(DOGS/ANIMAL WELFARE) With the world watching Sochi, Russia during the Winter Olympics, eyes fell on the city’s method of dealing with their stray dog population and many were outraged.
The city hired exterminators to kill the dogs on a large scale, often with inhumane methods such as poisoning. Since October, the city has killed an average of 300 dogs per month.
The plight of the stray Sochi dogs has inspired several rescue organizations to work toward giving them new homes.
Last month, ten Sochi dogs were brought to Washington, D.C. and some have already been placed with new families. Humane Society International (HSI) and a Russian rescue organization, Povodog, worked together to save these animals.
“These 10 are representative of some of the dogs that have been removed from the streets and are now up for adoption in Sochi,” said Kelly O’Meara, of HSI. “They’re the sweetest, most interactive, very friendly dogs, very adoptable that just happen to be unfortunate enough to be living on the street.”
Eighteen Sochi dogs are also being brought to Central Florida for adoption thanks to the ARNI Foundation. Several dogs are already available for adoption in Daytona Beach, Florida and the rest will be flying in over the next few weeks.
Several Olympic athletes also adopted stray dogs while in Sochi, including Gus Kenworthy, a silver-medal freestyle skier. Kenworthy adopted a dog along with her four puppies. Hockey players David Backes and Kelli Stack also adopted dogs as well as snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis.
Even celebrities like Katherine Heigl have helped these unfortunate street dogs.
If you are interested in adopting a Sochi dog, visit this website.
— Elana Pisani, exclusive to Global Animal
