Dogs have an extraordinary gift for loyalty. They don’t care if you’re rich or poor, happy or sad. When they choose you, they stick with you — no matter what. That’s exactly what happened when Hara, a stray dog, decided to follow Emily Lawson and her biking group through the scorching Sahara desert in Morocco.
A Chance Encounter in the Desert
Emily and her friends were cycling across Morocco when they stopped for a short break. Out of nowhere, a dirty stray dog appeared, looking for affection. They gave her a few scratches and then continued their journey — but the dog followed.
“She was just trotting alongside us in the heat. I don’t know why she chose us, but she made the trip unforgettable,” Lawson said in her Instagram video.
Within minutes, Emily named her Hara.
Exhaustion Sets In
After running nearly 30 miles, Hara’s paw pads were raw from the burning desert ground. As a veterinarian, Lawson quickly stepped in to help. She wrapped socks around Hara’s paws to protect them, turning them into makeshift booties.
Even though Hara was picky about food, rejecting bread and sardines, she happily ate some omelette the cyclists shared.
A Difficult Goodbye
After biking another 20 kilometers, the group reached a city and took Hara to a rescue center in Agadir. Saying goodbye was heartbreaking.
“She just slotted into our lives and wouldn’t leave our sides. Adopting her just made sense,” Lawson explained.
The Journey Home
In Morocco, where an estimated 3 million stray dogs live, adoption is rare. So Lawson decided to bring Hara home with her.
Hara spent four months completing rabies vaccines and bloodwork. Then, in April, Lawson returned to Morocco to pick her up. Together, they traveled through Amsterdam, boarded three trains, and crossed by ferry before finally reaching the United Kingdom.
A New Beginning
Today, Hara is thriving in her new home. Lawson, who plans to move to Norway soon, says Hara will soon meet her other two dogs and even experience snow for the first time.
“She really just fits into our lives. She brings so much happiness,” Lawson shared.
Her Instagram video documenting the journey has surpassed 1 million views, with people worldwide touched by the loyalty of one stray dog who refused to give up.
See the video :
Just wait ’til you see her little trot after one of the cyclists gave her socks to protect her paws 💙
Emily (@thenomadvet.nz) shared with us how Hara never left their side while trekking across Morocco — and the moment they realized they could never leave her! 🥹
