In January 2023, Pearl was found on the streets of Bahrain in a horrible state. She was lethargic, skinny, and had skin issues that required many medicated baths. She made no eye contact and carried herself like a dog who had already given up. She was posted to one of the many rescue pages in Bahrain, in hopes that she would find a safe place to land.

I watched Pearl being posted for several weeks. No one had stepped forward to help her, so I agreed to sponsor her. I agreed to cover her medical expenses, and other needs such as food and boarding, until I could get her approved at a rescue in the U.S.

In late February of 2023, Pearl finally received veterinary care. She had bloodwork and vaccinations but was found to be positive for tick fever. After a course of antibiotics, she was spayed and then in early March, was transferred to a kennel of a dear friend. Now, this is not like the kennels we are used to in the U.S. Many kennels end up being makeshift areas due to the lack of registration and government oversight. While at this kennel, she contracted Giardia and became extremely sick, so soon after I flew to Bahrain to meet her and began making plans to get her to the U.S.

Shortly after I left Bahrain, I continued looking for a new facility for her. Unfortunately, there was no choice but to leave her where she was at for the time being. Resources are extremely limited for the animals in Bahrain, and I knew the expenses were only going to grow, but I had committed to Pearl and I was not going to let her down.

In May 2023, Pauline at Delmon Kennels agreed to transfer Pearl to her facility. When Pearl first arrived, this was her message to me:

This message was heartbreaking and I felt I had failed her. And to make things worse, Pearl returned to the vet not long after, where it was discovered she was still battling complications from both tick fever and Giardia.

By late 2023, Pauline sent a wonderful update. Pearl was making real progress, feeling better, interacting with other dogs one at a time, and beginning to come out of her shell. It was the first genuinely hopeful news in a long time.

There was even an inquiry from a potential adopter. But after a thorough interview, Pauline learned he planned to keep Pearl tied up outside. She told him no without hesitation.

Pearl returned to the vet once more for complications from her ongoing battle with tick fever and Giardia. But then, in the summer of 2024, something changed. I received a message from Martha at Hope for Life Rescue that they would accept Pearl. It was made possible because a previous adopter of one of our Bahrain dogs had reached out to Hope for Life personally, pleading on Pearl's behalf.

I began fundraising for Pearl's travel expenses. Getting a dog out of Bahrain is not simple. Health certifications, vaccinations, an airline-approved crate, and airfare all add up quickly. But finally, it all worked out.

On October 2nd, 2024, Pearl was headed out of Bahrain on her freedom flight. She arrived at Dulles International on October 3, 2024 and a dedicated ground transporter, Michael Weber, picked her up, stopped at McDonald’s and bought her a Happy Meal! They arrived later that evening at Hope For Life Rescue.

Pearl has had quite a horrific life. From most likely being abused and used as a breeder dog and then dumped on the streets as she was no longer needed, to nearly her death bed many times. It wasn’t until she made it to Pauline at Delmon Kennels that she ever knew love. Despite all of her medical issues, she finally learned what love was. Pauline and her staff were patient and worked at Pearl’s pace. They did not push her to feel uncomfortable. They just provided clear and concise guidance and Pearl began to come to life.

Pearl was found on the streets of Bahrain in January 2023. She arrived in the U.S. in October 2024. She had been through more in those 22 months than most dogs face in a lifetime. I am convinced that without intervention, she would have literally died on those streets and been sent to the dump where many of the other street dogs end up.

When Pearl arrived at Hope for Life Rescue, we finally got to meet the dog so many people had fought for. She was incredibly sweet, but it was clear the life she had lived was still with her.

She has now been in our care for over 500 days. As it happens, our director is also named Pauline, and like the Pauline who first showed her love in Bahrain, our team here has completely fallen for her.

Pearl has her own room, lined with beds and rows of stuffies. She's affectionately known as Pearly Girl. Staff go out of their way to spend time with her, even after long days or between multiple jobs, because that is the kind of impact she has had on all of us.

Pearl has a way of pulling people in. From her goofy personality to that little lower lip everyone cannot help but smile at, she leaves an impression that is hard to shake. There are people here who have spent countless hours with her, and every single one of them will tell you the same thing.

One of our staff members, who makes time for her no matter how busy things get, said it best:

And that really is Pearl. She may carry the weight of her past, and some may see her as broken. But that does not make her any less worthy of love, patience, or a place to belong.

Pearl is still with us. She is still waiting for the person who will see exactly what we see. We believe that person is out there.

Written in part by Carrie, the woman who refused to give up on her.

If you read Pearl's story and think she could be the one for you, please reach out. We would love to talk. You can find us at via email at contact@hopeforliferescue.com.

If Pearl's story moved you, you can carry a piece of it with you. A shirt from our Stories of Hope collection is available in our Bonfire store, with 70% of the proceeds going directly to the animals. It's one more way to be part of our work.