On October 25, 2011, the five tiny fishing villages -- which had long been a magnet for tourists from all over the world -- were hit by one of the worst inundations the area had ever seen. Thirteen people were killed, and many more lost property and possessions. The streets of Vernazza, perhaps the most famous of the villages, were feet-deep in mud.
"In the [Yugoslav] war, people had to abandon their pets -- dogs, cats, tortoises -- so they multiplied," says Paradisi."So by then there was a problem with stray dogs." "His story was particular," says Paradisi."He was captured with his mother and sister, and they were killed in front of him.Leo, as Paradisi would name him, arrived in Liguria on September 25, 2011.Freak weather devastated the village of Vernazza, with mudslides drowning the streets.A month later, although dogs were banned from his office, he decided to take his new pet to work. A storm was already brewing in the area, and he was uncomfortable leaving the dog at home.
"It felt like a warzone," says Paradisi."There were five helicopters going around looking for the lost people. There was a sailboat turned over, and people were screaming, looking for others who were missing.Not knowing what else to do, Paradisi called some friends to tell them what had happened.Running the hotel togetherGiovanna Dell'Orto/AP
He says that although he initially attributed it to fear on the dog's part, experts think there could be more to it. "They think that in certain meteorological conditions they can smell something. The ozone that I use to disinfect the rooms these days -- that's what you smell after thunder and lightning. So dogs can probably smell odors that we can't during such strong weather. The smell, combined with the hail and thunder, must have made him understand we needed to stop."If he'd just been scared, he could have stayed in the back and cried.
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