Have you ever seen a flower from Albania? No? Yes, you have! It’s me! My name is Lule (pronounced “loo’let” minus the “t”), which means flower in Albanian. And like a wild mountain flower, I’m a petite, delicate-looking beauty with a strong and resilient core.
You don’t see a lot of dogs like me in Albania. I’m not quite a year old, will probably never top 12 pounds, and most likely I’ve got some Mexican Chihuahua blood. Shkodra, Albania has a Sinti and Roma minority population (you may know them as gypsies), and adding to my interesting heritage, I once belonged to these people. I was brought to Oli’s clinic with 2 bigger dogs for spaying. The big dogs’ surgeries were done first, and my old family came to take them home. They told the volunteers that they no longer wanted me, so I stayed.
Because Dawn from ISDF was arriving soon to take ISDF’s first Albanian rescues back with her to Chicago, and Oli knew that this would be my chance to find a loving home, my spaying was postponed for safety, and preparations for my new American life began! Now my vaccinations are up to date, and I’m excited to fly. I’m told that I’ll be treated like an international celebrity on our journey, as few people have seen anyone so adorable.
More about me? Well I’m a will o’ the wisp, and race like the wind—I’m here, then I’m there, like magic! If you can’t spot me, look up; I love to climb and can often be found on top of the shelter’s dog houses. While I’m independent and athletic, I also love being held and cuddled. I am a tomboy sweetheart, from my tiny nose to my dainty paws, and I make friends quickly with people and other dogs.
Life as an inside dog will be a new type of adventure for me. While I’m cute as a button, I’m sharp as a tack, and know I’ll impress you with my versatility and verve. I won’t take up much room in your house, but I plan to take over a huge part of your heart. Make way for me; as soon as our plane lands, I’m prepared to race to my new home and cuddle up! This wildflower is ready to put down roots!
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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.
Oli’s animal advocacy group, Animals Need Me (http://www.animalsneedmeal.com/), is based in the city of Shkodra, Albania. It was founded by devoted animal lovers who have organized spay/neuter efforts, and seek to find loving local homes for former street dogs. They are sometimes able to find homes for the puppies, but few locals want to adopt grown dogs. To house the dogs who don’t find homes, they built a small shelter, but the budget is tight, and feeding dozens of dogs is expensive. In hopes of freeing up space in the shelter for more needy dogs, they want to find homes in the U.S. for some of their friendliest residents.
If you are interested in adopting LULE, please contact Dawn Trimmel at info@istreetdog.com. You can also find our adoption application here.