On our way back from Uznova yesterday and closer to town, we fed a limping stray dog. He had a deep cut in his left hind paw. The injured foot was really swollen and looked infected. I had to leave after pouring him a small pouch of wet food because there was nothing we could do for him especially after finding out that the only vet in town had closed down. Just a few seconds later, his limping footsteps were loud and clear behind us. I dug out the big can of food we were saving for Jampi and dumped it out for him. We left immediately because I just couldn’t look at him.
We WhatsApp’d the vet recommended by the helpful flooring store owner who took over the clinic space. The vet (Mr. Toska) is a former employee of the closed animal clinic and has been trying to open one with no luck. When we told him that the dog’s leg probably need to be amputated, he told us that we must go to the animal hospital in Fier.
An animal pharmacy with two doses of flea medication
He gave us directions to an animal pharmacy in the next town called Velabisht; opposite direction from Uznova. He thanked us for wanting to get flea medication for the stray dogs and suggested we buy some deworming pills, if we were willing. The pharmacy is about a 30-minute walk away. We called him from the pharmacy to translate and to tell the store clerk what to give us. We bought all two doses of flea medication he had and deworming pills for four dogs.
Animal pharmacy in Velabisht. Around here, people’s biggest concerns are for farm animals like sheep and cows.
On our way back, we stopped at a restaurant in the Gorica neighborhood. We decided to eat there because we saw only locals there when we walked by earlier. The bartender/chef/owner spoke very little English. We sat outside. There was a Yamaha moped parked by the roadside; I was overwhelmed with nostalgia. This is practically a scene from Buntong, the village I grew up in. Unexpectedly, I teared up when an older gentleman rolled by on his moped with no helmet. People are living the same lives around the world, just in different bodies.
Did he call me a pig?
As we were deciding what food to order, a man asked if I spoke Italian. “Sorry, English.” I pointed at where his plate was and asked, “Good?” He said, “Good!” I told Kenric and the chef that I’ll have what he had. He was very proud. He even Google translated for us “Pig!” I took that to mean what he had was pork and that he wasn’t calling me a pig.
I had posted on the Albanian expats page asking for help with the limping dog. While we were eating, a lady responded with the name of the hospital in Fier – Animal Veterinar Hospital Fier Luiza Hyka. I told her we will go back and look for the dog. How we will bring him to Fier, about 50 minutes away, I didn’t know.
The Village Diva
The food was superb. We were almost done eating when an older gentleman stopped dead in his tracks when he saw us. I immediately knew we took his table. He was almost pouting. A man walking by yelled out to him and pointed at the next table. Oh my gosh, we took the Village Diva’s table. I genuinely felt bad because just like at our coffee shop in Buntong, all the regulars have “their” tables and everyone’s a regular. He must have felt my pain when I saluted him, the universal sign of “I’m sorry.”
Super delicious. The sausage is the best we’ve had.
He stepped up to our table and pointed at our empty bottles, rubbed his thumb and forefinger together rapidly and waved his hand at us. No, we have already taken your table, we can’t let you buy us beer. I pointed at the beer bottle and pointed at him. He laughed and shook his head.
A friend arriving by moped joined him. The friend said, “Kina”. I tried to correct him, “Malaysia”, but it didn’t register with them. Later, the friend said, “Kina Komunis”. I laughed and said, “No. Malaysia.” Didn’t register either. Then, as he said, “Kina, Albania” he moved his two forefingers together. I smiled, but my heart screamed, “Nooooo!! China just wants your land. Don’t fall for the Belt and Road Initiative because they just want to saddle poorer countries with debt and take their land as collateral when you can’t pay back! It’s already happening in Asia.”
If you knew where I grew up, you would know why this is so nostalgic.
I wish I could see the passenger’s face when he finds out we have prepaid for two beers for him!
We raised our mugs and said “Gezuar”
When the chef took their order, I knew a Tirana beer was coming our way. Our plan to leave soon so they could have their table back wouldn’t work. We just had to accept his generosity. We raised our mugs to them and I said “Gezuar”. Another man had stopped by to chat with them. All three of them got a kick out of our “Gezuar”.
Kenric quietly went inside to pay for our food and the gentlemen’s beer but came out defeated. He said once the chef realized what he was trying to do, he gave a non-negotiable “NO!” Needless to say, we belted out our “Faleminderit” and “Mirupafshim”. Based on their laughter, I’d say we’ve earned that beer. They climbed on the friend’s moped and waved one last time. When the chef brought us our change, I handed him a 200 Lek bill (USD $1.90) and said, “Two grande Tirana, neser” and I showed him the photo I took of the three men and pointed at the two who were drinking. He was a little confused but it suddenly dawned on him, “Tomorrow!” “Yes!” He was quite amused.
I secretly took this photo but I think I got caught. Haha. The gentleman who treated us is the one in the middle.
Looking for the injured dog
We arrived at where we saw the limping dog around 6:00 pm. Of course, he wasn’t there. As we were trying to cross the street to go check the dumpster area, a guy on his motorbike stopped and asked where we were from. This guy repeated “Malaysia”. He told us that there aren’t any beautiful places in this part of town and to go check out the Kala, Mangalem and Gorica neighborhoods.
He told Kenric, “You have three good things for you. Your country is the strongest country in the world. You are handsome and you are intelligent.” He abruptly put on his helmet and sped away. What an utterly random dude. Kenric thought I should repeat the second and third qualities, but I had no time for his vanity. We laughed hysterically while crossing the road. No doggie.
The kids knew where he was
We crossed back and walked into an apartment complex and headed for the dumpsters/parking area. I snapped a photo. There were a few boys playing. I told Kenric to go ask them while I went opposite direction. One of the boys said “Yes.” I turned around. He pointed at the dog just steps from me. In fact, he’s in the photograph. I was so happy to see him and thanked the boys. We fed him while all the boys looked on. The dog limped away, but a man who just got home from work, called him back and picked up some dry kibbles for him. He ate some more and left.
I can’t believe I didn’t see him lying in the grass behind the dumpster. Maybe it was meant to be that we involve the group of young boys.
These boys were our lucky stars tonight.
I followed him and scratched his head. He was so tame and so in pain. I tried to take a photo of his wound, and one of the boys quickly shone his flashlight our direction. Such a good helper. Kenric called Mr. Toska, the vet, but he doesn’t have a car he could use to drive the dog to Fier. We tried having the hotel owner’s son arrange for a taxi that would allow the dog, but no reply. I told the boys I would go back tomorrow. “Neser, I come.” They nodded.
Fier. Hospital. Woof! Woof!
I didn’t want the poor dog to wait until tomorrow. The lady said taxi is the only way when I called the hospital. I said I will find a taxi and she can give the driver directions. Kenric stayed with the boys and the dog. I recall seeing a taxi stand at the street corner. I called the hospital again but it was busy, so I told the driver, “Fier, hospital.” He nodded, “Dog.” He didn’t understand.
“Fier.”
He nodded.
“Hospital.”
He nodded.
“Woof! Woof!”
He must have thought I was going there for my rabies. He told me to get in and I directed him to the building. I knew the dog wouldn’t resist too much, but I didn’t expect him to immediately cling on to me when I picked him up. I guess Mr. Driver didn’t understand “Woof! Woof!” because he was surprised to see me carrying a dog like it was a baby. I sat with the dog in the backseat. I called again and the lady at the hospital gave the driver directions.
The dog did not move at all. About 15 minutes in, I told Kenric that the dog must have relaxed because he’s breathing heavily on me. Mr. Intelligent said, “This is probably his first car ride, and he’s getting carsick.” Luckily, he had a plastic bag in his backpack and the seats were leather. I told doggie to puke into bag if he needs to and had the windows lowered more. No more than ten minutes later, he puked into the bag and looked up at me when he was done. He barfed more graciously than any sexy girl at the club. I tied a knot and asked for another bag. Poor doggie. Maybe I shouldn’t have fed him.
The Animal Hospital in Fier
The vet on duty told us maybe there’s a chance to avoid amputation, but that the wound does look very bad. She looked at his teeth and said he’s only about seven months old. We prepaid for ten days of boarding, blood test, x-ray, anesthesia and some other necessary treatments. Don’t know if he’ll need amputation yet and they will give us a 50% discount on the neutering because he’s a stray dog. She asked for a name for the dog. I named him Tigger but spelled “Tiga”, the Malay word for three. I always had the feeling that the leg had to be amputated.
He’s such a sweet and tame boy. Never made a sound and he puked so graciously in the taxi.
Poor boy. He’s only about seven months old.
The doctor was truly nice. She kept commenting about how good the dog is. She kept saying she appreciated us taking care of the stray dogs in Albania. More about this impressive, modern and large facility that houses about 20 disabled animals some other time. We didn’t get to meet the on-call surgeon, but we have since received many photos and updates.
Anemia, parasites, infection, broken bone
The blood test tested for nine things. Results: three high, three normal, three low. If only that makes him an average dog. He has anemia, is full of parasites, is suffering from severe infection and the bone in his paw is completely broken and will never grow back together. While these are bad news, at least he won’t be in constant pain until his rotting leg or starvation kills him on the streets, and that’s what we really want to prevent. It’s been a long eventful day.
Goodnight, Tiga.
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