Fifi needs a new home due to no fault of her own. She is a love and has excellent obedience. However both her parents are in the medical profession and rarely home. They are sad to have to have her rehomed however she is too young of a dog to be home alone and kenneled for such long periods. She needs more exercise and more interaction with other pets or her humans.
Original Adoption post: Hi my name is Fifi and I was born on the streets of Tirana, Albania. I was born to a litter of five puppies but only my sister Gigi and I survived the harsh streets and were lucky enough to be rescued. I have a guardian angel… ok actually several of them. There is a reason I survived – it was to find you – my family – and make you oh so happy. I arrived in the US on August 1, 2020 with my sister Gigi to find you, my forever home.
I am curious, playful and very intelligent. I am current on my vaccinations and spayed. I love to run around my foster yard and to play with my sister. I am not a barker and learn new routines quickly. I walk well on a leash and am kennel trained. Basically I am ready for you and promise to make you and your family very happy. I will need continued training and adequate exercise but in return will give you loads of love.
In the beginning I was very scared, but the rescuers from Animal Rescue Albania were so friendly and patient that over time I became very brave and began to trust the people who fed us and cared for us. I have a special trait that makes me unique, I will smile if you talk sweet to me. This made me a fan favorite at the shelter.
At the shelter we no longer were hungry and I began to feel safe. It was May 2020 when my sister and I went to live at the shelter. While there I learned to appreciate being petted by humans but I longed to have my own humans. There were simply too many homeless animals at the shelter that I always longed for more….
I am told that the location of my birth is very beautiful. My sister and I grew up next to a river and in the distance you can see the ruins of Petrela Castle. It’s a beautiful spot, and in the warm months, people park their cars to swim in the shallow water. There were also herdsmen who took their goats along the river, and farms nearby. The farmers were wary of the group of dogs that lived along the side of the roadway, because they had chickens. In July the woman that fed us found us “missing” and came to find out we had been picked up by the authorities and were scheduled for euthanization.
Persistence and determination do pay off and the rescuers were able to get the sisters out of government custody as long as they promised they would not be put back on the road or the next time they would be killed. I know I am safe here in the US from the Albanian government and I am forever grateful to my rescuers for moving mountains to give me this second chance in life.
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There are thousands of street dogs in Albania, many of whom were abandoned by their families. Everywhere you look, there are mistreated, poisoned, diseased and malnourished dogs left to die in the streets, or used for dog fighting. The situation is desperate but not widely known because Albania is a small country with little exposure to foreign travelers. The government does not devote resources to spay/neuter or vaccination, so the problem has escalated. The Albanian people, who for decades suffered through oppressive governmental regimes, see the dogs as a nuisance or worse, and abuse is far too common. Although there are volunteers who feed and provide medical care for the dogs there is not enough and the concept of pet ownership is relatively new to most Albanians.
Animal Rescue Albania (ARSA) is a small rescue which is 100% volunteer based and they receive no government support. They focus on spaying and neutering but also provide medical care and rehoming services. Without much funding everday is a challenge and they are only able to provide help to the animals in need through the generosity of supporters and donors. Please consider donating to this very worthy rescue organization. Info on how and where to donate can be found on their Facebook page.
If you are interested in adopting Fifi, please contact Dawn at info@istreetdog.com. You can also find our adoption application here.