RUSSIA-HOMELESS PETS Moscow volunteers exhibit homeless pets in attempt to find them new owners

Record ID: 146681

  • Title: RUSSIA-HOMELESS PETS Moscow volunteers exhibit homeless pets in attempt to find them new owners
  • Date: 14th July 2015
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JULY 11, 2015) (REUTERS) VOLUNTEER WITH DOG VOLUNTEERS WITH DOGS AND VISITORS AT EXHIBITION VOLUNTEER HUGGING DOG, WALKING IT AWAY VOLUNTEER SHOWING DOG TO VISITORS VOLUNTEER'S T-SHIRT READING (Russian): 'NEED TO BE TAKEN!' VISITORS LOOKING AT DOG VISITORS PATTING DOG CHILD SITTING IN FRONT OF DOG MAN PATTING DOG WITH SIGN READING (Russian): 'I WANT A HOME'
  • Embargoed: 29th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA2E0AFKB4GU8K8GH4IF4LSP9AC
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: With a chorus of barking, meowing and serious advice from experienced pet-owners, homeless dogs and cats of all ages and breeds came on display on Saturday (July 11) in central Moscow.
    The goal of the volunteer team behind the project was not just to show how sweet and friendly homeless animals can be, but also to attract the public's attention to the fact that many animals are left in the streets and destined to live in shelters.
    "Unfortunately, a lot of people are not very well informed about animal shelters, what a shelter is and what is going on there. That is why our goal is to introduce dogs to local residents, to present them with an opportunity to take a dog home and push the situation in our society from a dead point. Because in the rest of the world dogs from animal shelters are taken home very actively, but unfortunately, not in our country," one of the volunteers, Inga, told Reuters.
    "But I should say, the situation has already started changing to the positive now. More and more people are paying attention to this issue and taking dogs [home]," she added.
    Volunteers say homeless pets are not aggressive and ready to become good friends to those who takes them home. Many of them end up without family after their owners get tired of them as if a dog or a cat is not a living creature but a toy.
    The guests of Moscow exhibition could play with animals, pet them or even hug or take a picture with. Every pet on display had all necessary health certificates according to the volunteers.
    Some of those who came to the exhibition had already come through the pet adoption process.
    "We came to this exhibition today to support our friend, the Kotodetki [Babycats] team, whom we took a homeless dog from two weeks ago. She is already considered to be an adult dog, she is one year old. She used to live in enclosure and now she is steadily getting used to a new life, to a completely homely environment. We are happy," one owner, Svetlana, said.
    According to the event organisers, despite the aim of finding new homes for the animals, they were not given away to complete strangers without any questions.
    Anyone interested had to come and pick up their chosen critter in a shelter a day or several days later - enough time to weigh up this important decision. Budding owners are also asked to sign an agreement with the shelter to make it possible to track the fate of an adopted cat or dog.
    "Everybody wants to bring home a dog sooner or later. We have decided to do it in a way that benefits everybody - to take a homeless dog, not to buy one. And she [the dog] will be [happy] too. It will be beneficial for all of us, it will bring happiness to us and our children and will benefit the animal shelter," Moscow resident Anton, who took his dog from an animal shelter earlier, said.
    For those who are not yet ready to take a pet from a shelter, there was the possibility to donate food for the animals. People are also encouraged to bring veterinary drugs, as well as dog collars and leads.
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