Rescuer Stops Alone At Night And Saves A Dog From Almost Certain Death

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At the end of July 2025, around 11 p.m., I was driving alone on a dark mountain road during a heatwave in Tunisia.

Olfa Ferchichi

I was returning to the house I rent for my rescued cats and dogs after feeding the stray animals and the cats at my father’s home, where I live. Every evening, despite exhaustion and the long distance, I make the trip to care for the animals depending on me.

Small cream-colored shaggy dog walking on a leash through a grassy field near the water under an overcast sky.

Olfa Ferchichi

That night, while driving through the mountains, I suddenly saw what looked like the skeleton of a dog walking alone in the darkness. I was not even wearing my glasses, and at first, I could barely believe what I was seeing.

I stopped the car, even though it was late and frightening to stop alone in such an isolated place at night. But whenever I see an animal in need, I forget my own fear.

I told myself, “If she comes toward me, I will help her.”

Small cream-colored shaggy dog standing on hind legs beside a pet carrier at an airport check-in counter, wearing a harness and leash.

Olfa Ferchichi

The moment I stopped, she started wagging her tail.

She walked gently toward me as if she had been waiting for someone to notice her. She was so easy to carry into the car that I immediately understood she had probably once known human love and family life before being abandoned.

Small cream-colored shaggy dog lying on a rug indoors, chewing a bone with its front paws crossed.

Olfa Ferchichi

I named her Farfoucha. In Tunisian dialect, “Farfoucha” describes someone adorably chaotic, funny, playful, a little messy, and distracted in a cute way. The name suited her perfectly. She was joyful, expressive, affectionate, and constantly communicating with her funny facial expressions and little reactions. Everyone who met her fell in love with her personality.

She was extremely thin, dehydrated, hungry, weak, and suffering from conjunctivitis, severe anemia, and hypoglycemia. I brought her to safety, gave her food and water, and in the following days took her to the vet for tests and treatment.

Small cream-colored shaggy dog standing on a sandy beach by the water on a blue leash, panting with the shoreline in the background.

Olfa Ferchichi

At that time, stray dogs in Tunisia were also facing another terrible danger: municipal killing campaigns. Many stray dogs are shot or killed during these campaigns, and if Farfoucha had remained alone on that road, she very likely would have faced the same fate.

Stray cats and dogs here live in constant danger. There is still no real animal protection law in Tunisia, and animal lovers and rescuers continue fighting and protesting for better protection and rights for them. Many stray cats are also poisoned or harmed.

Little by little, Farfoucha transformed.

Studio-style portrait of a small cream-colored shaggy dog standing on a wooden floor against a dark backdrop, tail curled upward.

Olfa Ferchichi

With care, food, vitamins, medication, and love, she became healthy again. She was vaccinated, later sterilized, and revealed the most beautiful personality. She adored everyone, loved cats, enjoyed playing with the other rescued dogs, and was incredibly affectionate. She loved kisses, cuddles, and long walks by the sea.

Because of my difficult rescue situation and the growing number of animals depending on me, I eventually had to move some dogs to boarding. But I never gave up on finding Farfoucha the future she deserved.

Small cream-colored shaggy dog sitting on a ledge overlooking trees, white buildings, and the sea, facing away in bright sunlight.

Olfa Ferchichi

After completing all the travel procedures, a French rescue association agreed to help her travel abroad.

At the beginning of May, Farfoucha left Tunisia for France.

Only one week later, she was adopted.

Small cream-colored shaggy dog lying on a stainless steel exam table in a veterinary clinic, looking down with medical tools mounted on the wall behind it.

Olfa Ferchichi

Today, Farfoucha is deeply loved by her family. Seeing her finally safe, cherished, and happy after everything she survived is one of the most emotional rewards of rescue.

But behind Farfoucha’s happy ending, the reality remains extremely difficult.

Every single day, I rescue abandoned animals. Because people know I feed and help stray cats in my neighborhood, many abandon kittens, sick cats, elderly animals, and unwanted pets near me or directly where I feed the strays. During kitten season, it sometimes feels like I am rescuing another kitten almost every day. It has become overwhelming physically, emotionally, and financially.

I currently care for nearly 70 rescued cats and dogs. Despite exhaustion, debts, and lack of support, I still cannot turn my back on animals suffering in the streets.

If you would like to help support my rescue work and the animals depending on me, please consider supporting or sharing my fundraiser.

Fundraiser link:

https://www.cotizup.com/pour-animaux-errants

You can also follow my rescue page here:

Facebook page link:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1ALwGpnkMU/

Farfoucha’s story reel:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DtydXzDLi/

Sometimes, one stop on a dark road can completely change a life.