The Subway Dogs of Moscow

Posted by Alex in Animal, Travel & Places on May 18, 2009 at 2:36 am


Life in Moscow has certainly changed since Soviet Times, but apparently stray dogs have adapted well: they ride the subway just like ordinary people!

Foraging dogs have long been part of Moscow’s landscape, but they stayed mostly in the city’s industrial zones and lived a semiferal existence. They mainly relied on discarded food, rather than handouts, so they kept their distance from humans.

With old factories being transformed into shopping centers and apartments, strays have become more skillful beggars. [...]

… many Muscovites appear to enjoy, or at least tolerate, the dog population. Most of the dogs go out of their way to avoid antagonizing people. Even pooping in the metro is rare, researchers say.

Link [with an embedded Video Clip of a stray dog riding the subway!] | Wall Street Journal article about the cushy life of Moscow’s subway dogs – via Rue The Day


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COMMENT

12 comments to "The Subway Dogs of Moscow"

  1. free games for kids
    May 18th, 2009 at 5:35 am

    that's actually rather cute. and to think they are civil enough not to poop in the station. we humans should be ashamed of ourselves for littering everywhere.

  2. ted
    May 18th, 2009 at 6:40 am

    Soviet Times? Is that like the New York Times?

  3. Geekazoid
    May 18th, 2009 at 8:17 am

    Cute. But, (with a disclaimer that I am not saying all people in Russia are like this) I do find it a bit sad that some of the people seem to tolerate and even enjoy the presence of animals, more so than they would humans of different races/ethnicities/sexualities.

    Now off my high horse.

  4. klei
    May 18th, 2009 at 9:17 am

    "I do find it a bit sad that some of the people seem to tolerate and even enjoy the presence of animals, more so than they would humans of different races/ethnicities/sexualities."

    here is your answer :
    "they are civil enough not to poop in the station. we humans should be ashamed of ourselves for littering everywhere."

  5. Mr. Jones
    May 18th, 2009 at 9:36 am

    klei:

    You tied that up very nicely. Thanks :)

  6. LisaL
    May 18th, 2009 at 12:05 pm

    Awww.
    If they want to control their feral dog population, they could adopt a program to capture and neuter/spay as many of the dogs as they can.
    Also educate people about doing that to pets and not releasing them in to the wild when they're no longer wanted.

  7. Jill
    May 18th, 2009 at 2:30 pm

    @ LisaL
    I glanced past your comment really quickly and thought you said they should capture and neuter spy dogs...that would be a very interesting comment about dogs in the USSR.

  8. Paavo O
    May 18th, 2009 at 10:29 pm

    When I lived in Archangel in North Russia the stray dogs were not cute. I had to take the taxi if I bought roasted chicken, because the stray dogs would attack my groceries if walked home.

    Couldn't take the bus, cause there were stray dogs in the bus... not really. I hate dogs

  9. Kalel
    May 18th, 2009 at 10:54 pm

    I can tell you that there is much life in the Moscow Metro lines. They are very deep, and so stay warm in the Winter.

    And I have to say that many stations are quite beautiful, as well.

  10. Stickarm
    May 19th, 2009 at 10:05 am

    Smart dogs, they do Laika proud.

  11. zazie
    May 19th, 2009 at 11:21 am

    That's so much better than pigeons.

  12. scbr
    May 19th, 2009 at 12:19 pm

    They do the same in Buenos Aires. I am not sure they use the metro for a ride downtown but they use it to keep warm in the winter. Normally, people do not mind and they let them have their nap in peace...


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