Fiume - a dog lost, our hearts broken

SIMPLE LIFE

Fiume – a dog lost, our hearts broken

FIUME LOVED TO PRANCE

In the afternoons I’d play with him on the ancient road outside our house. He’d pick up a stick and I’d chase him about, letting him race past me, growling at each other when I finally managed to grab the stick.

The last time I saw Fiume he was prancing. We’d been playing, and as I went inside he turned back to look at me with tail wagging before heading off for adventures unknown.

Such a boofy happy guy, and our first family dog, we saved him from certain death.

His previous owners kept him chained in the side alley, they had gone through five dogs in the eighteen months we’ve been here.

When they finally moved out we were offered Fiume for ten euro otherwise they were going to kill him.

Of course we took him

The photo of Carina in the lane way is the day he was given his freedom. Even after months with us he was still cowed down and would bark and growl at anyone walking through the Borgata carrying a stick. His previous owners were not kind.

He changed all our lives, especially Carina and Sam, of course he and Carina were instant best friends, and it made me smile to hear Sam talking with him when he thought nobody was around, just last night he said “I didn’t think I’d miss him but I really do” which is a big admission for my ‘No way are we getting a Dog’ husband.

When I was growing up my best friend and confident was our golden Cocker Spaniel Jamie. I wanted Carina and Luca to have the joy that only a dog can bring.

FIUME WAS THAT JOY

I HOPE FIUME FINDS HIS WAY HOME

As the days pass it seems less and less likely.

Our neighbors Anna and Sergio have been out looking for him in the snow as have we. They love him and he often spends the day next door with their dog Lucky. When we go away in our campervan it’s Anna and Sergio that take care of Fiume.

They talk to us about cliffs, snow and wild boar when Carina isn’t here and don’t think he is still alive.

I hope that if he is dead that he didn’t suffer.

Our Valley is wild and rugged, it’s not like a suburban backyard where you close the gate and your dog stays put all day.

Here dogs are often chained and I’d rather he have those six months of freedom than a lifetime on a chain cowed down and lacking all affection.

We gave him a glimpse of what life should be like.

He got to be a part of a family that love him. A much loved part of our ‘pack’…….come home Fiume, we all miss you x

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Fiume – An Update

You may know that over the past two weeks we have been missing our dog Fiume, he went out for a walk and never returned. My last post I had given him up for dead, I tried to stay positive for Carina but with the high snow and below zero temperatures nobody expected him to survive.

After twelve days away from home he walked back in the door, tired, hungry and far bonier than he was when he left. He immediately climbed into Carina’s lap and has been close by ever since.

We have no idea what happened to him, he is very high strung and fearful so I think it will take some time for him to return to his prancing playful self.

Through out the weeks he was missing you have been a great support, and when I was finally able to share the news that he had returned home our facebook pages went wild with love and happiness for this funny little white dog with the big fluffy ears that stole so many hearts.

On Fiume’s behalf I thank you all for your continued belief that he would find his way back to us.

and the gang x

28 replies

georgette says:
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I am so sorry Lisa to hear about Fiume and the fact that he is lost. It sounds like your family did a very noble thing taking him away from hi horrible previous owners. I’m happy that he at least got to experience a bit of family life with people who care and I really hope he makes his way back to you guys. Crossing my fingers and sending out a prayer..
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Gabriella Bell says:
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Finally you can sleep now that your four legged companion has returned
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Anne says:
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Thinking of you all , and your sad news. I do hope Fiume does come home. Hugs to everyone xx
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Krista says:
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I’m so deeply sorry to hear of your loss. 🙁 We lost two of our beautiful dogs, and it crushed us. Hugging you tight and hoping against hope that he returns home. XO
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Lyn says:
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Your story breaks my heart. I know the pain. My doggie Buddy who is also a rescue dog ran away. Actually he ran away to find me. He was on the run for 4 1/2 weeks. A very sad time. I prayed for him. He was found. I pray that Fiume comes home.
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Catherine says:
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Terribly sad to hear this Lisa and such happy photos! But don’t give up hope – our German shepherd ran off one New Year’s Eve with the firecrackers and she came back. A dog knows where love is! Hugs cat xx
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Caterina B says:
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Oh dear, I am so sorry for Carina and all of you. It’s really sad to loose a pet when you are a young girl, but at any age, too, of course. Maybe a miracle will happen and he will be on your doorstep one morning. I will hope for that.
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Diane says:
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Keeping fingers crossed that Fiume finds his way back to your loving home. Thank you for the love and life you gave him. He needed to be rescued and you were all there for him. He is now part of your heart forever. Wonderful pictures! I’ll be checking and hoping for good news of a grand reunion!
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Heather in Arles says:
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Sending Love and Strength, especially to Carina. And I am hoping, hoping, hoping that he comes Home.
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Shell Parsons says:
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Oh Lisa, my heart is breaking for you all. I will keep Flume in my prayers that he returns safely to your loving home. They are such a special part of the family, so unconditionally loving. Sending huge hugs to you all.x
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Sandra says:
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So sorry that he has not returned yet and hope that you will be able to share some good news with us soon. Thinking of you all with fingers crossed!
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budget jan says:
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I’m holding back the tears and my heart is feeling for all of you, especially Carina. I totally agree that six months of freedom and love is worth a long sad life. I hope you all feel happy that you were able to give him that love and life. If he is gone I bet he is wagging his tail and loving that you gave him his freedom.
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helena says:
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Just too darned sad ~ such a happy guy in all the wonderful pictures – especially with Carina. I’m so sorry for her loss – for all of you. I really hope he comes back very soon. My thoughts and wishes are with you.
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Katrina Kelley says:
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I am praying he comes home to you, sending you so much love right now. Try to stay positive, I have friends that lost their dog in Las Vegas last week. They searched for 5 days in an area with lots of Coyotes and radical temperature changes. He was found and returned to his family!! They never lost hope that he would come home. I am hoping he finds his way home!
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Mary Day says:
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Don’t give up. Always have hope.
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Leslie in Oregon says:
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I know that Fiume will return to you if he can and mightily hope that he does. The photographs of him with Carina are beautiful; they obviously gave each other so much. When Fiume wandered, was he more likely to stay where there are people or explore the wild? I’d suggest leaving Lost Dog notices (with a photograph) at cafes, on poles…anyplace you can within a 50-mile or so radius, and post notices online and in local newspapers, in case someone has seen him or given him shelter. And keep looking for him in the wild! Dogs have an amazing ability to survive in difficult or threatening circumstances …I know, as we have been part of search parties that have found house dogs who have survived for more than a month in the winter during the rugged, coyote-full 40-mile-long forest adjoining our neighborhood. If people strange to him go out to search for him, it might help if they take a dog with them; we have found that often, a lost, exhausted dog in the wild will hide from strange people but come to another dog. I will be hoping and praying that Fiume rejoins you before long!
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Charmaine says:
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Our hearts are breaking for you – your pets are a part of the family and it’s devastating when something happens. You should be so proud for giving him a better life. Much love xoxoxo
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meg says:
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Don’t give up hope … not yet anyway. 🙁
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Gina says:
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This makes me very sad, I don’t know what to say. 🙁
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A Cook Not Mad (Nat) says:
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I still have hope that Fiume will be found. You know our story, if a three legged Daschund can survive 4 nights in a wild boar infested area in the rain, during some of the coldest nights we’ve had here in Umbria, there is hope for Fiume. xo
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Jackie Stenhouse says:
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Flume please come home. You are breaking our hearts. 🙁
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Trisha Thomas says:
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Oh, this is heart-breaking. I am like Sam, I didn’t want a dog and now that we have one, I adore him. I also talk to him all the time and he always seems to understand me. He follows me everywhere and if he went messing, I do not know what I would do. I hope Fiume finds his way home soon. My heart goes out to all of you, especially Carina — those pictures of her with Fiume really are pure happiness.
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Wynne says:
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I’m sobbing – I hope and pray he finds his way back to you. He sounds like a wonderful pup and I was so looking forward to meeting him. I’m glad he had such joy the past six months and you are all so wonderful to have taken him in. Bless you for that.

Anyone who abuses any animal should be executed, no questions asked.
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Susan Priano says:
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I wouldn’t loose hope. Too many stories of dogs finding their way back. I realize wild animals may have taken him but you will have closure.
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Linda Rhyne says:
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Come home Fiume! Don’t give up hope! Miracles do happen!
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Paolo Lancia says:
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I hope that he returns and soon.
Never underestimate the resiliency of a dog.
I hope he returns and soon.
All the best!!
Paolo Lancia
Turku, Finland
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Jules Hardy says:
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Ooh, I’m so sorry to hear this, you must be distraught. Really really hope you find him. Is he microchipped? If he’s white and you have snow he must be difficult to spot. Will keep my fingers crossed for you. We have always been cat people, although I like dogs I’m a bit scared of them. Your Fiume looks wonderful, a lovely pet. Don’t give up hope, years ago we lost a loved Persian cat. I had totally given up hope, but after months of hunting around she turned up having been rescued by someone else, near to death, about 3 miles from our home, and lovingly restored to health. Asha came back home and survived another 6 years. There is always hope x
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Natascha Di Mario says:
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I really had to cry reading this. My first dog died almost 2 years ago, and I still miss her every day, even if we have another dog, Joy … and a foster dog Tartufo. It’s not the same… your first doggylove is something special.

I really hope beautiful Fiume will find his way home. Sometimes it happens. Don’t give up on him yet ! I will keep all my fingers crossed for you all xxx
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