Han Solo, just six weeks old, got his name because he’s the last of a litter of six found along the road to Ksamil. His littermates all found homes — but Han was living in a protected area with a few older pups closely monitored by volunteers. 

Two days after Christmas, a volunteer heard screaming: a group of local boys was tossing Han around like a ball and pulling his legs. Luckily for Han, the boys were chased away and he was taken to a safe, warm home. Even luckier, Han has found a permanent home and made one little local boy the proud owner of a grateful pup.

In the absence of a city shelter or any city interest in animal welfare, volunteers are the only ones, besides occasional tourists, to step up and step in to protect the abused dogs and cats of Saranda.