childrens book non fiction picture rescue dog

He was forced to undertake a hazardous journey through Lebanon and Turkey, followed by a sea journey to Greece in a rubber dinghy, making it impossible to bring his dog along.įleeing war, Bassel says, means “losing identity and not knowing who you are anymore.’’ He describes his journey – involving smugglers, long walks across unfamiliar terrain, and several train trips – in the most laconic terms: “everything was difficult.”Ī few months after his arrival in Brussels, he was taken in by a big-hearted Belgian family who, in the 18 months he lived with them, helped him feel at home and integrate into Belgian life. Reluctantly, Bassel left Stella behind too.

His mother and sister also fled and later found safety in Ireland and Germany, but his father stayed behind to care for Bassel’s grandmother. In 2015, Bassel fled his home and the violence in Damascus to seek safety in Belgium. When his parents were too terrified to go outside even to buy food, Bassel still took her for walks.īassel and Stella: a musician and his dog's journey to safety in Belgium Stella was just 40 days old, and the two comforted each other as they drifted off to sleep at night.īut just a year later, conflict broke out and Stella trembled at the sound of exploding bombs. She first came into Bassel’s life as a small white pup when he was a child of 12 living in Damascus. But when he first arrived, a crucial part of his life was missing: Stella. Now aged 25, Bassel has triumphed in building a new life as an entrepreneur, café co-owner and musician. “Stella is my dog, but she’s also my best friend,” says Bassel of his four-legged companion, who is also the hero of a children’s book. “Come for Stella, stay for the coffee,” wrote one of many admiring reviewers online. The specialty coffee shop wins plaudits not only for friendly service and excellent coffee, but also for its star attraction. In the seven years since Bassel fled the conflict in Syria and came to Belgium, he is thriving, having made four solo music albums and recently opening Stella coffee shop with his friends. Stella, a friendly White Shepherd who greets customers at the door and whose image has become the shop’s logo, belongs to Syrian musician Bassel Abou Fakher. But there’s only one coffee shop named after a dog. Stroll through Saint-Gilles, a vibrant southern district of Brussels famed for its Art Nouveau architecture and relaxed, artsy atmosphere, and you’ll find plenty of places to grab a coffee. Syrian refugee and musician Bassel Abou Fakher cuddles his dog Stella at their new home in Brussels.

Childrens book non fiction picture rescue dog