Pupa and Pepe, Albanian Puppies

Pupa and Pepe's Rescue Story

On Monday, the 16th, Alexandra and I were driving from Gjirokastër to Berat in Albania. It was our last day in the country, and we had a flight back to Berlin the next morning. We had some water and dog food in the car to feed any stray dogs we encountered during our travels. Just one kilometer from our final stop for the day, something made me glance at a pile of rubbish along the roadside. I had a gut feeling there was a dog there. We turned the car around and drove back to the spot, and that’s when we found Pupa.

She was emaciated and hairless, but despite her condition, she wagged her tail and lifted her head to greet us. It was shocking—I’ve never seen a puppy in such dire condition in my life. We gave her water and food immediately, and she devoured what she could before lying down again. That’s when we noticed another small figure behind the pile of rubbish—Pepe. Unlike Pupa, he looked healthier but was extremely scared of humans. We couldn’t get close enough to feed or check on him as he ran and hid under the nearby debris.

We had to continue driving, but I contacted an old friend who was visiting his family in Tirana, hoping he could help. He assisted us in trying to find a rescue shelter or someone who could advise us on what to do the next day.

We reached out to a few Instagram pages, but unfortunately, they couldn’t take the dogs due to an overload of cases.

The next morning, we drove back to the spot with some extra food we had “borrowed” from breakfast. Pepe was still wandering near the bins, but we couldn’t see Pupa. After looking down by the river, we found her lying in the trash, covered in flies. I called my friend and asked him to arrange an emergency vet visit.

At the vet, they examined Pupa and determined she could be treated, but it would require long-term care.

After the vet visit, we had to figure out what to do with the puppies. My friend kindly asked his aunt if she could take care of them for three months and help with their needs. We, of course, arranged to cover all the costs with a monthly payment.

At the vet, we purchased everything necessary for their recovery.

We then drove them to Tirana, where the aunt lives. Her family welcomed us with open arms and helped set up a safe, enclosed space for the puppies.

Since then, both Pupa and Pepe have been recovering quickly, gaining weight and energy!

I’ve set up this fundraiser to help cover the costs associated with my decision to stop on the road and rescue these puppies. Below is a breakdown of some of our expenses, though unfortunately, we didn’t get receipts during our time in Berat, as we hadn’t yet thought of creating this fund:

Veterinary care, including medicines: €105

Transport box: €45

Leashes, bowls, food, etc.: €110

Family support: €400 monthly

Additionally, we need to buy food weekly and take them for regular vet visits. Once they are ready to travel to Berlin, Alexandra and I will likely need to pick them up by car, and driving 3900 km will cost around €700.

We are committed to giving Pupa and Pepe a second chance at life, but we can’t do it alone. Any support—whether it’s a donation, sharing their story, or even words of encouragement—would make a huge difference. Together, we can ensure these puppies get the care they need and find loving homes. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity!