2008 Woodie Awards
Muscovites address concerns with wild dogs
Sasha Sheveleva
Issue date: 11/3/05 Section: Campus News
- Page 1 of 3 next >
I was driving around the edge of the orange Russian field, the deep red forest, in the south suburb of Moscow.
Somewhere nearby, one of the private dogshelters is situated. I don't know the exact address, because, like abuse centers, the staff of the dog-shelters are afraid of unwelcome guests.
They are afraid of the people, who will bring new stray dogs to them. The problem exists. According to the Animal Defense Center, "VITA," there are 120,000 stray dogs in Russia, pessimists say that this figure means only the dog population in Moscow.
There is no official statistic on this subject. There are only 10 state and 50 private shelters over the whole country.
Residents worry because the stray dog packs attack people, destroy wild animals and cats, and spread rabies. Finally I found this place, the old stable. I park my car here; take two packs of oats flakes in my hands and go through the forest along the ancient fence - it was the Duke's country residence in the last century.
I hear the dogs barking somewhere on the right and assume that I found it. Lydia is greeting me friendly, shows her shelter: her property is fenced in several zones, where the different dogs live.
Now there are 55 dogs, every dog has its own character, name and sad story. "This cute dog was hit by another dog, this dog was picked up on the bus-stop, and these sisters were saved from the shooting."
The private dog shelters are based on people's enthusiasm and are hidden in the forests and suburbs, because they don't have the opportunity to take care of new dogs.
They don't get the support from authorities or from their cocitizens. But these enthusiasts do the city a great service. Lydia's dog-shelter alone helped 700 stray dogs find owners, but some of them spend their whole lives here.
Lydia, over 70, is the private dog-shelter founder and owner. She founded it 11 years ago. She began to collect stray dogs from the Moscow streets and bring them home, spending all her salary, buying dog-food.
Six kilograms (approximately 13 pounds) of oat flacks and six kilograms of meat is a normal day for her 55 friends. Then she found her property and moved there with the 95 dogs initially.
Somewhere nearby, one of the private dogshelters is situated. I don't know the exact address, because, like abuse centers, the staff of the dog-shelters are afraid of unwelcome guests.
They are afraid of the people, who will bring new stray dogs to them. The problem exists. According to the Animal Defense Center, "VITA," there are 120,000 stray dogs in Russia, pessimists say that this figure means only the dog population in Moscow.
There is no official statistic on this subject. There are only 10 state and 50 private shelters over the whole country.
Residents worry because the stray dog packs attack people, destroy wild animals and cats, and spread rabies. Finally I found this place, the old stable. I park my car here; take two packs of oats flakes in my hands and go through the forest along the ancient fence - it was the Duke's country residence in the last century.
I hear the dogs barking somewhere on the right and assume that I found it. Lydia is greeting me friendly, shows her shelter: her property is fenced in several zones, where the different dogs live.
Now there are 55 dogs, every dog has its own character, name and sad story. "This cute dog was hit by another dog, this dog was picked up on the bus-stop, and these sisters were saved from the shooting."
The private dog shelters are based on people's enthusiasm and are hidden in the forests and suburbs, because they don't have the opportunity to take care of new dogs.
They don't get the support from authorities or from their cocitizens. But these enthusiasts do the city a great service. Lydia's dog-shelter alone helped 700 stray dogs find owners, but some of them spend their whole lives here.
 Media Credit: Sasha Sheveleva These dogs are just some of those that Lydia, the shelter´s owner, cares for at her facility. She forbids any of them to be euthanized. |
Lydia, over 70, is the private dog-shelter founder and owner. She founded it 11 years ago. She began to collect stray dogs from the Moscow streets and bring them home, spending all her salary, buying dog-food.
Six kilograms (approximately 13 pounds) of oat flacks and six kilograms of meat is a normal day for her 55 friends. Then she found her property and moved there with the 95 dogs initially.