not to let Aika slip away.
Against the odds, Aika survived the infection and underwent a complex surgery. Yet fate struck again—this time, Svetlana herself was hospitalized with a severe case of COVID-19. For two long months, she lay in recovery, holding onto the thought that Aika was finally safe.
When Svetlana was discharged, Aika was ready to begin her new life. She was placed in a new home, but only hours later, she escaped. Through heavy snow, Svetlana called out her name again and again, until Aika appeared—choosing to run back into the arms of the woman who had never given up on her.
In that moment, it became clear: Aika and Svetlana belonged together.
Today, Aika is thriving—not only as a beloved companion but also as a gentle foster mother to many puppies Svetlana rescues. From a broken, abandoned stray in a graveyard to a cherished family member, Aika’s story is one of pain, resilience, and ultimately, love.
Her journey proves that every life matters, and that with compassion, even the most broken souls can find their way home.