Lumira Black Labrador Mix Female ~1-2 Years Old ID#3780

Meet Lumira!  Lumira is a sweet and playful Labrador mix that is estimated to be 1-2 years old. Lumira was found tied to fence outside of a factory in Philadelphia. Her finders brought her to ACCT Philly but the shelter environment was a scary place for Lumira with all the noise and commotion. The shelter reached out to Brookline to see if we could help to get her out of the shelter and into a quiet foster home so that she could find her forever family.  Luckily, a foster home was found.  Please read her blog from the bottom up to learn more about her while in foster care.

August 10, 2026

Lumira (Lulu or Lu) continues to settle in well. She is energetic, confident, intuitive, excitable, sweet and loving.
She continues to love walks, and foster mom figured out the gentle leader, which has been a game changer. We walked in a busy neighborhood yard sale navigating crowds and tables well.

Lu with pup cup:

We also walked at a local park with ball games and many distractions and she was just focused on walking. On two different walks, she saw ducks and (mini)horses and was interested but the gentle leader kept her on good behavior. She is friendly with anyone who will give her attention – but watch out for the jumps.

Since our first car ride, she easily bounds into the car, excited for any adventure ahead. Foster mom does restrain her in the back seat… just because she is a curious ping pong ball.

Lulu is food motivated, and has enjoyed trying tomatoes, carrots and thinly sliced cucumber from the mandolin (she rejected the cucumber butt that didn’t go through the mandolin). All meals are now served out of kongs and puzzles, which is helping with mental stimulation.

Lu with puzzle feeder:

Lulu is cuddly and loves attention (demands it). We continue to work on stay, come, down. But I do think she is starting to learn walk, outside.

We played fetch, and she was a natural.

She is a working dog who would love a job. She loves toys – balls, plushy toys, a new ball that makes noises (yard sale find!)

Lu with toy:

Lu with toy in house:

Lu with ball that makes noises:

Lu met a baby, and was well behaved. But Foster Mom would not recommend her living with children under 12 years old because of her zoomies and jumps.

August 6, 2026

Lumira (Lulu) is smart, and wants to please. Her excitement can get the best of her – but it is just because she loves life. She is happy to see me, happy to get new toys, happy to go for a walk, happy to get fed. She is appreciative and trainable. She is very gentle when taking treats. However, that is the only time she can be considered gentle. When she is excited she is a ping pong ball. She is the definition of zoomies and excitement jumps – we are working on it!

She loves seeing her collar and leash – because it means we are going on walks! She puts on the collar well. However, Foster mom has some learning to do to make sure the gentle leader is put on correctly – or else she slips it! If the gentle leader is put on correctly  – she responds really well to it. Initially she hated the crate. Foster mom had to remove the bed because she was being destructive. Since then, foster mom added a sheet for some comfort. Lumira still needs a treat to be coaxed into the crate, but it is easier to get in each time – with less protest. Foster mom is giving food and water in the crate for a positive association and familiarity.

Yesterday, to manage her energy on a rainy day, we went on a walk in a local park, which went great. Then, we went to Lowes. Walking in the aisles and the garden center went well – again she was all business! Until we came up to the 10ft tall halloween decorations. She was SCARED. And foster mom thought approaching them would be helpful….. Not realizing the decorations move! It was not helpful. We promptly left the store and had a nice car ride home. Her reaction to being scared was walking away very fast. No barking or growling. Lulu has met three neighbors while on walks, and been instantly friendly to both men and women. We have had two friends stop by the house and that might be the most exciting thing, yet! We need to work on excitement jumping. She does self correct to sit – but still jumps sneak out. Foster mom has realized Lulu needs more mental stimulation. This morning, feeding breakfast in a kong was a big hit!

She is good at playing by herself. She does jump when excited, and can be lightly mouthy. Yesterday, she started barking at neighbors. These are all behaviors we are working on. Along with learning “down” and “stay”.

August 4, 2026

Lumira is a sweet, silly, cuddly, athletic girl.

Day two started with a 2 mile run, followed by a .5 mile walk. Lumira is a runner’s dream. She is all run, and no sniffs. Even walking, she wants to cover ground, with no interest in stopping to smell the flowers. She will virtually use the bathroom mid stride. I have just ordered a gentle leader because she is a major puller.We met an older dog on the walk this morning, and had a brief but friendly interaction.

Today she is asking for more pets and cuddles – and going to town on her new chew toys. I was on a video call and she snuggled right next to me- but did protest when I removed a hand from petting her to type some notes. She continued to demand pets throughout the day.While she is high energy, she has spent time snoozing next to me as I work. I think she is already settling into a routine, and loving regular walks.

Documenting her athleticism:

When she got the zoomies around my house yesterday – she leapt onto the couch – from over the arm rest.

She is no stranger to stairs, but may jump the last 3-4 steps.

August 3, 2026

At the shelter, Lumira was in isolation because of a doggy cold going around. Lumira’s energy levels are making up for lost time. She has been in foster care for 24 hours, and she is a sweet energetic girl.This morning we went on a 1 mile run, and walked a mile back home. She did great, and it did not deplete her energy for the rest of the day. We have walked 3 additional times since our morning run. I will be curious to see how her energy levels level out once we get in a routine.

Lumira loves walks, but pulls hard against the leash… at least for the first mile of a walk. She has a prey drive and is excited to see bunnies and squirrels in the neighborhood. She has no major reaction to loud city sounds (cars going fast, banging sounds).She is in puppy mode, she loves toys (hard chewer), gets the zoomies and loves walks. On walks, she takes great directional cues and corrections (excluding pulling… but I am sure that is related to excitement). She is excited to see all dogs from a distance, but we have not met any dogs together. Videos from the shelter show she plays as hard as she walks and chews toys.She is curious and has a great sense of direction in the neighborhood already. She gives appreciative kisses, and an occasional head lean. Coming into foster care, she only knew the word “sit”. But I think she is picking up on: walk, outside, stay. We will continue to work on these words. She is a smart, intuitive girl.

I can tell she will be a great adventure buddy.

August 2, 2026

Thankfully foster mom Monique gave Lumira her rescue ride from ACCT Philly today. Lumira was found on July 9 tied to a fence outside a factory in Philadelphia. She was sweet and playful with her finders who brought her to ACCT Philly Animal Shelter but was petrified at the overcrowded shelter. Brookline received a message from Sarah Barnett, Executive Director of ACCT Philly, asking me if Brookline Lab Rescue could help Lumira. Sarah has been working in animal care for over 20 years. Sarah saw that Lumira was exhibiting fearful behavior but was a great dog that had the potential to blossom out of the shelter. Sarah and the behavior team worked with Lumira and brought out her playful puppy personality. She warmed up to me quickly during her evaluation and was unfazed by my scary assess-a-hand.Lumira was approved to join Brookline on 7/19 but unfortunately she tested positive for pneumovirus. This diagnosis meant she needed to be the only dog in her foster home. That’s not an easy foster to find. Monique who has no other dogs kindly offered to foster Lumira but had travel plans and couldn’t foster her until today.

Every day we had to wait, Lumira had the chance of being timestamped due to length of stay but against all odds, Lumira had her rescue ride today.

Monique reported that half the car ride Lumira  was curious, then she slept the rest of the ride. What a good girl! Once they arrived home, Lumira had a nice walk around the block, drank some water, and nibbled on her food. Lumira had some zoomies already and she loves her toys. It sounds like Lumira is off to a good start. Welcome to Brookline Lumira!