Left to fend for herself on the side of a desolate road, this little dog had every reason to feel distrustful and frightened.

But despite her sad ordeal, the pup’s instinct to trust and love was never far from the surface.

Recently, animal rescuer Georgiana Neagu shared heart wrenching footage of the moment she encountered the little dog stranded while driving in Romania.

The frightened dog is seen running toward Neagu after she stopped her car — only to cower and cry as Neagu reached out to her. The trauma the dog had endured, it seems, made her doubtful that someone would actually treat her kindly.

But once brought to safety, the little dog soon blossomed — licking Neagu as if to say thank you for making her feel safe enough to be her sweet self again.

Here’s that moment on video:

“When I saw her I knew I had to take her home with me,” Neagu told The Dodo. “Unconditional love can heal every broken heart. She felt safe in my arms.”

How the dog ended up in that perilous spot may never be known for certain. But one thing is clear: Her future now has never looked brighter.

“She was named Paula. She is playing a lot, and she is glued to my shadow,” Neagu said. “She’ll be with me until she finds a forever home. She is around 11 months old and is a bundle of love.”