‘She is a fighter’ – Puppy rescued from Georgia survives 46 days alone before dramatic discovery near new Dublin home

A RESCUE dog has been saved for the second time after surviving 46 days alone in the cold before being found just minutes from home.

Nine-month-old pup Hailey was originally a rescue dog in Georgia before being brought to Ireland.

However, on January 9, she vanished from her home in Woodbine Park, Raheny, leaving her family frantic.

For weeks, there was no sign of the young pup, as her family desperately put up posters and shared messages online.

Then, on February 17, the first confirmed sighting came in.

In a post online, Hailey’s owner, Klara Poleszuk, explained: “She had been seen in several nearby gardens, and we worked out that she was hiding in an overgrown ditch area behind them.

“It’s unowned land that nobody really uses, and it gave her shelter. She kept incredibly low and hidden, but she was there.”

Alongside two other volunteers, Klara camped out near the ditch. They left out hot, smelly food, her toys and clothes carrying their scent, and set up cameras.

She said: “Once we got the first confirmed sighting and a video of her in one of the gardens, the neighbours were unbelievably kind.

“They let us camp out near the ditch, where we left hot, smelly food, her toys, and clothes that smelled like us.

“We set up cameras and could see her moving around at night — she was close, but still so scared.”

After several nights with no luck, everything changed on February 24.

Hailey’s owner was in a neighbour’s garden with two volunteers, cooking hot food, when another neighbour’s dogs suddenly started barking.

At first, they thought the dogs were barking at them.

However, they quickly realised that the dogs were barking at something else.

Klara said: “We were sceptical at first, convinced the dogs were reacting to us, but we went to check anyway.

“The homeowner showed us the bush… and there she was. Hailey was sitting inside it, frozen with fear.”

Klara explained that it took about an hour of gentle coaxing and reassurance to get Hailey out of the bush.

However, once they got home, Hailey immediately jumped into bed, back to her old self.

Klara explained: “Hailey came straight home. The moment she walked inside, she recognised everything and everyone.

“Once she went upstairs, she went straight to her bedroom, found her bed, and started wagging her tail.

“She ate her dinner, and now she’s snoring beside us in bed, cuddled up with her bear.”

Klara took time to thank everyone who helped or showed support over the difficult weeks.

She said: “Thank you to everyone who shared, searched, checked cameras, gave sightings, and helped in any way.

“We had the most incredible group of volunteers who gave up so much of their time, and there is absolutely no way we would have found Hailey without them.”

She added: “She is only nine months old and survived 46 days alone in the cold and rain.

“She is a fighter and has been from the very beginning, after surviving in Georgia as a small puppy, with all odds against her.”