- Title: Meet Messi, the pet puma in Russia
- Date: 15th April 2021
- Summary: PENZA, RUSSIA (APRIL 7, 2021) (REUTERS) MARIA AND ALEKSANDR DMITRIEV IN LIVING ROOM WITH MESSI VARIOUS OF ALEKSANDR COMBING MESSI (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PENZA RESIDENT AND MESSI'S OWNER, ALEKSANDR DMITRIEV, SAYING: "As much as I attached to him as much he is attached to me. In fact we have this very strong bond between each other. When for example I leave home the cat doesn’t want to go out of the house, he doesn’t eat, he is very worried. Always meets me when I return home."
- Embargoed: 29th April 2021 19:36
- Keywords: Dmitriev Messi Penza i_am_puma puma
- Location: PENZA, RUSSIA
- City: PENZA, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Europe,Human Interest/Brights/Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA002E8MUREV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Aleksandr and Maria Dmitriev have spent the past five years as foster parents to an unusual pet - a male puma named Messi.
Messi was named after the famous Argentinian soccer player, Lionel Messi, and was born in a zoo and later sold to a petting zoo in the Russian city of Penza.
The Dmitrievs, who are both psychologists living in Penza, bought the exotic cat from the petting zoo after it was 'love at first sight'.
"He is really a member of the family and perhaps my best friend ever. He is a close one, a relative who you worry and care about as for your most loved ones." Aleksandr Dmitriev told Reuters.
The couple have adapted their home to meet Messi's needs, converting their hallway into his den with walls covered in bamboo serving as Messi's scratching posts.
The puma was in a poor condition of health when the couple first bought him. Messi could barely walk, Aleksandr and Maria had to teach him how to run and jump.
Because of his early health problems, Messi is smaller than an average puma and has never shown any aggression towards humans. Aleksandr said Messi has "unique social skills in regard to humans."
The couple have set up a social media account for Messi, posting photos and videos of their daily life with the big cat, who now has millions of followers on YouTube and Instagram.
(Production: Yury Bakhnov, Evgeniy Zazulya) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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