Kindred Tales | Ilaria and Lulla | Zampetta Felice
Ilaria Pauletti is the writer behind Italian blog zampettafelice.it which is dedicated to all things dog. She is also working on dog + human, a new independent magazine devoted to the love of our four-legged companions. Ilaria’s inspiration comes from her Corgi Lulla who not only helped her to overcome a fear of dogs, but also inspired her to follow her dreams.
Tell us a bit about your work and what inspires your projects.
I work as warehouse operator at Friendly Shop in Padua - Italy, the first online shop that focuses on zero waste choices and sustainability. I also blog about dogs and their humans on zampettafelice.it and I’m creating dog + human, a new independent mag related to the love for our four-legged companions.
Definitely my dog, Lulla, she is my inspiration. She changed my life for the better. And the respect and love for nature, of course.
What’s your first memory of dogs being in your life?
I used to walk down the streets with my mom, as a child, and I truly enjoyed meeting and cuddling the neighbourhood dogs. I remember Nuvola, a dog that probably loved me and therefore licked my hands all the time. Well, she knew I had cookies in my pockets. Then something changed growing up. I was truly scared by dogs, whether they were big or small, close to me or on the other side of the street. The fear within me was something I could not control. I still cannot recall the exact moment this nightmare started, but I was truly afraid that dogs could chase after me and bite my legs or hands.
Tell us about Lulla and how they came into your life?
3 years ago, I decided to face my fear. My boyfriend and I started to do some research, and as I always loved corgis, we contacted some breeders here in Italy. We had some bad experiences and then finally the best one: this breeder did not suggest us a puppy, as my fear for dogs was still quite present, but an adult dog that could balance the situation in the best way. We met Lulla at the breeder’s and it was love at first sight. Lulla had 3 litters in her life and she was officially a ‘retired’ corgi. She’s been living this new chapter with us since February 2019.
How does having a dog fit into your general working day?
Last year I quit a job I did not love, and everything changed. I wanted to live a better life, for me, my husband, Lulla and our future dogs. I now work 3 days a week and this was a big and positive change I made during the pandemic.
We usually have 3 walks every day, we play fetch (even if Lulla loves chasing and biting the ball and not actually bringing it back), she basically follows us everywhere. But let’s be honest: most of the time, she sleeps on the couch.
Oh, and we are waiting to introduce a new puppy to the family. Hopefully this summer!
When you’re not working where do you like to head out with Lulla?
We both love the park that is really close to our home. Long walks, fresh air and big old trees. We also enjoy going to the beach, it’s only 10 minutes by car and I think Lulla rejuvenates by breathing the salted air and running along the seashore.
As soon as possible, we hope to head to the Alps. Cortina and Alpe di Siusi are places that we really miss since the arrival of Covid.
What essentials do you always have on you when heading out for a dog walk?
Collar and leash are the first real essentials and then my Chilly’s bottle with fresh water and a collapsible bowl, a couple of her fav dog treats and of course poop bags!
