Under normal circumstances, Ayana wouldn’t be alive.

It was hard enough surviving on foraged scraps of food from the streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before a devastating injury left her hind legs paralyzed.

An injury like that would normally be a death sentence in a country with little organized animal rescue and scant veterinary resources.

But through the efforts of an international network of animal activists and a little lucky timing this summer, she made her way to a Stillwater, Oklahoma, veterinary technician with a history of rescuing injured pups from far-flung places.

 “She is one lucky dog,” said her caretaker Jill Murray, a veterinary technician in Oklahoma State University’s Animal Resources Department. “…She just met the right person who knew the right person, who knew the right person.”

Ayana was spotted lying on the ground near a sewage ditch in an impoverished and undeveloped area of the city of almost 3.5 million. She was in a lot of pain and several veterinarians said she wouldn’t be able to recover from her injuries.

Claudia Neto of PATA Mozambique, an animal rescue organization that also works to prevent rabies infections in Africa, and colleague Eduarda Cardoso knew Ayana wouldn’t make it in Ethiopia.

The two reached out to Murray, who they had met online, hoping she could identify some U.S. or Canadian resources to help Ayana. Murray has a soft spot for special needs dogs and has given a home to several paralyzed dogs over the years, including one from South America.

Murray looked for various resources for Ayana, but soon realized Stillwater was the place she needed to be while she recovered.

“I wasn’t absolutely looking for a dog,” Murray said. “But they find me. Easily. Some of the best dogs I’ve had came at very inopportune times.”

With a foster home secured, the other pieces of the puzzle quickly fell into place for Ayana. A Spanish rescue organization helped raise money for expenses like vaccinations and travel arrangements. A U.S. Embassy employee, returning home to the States, offered to accompany Ayana on her flight.

Within ten days of her rescue from the streets of Addis Ababa, Ayana was sleeping in her new Oklahoma home.

“A series of very lucky events happened to her,” Murray said. “She was in the right ditch at the right time.”

Ayana has blossomed in the 10 weeks she’s been with her, putting on weight, learning to trust people and getting used to her new life.

“She’s playful. She’s playing tug of war and learning what dog toys are.” Murray said. “She really likes life as an American indoor house dog.”

Because Murray has suffered health problems in recent years, she doesn’t think she’s in a position to keep Ayana permanently, but she wants to be sure her girl goes to the right forever home.

Once Ayana’s infections are healed, she could have a very productive and long life. But whoever adopts her should know they’re committing to some extra work and the expense of ongoing health care.

“She’s a little extra effort, but it’s worth it,” Murray said.

Michelle Charles writes for the Stillwater, Oklahoma News Press.