A Knock on the Door in a Storm
After three wonderful years of living and exploring in the lush, vibrant paradise of Bali, Indonesia, Golan Shoshan and his girlfriend were in the final, bittersweet stages of packing up their lives. Their planned move back to their home in Israel was just three weeks away, a deadline that loomed with a mix of excitement and nostalgia. But the universe, it seemed, had one final, life-altering surprise in store for them.
One evening, a heavy tropical storm swept through their village, a dramatic display of nature’s power with torrential rain and howling winds. As the storm raged, a tiny, drenched, and terrified creature was seeking refuge. It was a little black dog, her fur matted and her giant, soulful eyes wide with fear. By some twist of fate, she stumbled her way to their doorstep, a silent, shivering plea for help against the chaos of the storm.
Golan and his girlfriend were no strangers to the stray animals of Bali; they had encountered many during their stay. But this was different. The moment they saw this little dog, whom they would soon name Luna, it was as if a switch had been flipped in their hearts. “Luna found us. We didn’t go looking for her,” Golan said, trying to explain the powerful, almost mystical connection they felt. “We both just had this gut feeling that she will be with us forever.” It was a feeling so immediate and so certain that it completely derailed all their carefully laid plans.
A Promise to a Forgotten Soul
The next day, with the storm passed and the sun shining, they began to ask around the village, hoping to find the family of the little dog who had spent the night with them. But the answer they received was devastating. “We were told by the neighborhood that she was dumped by some locals a few days before,” Golan shared. Luna wasn’t just lost; she had been deliberately abandoned, a tiny, forgotten soul left to fend for herself.
That was the moment everything changed. The “gut feeling” they had solidified into a firm, unwavering promise. Golan and his girlfriend had never had a pet before and had certainly not planned on adding the immense complication of a dog to their already complex international move. But the thought of leaving her behind, of turning their backs on this sweet creature who had come to them for help, was simply unbearable.
Without a second thought, they drove Luna straight to the vet. She received a thorough checkup, a warm, soothing bath that washed away the dirt and grime of the streets, and a clean bill of health to travel. That evening, what was once a simple packing session became a frantic, determined research mission. They were going to get this dog home, no matter what it took.
An Impossible Journey Home
They quickly discovered that their promise would be incredibly difficult to keep. The journey from Indonesia to their home in Tel Aviv, Israel, was a logistical nightmare. “It was difficult,” Golan admitted, “especially since the [two] countries don’t have diplomatic relations.” To make matters worse, due to a strict rabies quarantine, animals were not even allowed to be flown out of Bali.But they refused to give up. They devised a complicated, multi-stage plan. The first step was a grueling 24-hour car ride for Luna, accompanied by a trusted driver, from the island of Bali to the capital city of Jakarta. From there, she would have to fly, not to Israel, but to a neutral third country: Bangkok, Thailand. The couple would fly to meet her there, a tiny, furry refugee seeking asylum in their arms.The journey was incredibly stressful, especially for Luna, who, they discovered, was petrified of both car and plane travel. But the moment she was finally back in her new parents’ arms in Thailand, all the stress melted away. She was safe, she was loved, and she knew it. “The next day, she was back to herself,” Golan said, the relief evident in his voice.The little family then had to spend the next month in Thailand, navigating the complex bureaucracy of getting Luna’s travel documentation and permits for her final flight to Israel. A few long weeks later, with all the paperwork finally in order, the three of them boarded a plane together, a complete family on the final leg of their incredible journey home. “She was such a good girl in the 12-hour flight,” Golan said. “We played with her all day to make sure she slept well.”
A New Life in a New Land
When Luna finally arrived in her new home in Israel, her transformation was complete. The scared, shivering dog who had shown up on a doorstep in a storm was gone, replaced by a happy, confident, and deeply loved family member. “Once she got home, she was [happier] than ever!” Golan said. “We [gave] her lots of love, and she felt at ease.”
It’s been a few months since her arrival, and Luna is thriving. She is still working through her fear of strangers, a lingering shadow from her difficult past, but with the patient love of her parents, she is becoming more confident every day. “She learns quickly,” Golan said. “She loves other dogs … and she loves to play with her owners.”
Golan and his girlfriend were not planning on adopting a pet. They had no idea they would be bringing home a living, breathing souvenir from their time in Bali. But now that Luna is in their lives, a constant source of joy and affection, they wouldn’t have it any other way. Their only wish is that their story might inspire others to open their hearts. “[People should] save animals on the street, who are living without food, without a home and scared of anything and everything,” Golan said. “There are so many adorable, loving street dogs that need adoption.”
