Seventeen year old Aslan is one of the many recent Syrian refugees to arrive on the island of Lesvos in Greece. Aslan, and others like him, were forced to flee their homes due to the terror of war. They left behind their possessions, their shelter and, sadly, their pets – except for Aslan.
Aslan refused to part with his tiny dog named Rose. Aslan packed enough food and water for the two of them in one backpack and then he placed Rose in a pet carrier and he walked over 300 miles, fleeing the only home they had ever known.
Once it was time to cross the Mediterranean, people told the boy that he could not bring Rose with him. He refused and even made his own “passport” for her. His determination paid off and the best friends remained together.
Watch Aslan tell their story in the video below:
I love my dog!“Some people will ask – you have only a small bag?””Yes.””And you bring your dog?””Yes.””Why?””I love my dog!”Many animal lovers will relate to this 17-year-old boy from Damascus, Syria. And we’ve seen many like him carrying their animals with them on the long journey from Syria, across the Mediterranean Sea and through Europe. When forced to flee home because of war, many people would never dream of leaving their pets behind.
Posted by UNHCR on Saturday, September 19, 2015
Aslan and Rose no longer face the immediate dangers of war, but their journey is far from over. We are so glad that these two have each other as they face the times ahead.
