A Georgian rescue dog has been found safe after surviving 46 days alone in freezing winter conditions, discovered just minutes from her home in Dublin, Ireland, reports The Sun.
Hailey’s journey began long before she went missing.
Last June, Klara Poleszuk and her partner, Ciaran, were traveling through Europe when they found four abandoned puppies on the outskirts of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. The puppies had been dumped in a ditch near a derelict building and were in severe condition, suffering from dehydration, illness, and malnutrition.
Despite efforts to save them, three of the puppies later died. One survived against the odds. That puppy was Hailey, whom Klara describes as a “miracle.”
Determined to give her a safe and stable life, the couple had Dog Organization Georgia (DOG) and its volunteers organize for Hailey to be brought to them in Dublin. But on January 9, the nine-month-old disappeared from outside their house in Woodbine Park, Raheny, leaving them devastated.
At the time, Klara made an emotional appeal, saying she could not bear the thought of Hailey ending up back on the streets, the same fate they believed they had rescued her from. The entire purpose of saving her, she said, was to give her a life away from danger and neglect.
For weeks, there was no sign of the young dog. The couple posted flyers throughout the neighborhood, shared appeals online, and asked residents to check their yards and security cameras. Search efforts intensified as they pleaded for any information that could lead to her safe return.
A breakthrough came on February 17, when Hailey was finally spotted.
Klara said the dog had been seen moving through several nearby yards. After comparing reports, they realized Hailey was hiding in a thick, overgrown ditch behind the properties.
“It’s unowned land that nobody really uses, and it gave her shelter,” Klara explained. “She kept incredibly low and hidden, but she was there.”
With the help of two volunteers, Klara began camping near the ditch. They placed hot, strong-smelling food outside, along with Hailey’s toys and clothing carrying their scent. Cameras were set up to monitor her movements.
“Once we got the first confirmed sighting and video footage, the neighbors were unbelievably kind,” Klara said. “They let us stay near the ditch. We could see her moving around at night, she was close, but still so scared.”
After several tense nights without success, everything changed on February 24.
Klara and two volunteers were in a neighbor’s yard preparing warm food when nearby dogs suddenly began barking. At first, they assumed the noise was directed at them, but they decided to investigate.
“We were skeptical at first,” Klara said. “But the homeowner showed us a bush… and there she was. Hailey was sitting inside it, frozen with fear.”
It took nearly an hour of gentle coaxing before Hailey finally came out.
Once she was back home, it was as if she had never been gone.
“She recognized everything and everyone straight away,” Klara said. “She went upstairs, found her bed, and started wagging her tail. She ate her dinner, and now she’s snoring beside us, cuddled up with her bear.”
Klara expressed heartfelt gratitude to the neighbors and volunteers who supported the search.
“Thank you to everyone who shared, searched, checked cameras, gave sightings, and supported us in any way,” she said. “We had the most incredible group of volunteers. There’s no way we would have found Hailey without them.”
Despite being just nine months old, Hailey survived 46 days alone in cold and rain.
“She is only nine months old,” Klara added. “She survived in Georgia as a tiny puppy against all odds, and now she’s done it again. She is a fighter.”
