Gone to the dogs

These are Xeni and Pipo.

When Andrea called me in September 2021 and said they had found the perfect place for our project... in Albania... I was sceptical at first. But of course I wanted to see the place and flew to Tirana during the autumn holidays.

I spent the first day in Kruja, not far from Tirana, whose old town and castle complex is one of the ‘must sees’ in Albania. And there I met Xeni, who is actually something of a caretaker at the castle, but also likes to act as a tour guide. So that afternoon I got to see a lot of places in and around Kruja and we planted the seed of our friendship.

Pipo came crawling in front of Xeni's car about a year and a half ago. He was a tiny puppy who probably wouldn't have survived for long without him. Albania is a Muslim country – and even though they are the most open, tolerant and unconventional Muslims I know, they have one thing in common with their fellow Muslims in other countries: dogs are not particularly popular. They are considered to be dirty, impure, and dangerous and are usually not kept in the house, or only as guard dogs.

Nevertheless, street dogs are often tolerated because they clear away rubbish and also hunt rats. And last but not least, the Koran also demands compassion for animals! That is why there are always kind-hearted people who provide food and water for stray dogs, enabling them to survive.

But Xeni is more than just kind-hearted: he took Pipo in, as he later did with the two tomcats Jessi and Bianco, and they are all part of the family for him and his wife Xhuma. And somehow he always seems to have a special talent for coming across needy animals that someone, somewhere has abandoned to die.

And so it happened that on 27 December I received a message from him that Pipo had become the proud mother of six adorable puppies – followed by pictures and videos in which six tiny, still-blind puppies can be seen crawling over the sofa and Pipo, squeaking, drinking and sleeping.

Although he was not financially able to raise these puppies at all, he would never had the heart to leave even a single one not with Pipo. And of course I assured him of financial help - and so we became the ‘Puppie Heroes’, willing to do anything to let them grow up healthy.

Apropos big – they grew big very quickly, since both their mother and potential father are two of the larger representatives of their species.

We posted cute pictures of the puppies on various social media channels in the hope of finding travellers to Albania or people in Albania who would lose their hearts to one of these enchanting creatures – but without success.

They were vaccinated, got a little hut in a remote part of the castle and devoured vast amounts of food...

During the Easter holidays, I visited Xeni, Xhuma and the puppies for a few days. Although I had actually already decided who of the six I had lost my heart to, I wanted to take a closer look at them all again and let them take effect on me – and also send Andrea and Elmar pictures and videos. They already had a favourite too, but none of us were really sure.

And they really didn't make it easy for me – a wild, playful, cuddly dog pile that enjoyed life at the castle to the full.

However, not everyone enjoyed having them around. The tourists loved being photographed with them, but the locals increasingly complained and there were also open threats. Xeni and Xhuma were very worried, and were reluctant to leave the dogs alone. At night, they had to stay either in their courtyard or in Xeni's workspace at the castle.

Sadly, they were right. A few days ago, Azura was killed by someone while Xeni and Xhuma were with Andrea aand Elmar in Sterbeg.

And now our greatest concern was for the remaining ones.

If we can't find a safe place for them, their lives will always be in danger.

But back to the happy stories. The short time with my friends and the puppies went by far too quickly and I had to return to Berlin.

A last coffee, then we headed for the car – with an escort, of course – and to the airport.

We had made our decision in favour of our two original favourites, Bela and Bebja, and now the final preparations were made for their move to Sterbeg.

First of all, they had to learn to wear a collar, which visibly caused them great discomfort at first.

Then there was the rabies vaccination and de-worming to be done – and of course the first car journey of her life.

They sniffed their way around their new home, quickly finding almost every little gap that led to the neighbouring property. Elmar couldn't close the gaps as fast as they were discovered.

And the chicken and dog fence that was advertised on the internet as being useful was completely ineffective for them. It was pulled down before you could count to three.

But luckily, little rascals get tired quickly, and enjoy a little nap, during which you don't have to constantly watch them to make sure they don't literally walk all over the place.

They are both very easy to teach and learn quickly thanks to Xeni's early educational efforts.

But beware when they wake up again ;)!