The dog rescued from a property on Učka was returned to the Rijeka shelter after attacking the Rupić family's cat, but the animal rights group Prijatelji životinja has revealed that the actor and his wife will adopt him.
Lou, a dog rescued in mid-May 2026 from a case of abuse on Učka, has ended up back at the Rijeka shelter, but a new home was quickly found for him. According to a post by the animal rights group Prijatelji životinja dated August 5, 2026, the puppy will be adopted by Croatian actor Goran Višnjić and his wife Eva.
The news comes after a strong public reaction to Lou's return to the shelter. The dog was initially adopted by 19-year-old Lana Lourdes Rupić, Goran Višnjić's daughter, but after several months of living together, the family decided to end the adoption.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Rijeka Animal Protection Society's dog shelter announced that the dog had suddenly been returned. "Although it seemed to us that everything was as it should be and that Lou had found her people, everything changed overnight. In fact, after a single phone call, instead of fulfilling the adoption contract, the little one arrived back at the shelter. We didn't even have time to react," the shelter said.
They were particularly affected by the fact that this is a dog that had already been through a traumatic experience. "Lou is a puppy that came from the horror of Učka. This makes this story even harder. Although she was small when she left there, it breaks our hearts that she has to fight for a home again," they added. They described her as an affectionate little dog waiting for a permanent home: "Lou is a wonderful little thing. She's looking for her people, this time forever."
Mirela Rupić, Lana Lourdes Rupić's mother, responded to public criticism. On her Facebook profile, she stated that the shelter had omitted the key reason for ending the adoption. "The reason was a brutal attack on our cat, whom Lou grabbed by the neck and started choking. Had we not intervened, we would have lost her," Mirela Rupić wrote.
She said they provided the dog with all the necessary conditions, although Lou, due to a cough, spent a month and a half without walks before she could be vaccinated. She claims that problems coexisting with their other dog and two cats existed from the beginning and that the dog showed aggression toward other dogs, people, and children. "There are limits to everything, and no one will choke our other animals. The shelter failed to mention that," she said. She added that the shelter manager only offered her the help of a trainer after the incident: "I didn't need a trainer at that point. Our cat barely survived, and for us, the story ended there."
The animal rights group Prijatelji životinja also commented on the case. In a social media post, they expressed disappointment with the decision to return Lou to the shelter. "We are deeply disappointed by Lana Lourdes Rupić's decision to return the dog to the shelter. Such an act is unjustifiable. Even if a complete inability to continue caring for a dog or cat truly arises, the adopter should find a new verified good home for the animal themselves," they said.
In the same post, they revealed a positive turn in the story. "We thank Goran and Eva Višnjić, who will adopt Lou so she doesn't have to stay in the shelter," Prijatelji životinja stated. Lou is one of 47 dogs rescued from a property on Učka in a case of abuse that shocked the public.
