Number 13 - We Call Him Lui

Yes, we got number thirteen in our house! For hours was he running around on the busy street, confused. You could see he wasn't street smart, and he looked at everyone that passed him in a hurry (normally longtime strays don't take eye contact with passing humans). He followed me and Max to the day care to pick up Olivia He wanted to visit the children.

Friendly and loving and sweet.

He was close to be hit five times by fast speeding cars. He flew up on the walkway, bumped into a girl that got scared (she didn't see that he tried to avoid a car) and she smacked him with her purse. Scared, he flew out on the street again, nearly hit by another car.

I had it. I couldn't watch this, or even worse I didn't want to find him dead on the street the next morning while walking my children.

No collar. But very friendly, and not afraid to walk into my house--my other strays are still walking on eggshells when entering the house.

He responds brilliant on English accent...so if you recognise "Lui" I know he have an owner somewhere, send me an Amore email. Or,send this blog to friends, maybe someone knows Lui Amore

Dumping Pets

Dumping pets is illegal here in Italy, and we are obligated to report if we hear or see someone who does so. To the Base Security (if it is someone subject to the US/NATO military), and to the Carabineri (Italian national police), since many International people come here for 2-3 years, bring in a puppy or an older stray into their home, feeds him, loves him and then....time to return and doesn't want to bring their friend/pack member with them.

Why? Reasons are many. From not wanting to pay any money for the transport, wooden floor in their house "back home" or they "just" didn't make any "life commitment.

I spoke to some veterinarians and organizations here, and they have found many dumped dogs with American microchips, but no owner to find, they don't live at their Italian address anymore.
The Carabineri pick up dogs that are not behaving like "normal" strays. The Carabineri can spot that the dog isn't street smart or survival "educated". They won't survive many hours by themselves.

Some Italians are disappointed that many Americans complain over the situation with the stray problem here, but are helping to contribute with the stray population by dumping their "pet" the day before going home.

This is a frustration painful Amore!