Two Abruzzese Sheepdogs – that’s not for everyone…
And they were three! Unfortunately we lost one to cancer. His name was Ago, our very first dog in the family. Someone had told us about a litter close to our home, just out of Martina Franca in Puglia. We showed up, immediately decided to take one of them home and instantly fell in love with our little big Ago. A great dog, beautiful, strong, to good to be true! Sadly, he got sick and died of Leukemia within months. Just enough time to educate our second Abruzzese Sheepdog, a female that we called Tea. When Ago got worse and died, my husband and I suffered with him and grieved for him as if it was a child. Unbelievable how close we had become, how hard it was to let him go. We eventually found another male and called him Ugo. So even if it’s not three but only two of them now, we’re as close as any family can be. The dogs live outside,  yet they are like kids for us. We’ve created a perfect harmony, understanding each other without words. I actually think the dogs are getting more and more similar to us, but that’s what they say about dogs and masters, don’t they? 

What’s so amazing/special about your dogs?
They are extraordinary in every way! We are family, no more no less. And we love spending time together, being outdoors together, go hiking, playing, fighting with them on the floor like children, for hours. And they consider us their parents, calling us, barking, howling… as if we were two of them.

What did they teach you that nobody else would?
They taught us to be good. Because a dog would never leave you no matter what. He is always there, by your side, come rain or come shine. Looking at you, looking after you, caring about you. They want to be like us and we want to be like them, we learn from them.  

Is there anything that annoys you about them? 
Not at all. Humans can be annoying sometimes! But dogs? At least OUR dogs are just sweet, always. Even though it’s a breed that’s known to be very territorial and highly protective. 

What are your favourite things to do with them?
Playing and having fun. Only when it’s time to eat, they forget everything. As if they celebrated every single feast. Pure instinct. 

Are your dogs part of the household? Do they sleep in your bed?
No way. Our dogs are too big to keep them inside. They’ve got their outdoor space, their dog beds, and the entire estate to run and have fun. They seem to be more than happy with it. 

Any advice you would like to give to someone who wants to get a dog but can’t decide?
Go and get one, immediately. Because he will change your life and will make you happy. A dog helps you to be yourself, to forget about your sorrows. You’ll find that negativity disappears. It doesn’t take much: Just look him in the eyes and you’ll see his soul. 

PS: If you’d like to learn more about flower designer Michele Zaurino, check out his Instagram account @michele_zaurino

Pino didn’t wake up when we came in?
Don’t worry, he can’t hear anything, and he cannot see too well either. He’ll wake up eventually and I’ll give him a bite to eat. He’s way over 13 years old, moves very little because of his injuries and arthritis, so basicallly that’s what he does: sleep and eat. Yet, he’s been with me for almost three years now. Keeping me company when I wake up early, have my first cup of coffee and start knitting or working on my unique pieces made out of fabric and all sort of materials. Or when I watch television after a long day: He’ll stretch out right next to me, enjoying nothing but the smell of me being there for him.

How did you find out about Pino?
A volunteer had found him, run over on one of the main streets leading out of my town. Can’t you take care of him, she was asking. You could tell he was suffering, so I said, let’s take him to the vet and see what he says.

He seems to be doing just fine now.
Yes, but it took a while! At first he wouldn’t even let me pet him, poor thing. He just didn’t know what it was like to be loved by someone. But he got very attached to me. So now whenever I have to leave him with someone for a couple of days because I need to travel, he suffers loneliness, wouldn’t touch any food and can’t wait for me to be back. I’m his person, he knows nothing but the smell of me.

You used to have a handful of dogs, you said…
Yes, that was when I lived in the countryside, on a large estate where we went for long walks without ever leaving the property. They were all street dogs and I loved every single one of them! Athos, Yaris, Aygo, Leon and Toy. When I came home from work they used to party all around me! At night we would walk around the house, looking at the stars while I told them about my day. Different times, different measures… I promised myself I would never leave them, whatever happens. Within 2 or 3 years they died one after the other. I buried them around the big olive tree in the garden. This way they could go to sleep together as they used to and be together forever in their happy place. When the last of them had died, I was ready to move forward. I took a picture to always remember everything – and found myself an apartment in town.

I guess Pino made the transition easier for you.
Not that there was no other dog in the meantime! Did I tell you about Ciccia? The dog that came into my shop one day and decided to never leave again? She came every single day for about ten years! And she was extremely smart, knew exactly when she would find me etc. She usually arrived by 4.30 pm,
a couple of minutes before me. I opened the door and she would follow me behind the cash desk, where she remained all afternoon, listening and watching. During pandemic I took her home with me, my dogs had gone and she kept me company for a year.

Now it’s Pino who’s taking care of you…
Yes, we do enjoy each others company. I’ve got a lot of friends, a busy lifestyle etc. But there’s nothing like coming back home and having someone waiting for you. Yet, I promised myself that after Pino I wouldn’t take any more dogs. A least for a little while. But then again, don’t they say life happens while you make other plans?

PS: Wanna check out some of Francesca’s unique and 100 percent handmade pieces? Here’s her Instagram account: @viv’arte_

My compliments, You look perfectly fit! Thanks to Mimma…?
Well, I’m doing my best! I’ve been trying to calm down her incredibly playful character. You can see some results but… Mimma just cannot hold herself back when she’s happy (which she always is!) and since she’s not exactly a Chihuahua, I’m trying hard to keep her from dragging me away. Mimma is a very sociable dog, she wants to say Hi to everyone, play with everyone (even with the cats but they don’t always understand her), wants to run, swim and, above all, roll in everything she finds that’s stinky or yucky in some way. Bad luck for me but a great business for the city’s ​​dog ​​toilets.

Tell me about your life.
Mimma and I spend a lot of time together and try to make the most of it. We love hiking. Well, hiking is not quite right: As soon as she sees a meadow,
a beach or any other open space, she starts running happily all over the place. Mimma is a very active dog and loves to explore and dig big holes when we go on excursions. While we walk she repeatedly comes close to touch me with her nose, as if to make sure that Mom is still there. Once we went for a walk to the lakes of Alimini, near Otranto. She couldn’t resist throwing herself into the water to chase three ducks swimming carelessly in the middle of the lake. Another day, close to the beautiful and scenic Acquaviva Bay in Marittima, she accidentally fell into a well full of dirty water. She eventually got out again and shook herself wildly, getting everyone around her wet and dirty. Yet she’s easily forgiven because she is so sweet! I simply wouldn’t know what to do without our occasional excursions, no matter where and when. Seeing her run freely (especially in the snow!) makes me very happy.

You live in a city (Lecce, Italy), not exactly the best place to let dogs run free. How do you cope?
Yes, that’s a a problem, especially for larger dogs like Mimma. Where do we go run, play with a ball, hide and seek? The city park unfortunately opens too late, therefore we cannot go every morning. That park has a dog area which unfortunately is below expectations: small, dirty, full of fleas, mosquitoes and who knows what else. Not exactly the best place to take her. But unfortunately there’s very few alternatives. South of Rome there don’t seem to be any more walking areas for dogs. It’s a mess for people and dogs like us.

Do you share Mimma with someone or is it just You and her?
There’s also Michele, my fiancé, who invited me to come live with him and welcomed the two of us with great patience. He would never admit it but he got very attached to Mimma, too. When he comes home from work he’d whistle the legendary jingle (the Jurassic Park soundtrack) and Mimma looses it! She usually waits for him at the exact same hour, wagging her tail and waiting for him to cuddle her, give her the cookie (their ritual), calming down only when he gets out of his shoes.

Any other things you share?
There is Yoga, which I used to do before she arrived and which we practise “together” now. Let me put it this way: I try to do yoga and she thinks I wanna play, so she runs around me and under me like crazy. We both love these moments! We have also embarked on a path that will enable us to practice what used to be called Pet Therapy and is now AAI (Animal Assisted Interventions): an initiative where a specially-trained dog and professional handler work together, in conjunction with a human services professional (eg therapist, social care practitioner, teacher or healthcare provider), to promote improvements in the physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive functioning of a person. In order to help them build self esteem, overcome anxiety, interact with others, change certain patterns of behaviour and many more. It’s interesting and challenging for both of us! And I hope it’ll help me to make people in need participate in what I enjoy every day.

Elena, do you remember the day you met the ‘dog that would change your life’?
Sure I do! We saw an article in the Lecce newspaper, in a column of news, both good and sad, about animals. An article referred to a litter of six puppies that had been abandoned near the dumpster and someone had taken them to a kennel closeby. For me it was out of the question to take one of them, too much responsability, little experience with dogs etc. , still I wanted to take a look. So we went to see the little ones at the kennel where all sort of dogs, puppies and adults, were running, barking, playing all together. When we got closer they all ran away – apart from Kabù, who remained seated alone in the courtyard, with that irresistible look of someone who does not understand what is happening. He was just under three months old, shaking like a leaf in the wind. Instant crush!

What is so special about him?
I have always called him the Dalai Lama of dogs. He has incredible patience, wisdom and composure. He stayed by my side, especially in some rather difficult years, always in silence but with a strong presence. I am certain of having a karmic bond with him, which goes beyond time and space and which always makes us find one another.

Why do you love him?
For so many reasons! Because he’s a wonderful life partner, because he had the patience to support me and adapt to my hectic life. Because 17 years together are an incredibly long and intense timespan. Growing up he has kept up his puppy spirit, as if he were always in awe of something he sees for the first time. Even now that he’s an “old gentleman” he has that sparkle in his eyes that hasn’t faded with time. Kabù is part of every important memory of mine. Also because he is my daughter Eva’s older brother. They have an incredibly close relationship and he has always watched over her. And about me.

Is there anything you learned from him?
I’d say he teaches me a form of pure and essential love, perseverance. And to be more patient – which not not always works…

Anything annoying that he does?
Well, not really… He seems to love the smell and taste of paper, so every piece he’d find around the house is his to nibble on, including books. But to tell you the truth it makes me laugh rather than angry. And I put my favourite books in a safe place.

Your favourite moments with him – what are they?
At night, before I go to sleep, I put my head next to his and talk to him in a low voice, saying Hi, cuddling him, telling him about my day. He responds making sounds that seem to imitate mine. I adore these moments.