Animal Rights are non-existent in Russia
there is about 84 stray dogs per square mile in Moscow alone, bringing total population of stray dogs in the capital close to 35000.
Life on the streets throughout Russia is dangerous for dogs. Majority of population looks at stray dogs as they are a nuisance so they are poisoned, tortured, hit by cars, burned alive, shot and even used for food.
Citizens only look to purchase pure breed dogs and then add to stray dog population when they abandon their pets because they grew in size or get ill. Why keep an ill dog if they can get a puppy? They also add to stray dog population by not sterilizing their pets and letting them out to mate with strays “just for health”. Puppies are then dumped and if they are lucky to survive they make more puppies.
Municipal shelters are numbered and overcrowded. Adoptions are very rare and majority of the dogs live and die at the shelters. 70% of those who do get adopted end up living on the backyards, changed to a tiny dog house, exposed to elements, often with no food and water. Why feed the dog if he can be easily replaced when he can no longer perform his “guard duties”?
The situation in rural areas is even worse. Shelters there are hell for dogs. The conditions in which dogs are doomed to live are horrifying. Dirt, filth, rotten food and no veterinarian care – that is what dogs are subjected to – hunger and illnesses.
Regardless the circumstances, 99% of dogs are absolutely adoptable – they are sweet, loving and smart. The lucky ones who escape this hell and find a family immediately bloom and bring a lot of joy to their owners.
There is no governmental support and no SPCA’s. Welfare of the dogs in Russia lays on the shoulders of volunteers – private citizens with a compassion for animals. They build private shelters, and do their best to help these unfortunate souls spending their salaries to feed and treat them.
Shelter should be a temporary measure and volunteers desperately looking to adopt their dogs out to be able to save more. Since there is no adoption in Russia, they send dogs to Europe, USA and Canada.
