‘Saving one dog is better than saving none’ became my mantra. There were only four smaller dogs at the shelter. One was attached to Sam, and I thought (correctly!) that he might adopt her. The other two were lively and social. The last was shy. Ultimately, I chose the one least likely to get adopted: the shy one named Honey. The others, I told myself, could survive in the pack. I wasn’t sure this one could. Honey was found alone in a pile of garbage on the side of a busy street in Durrës by a good Samaritan named Aurora Pilinçi. I thank my lucky stars every day that she drove by and saved him and that JTUM agreed to take him in.
I was only in Albania for two more months, so the plan was for 6-month-old Honey to stay at a foster until he was able to enter Italy in approximately five months.
It was late March 2020. In a remarkably short time, lockdowns began. I could no longer volunteer at the shelter or check on Lady at the vet. Soon other complications arose. Honey’s intended foster had too many dogs. The ones scheduled to leave for their EU homes couldn’t get out. I decided to ask my Airbnb host if I could keep a dog and quietly vowed to find another apartment if he declined. Remarkably, he agreed. He confessed he didn’t know much about dogs but trusted me. And with that kind act of trust, I could give my puppy bonding time during a critical stage of his life and free up a spot in the shelter. I will forever be grateful for this. I puppy-proofed the apartment and kept it immaculate so this host would perhaps allow more pets in the future.
Having a puppy is hard work. Having a puppy during lockdown is extremely hard work. Despite the challenges, forbidden walks, early mornings, and attempts to create toys from mop strings during a lockdown, it was a beautiful mess.
By mid-April, it became obvious that borders would remain closed and my chances of getting to the EU, where I could see a specialist for my worsening medical problem, were bleak. I made the decision to take an Embassy-sponsored flight back to the US. I’ve never cried so much in my life. After some time at the vet, Honey would go to the foster home. He was having diarrhea – common for a puppy but stressful nonetheless – so he’d also receive treatment while there.
I made a promise to Honey that I would return. His eyes were kind and understanding. The wonderful vet Eror Zylyftari comforted me as I bawled and handed Honey to him. I cry typing this. I don’t know if I made the right decision, honestly. In hindsight, I would have been stuck in Albania for much longer than five months. Italy was not allowing people from Albania in for a very long time. And, my health crisis absolutely would have gotten to an unmanageable point. But, I still am not sure. Leaving him was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
Traveling was stressful – hazmat suits, apocalyptic streets and airports. No taxi driver would take me to the airport for fear of penalties. But all I thought about was Honey.
JTUM asked the loving volunteer Elca Godina to visit him at the vet. She of course agreed. I lived for these video updates and am so grateful for her kindness.
Not long after, I got the terrible news that the foster still could not take Honey. I broke down. I had left him and now he would stay at the vet? I couldn’t imagine it. I begged expat Facebook groups for fosters, but this made me nervous. Honey was anxious and sensitive. Living outside, too much time alone, and “old-school” discipline were not acceptable. I researched boarding facilities, but this didn’t really exist.
But the stars aligned once again and JTUM’s president, Jenny, found an American expat family in Tirana who had adopted a JTUM dog. They agreed to foster Honey. It was the perfect situation. Honey learned and grew so much with his foster parents, Emily and Drake, and foster sister, Stella. They saved the day.
And, yes, Honey physically grew more than I anticipated (whoops!). But, there was no turning back. A part of me felt guilty: I could have taken Lady. But I knew Honey’s sensitive soul needed me. Plus, I made a promise to him and I was in love.
The process continued. Jenny guided me patiently through the bureaucracy. Blood tests were sent to a lab in Germany more than once. With COVID19, the post was slow and one package arrived broken, requiring a repeat blood draw and more waiting time. But, nevertheless, we persisted…
The next challenge? Getting myself to Europe, who had yet to open borders, and getting Honey out of Albania in the middle of a pandemic…
