Activists take stray dogs out of Sochi to other cities

On the eve of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, activists take efforts to rescue homeless animals, from which, according to rumors, local authorities are trying to get rid of with the use of barbaric methods.

Activists and volunteers take stray dogs outside the city. People plan to relocate stray dogs to other towns and cities of Russia, including Moscow.

According to the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper, first eleven animals have already been transported to the Russian capital over the weekend. The dogs were brought to Moscow in a vehicle, by an animal activist, who lives in the suburbs of Moscow. The man, like many other people, has learned about the rumors to cull stray dogs in Sochi from the Internet. Hopefully, the Sochi dogs will find homes and owners in the Russian capital, the man said.

Reportedly, systematic works to clean the city of Sochi from stray dogs and cats has been going on for months. As previously noted in local media, blogs and social networks, this is connected with the preparation for the Winter Games that open on February 7th.

In Moscow, packs of stray dogs live near almost every metro station, in all parks, industrial areas and even children's playgrounds, where people bring them food from their homes. According to various sources, the number of stray dogs in Moscow ranges from 23 thousand to 100 thousand animals. Every year, up to 30,000 residents of Moscow, including children, suffer from dog bites. 

In April 2013, a scandal broke out in Sochi, when it was said that the city administration was planning to cull stray cats and dogs within the scope of preparation for the Games. For these purposes, a tender was announced for 1.7 million rubles. However, due to the protests of human and animal rights defenders, the tender failed, and the topic was pushed into the background. Later, in July, the mayor of Sochi announced the construction of the first municipal animal shelter, which was to be located in the village of Baranovka, near Sochi.