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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Texas Town Shoots Stray Dogs

Posted by Alex in Animal, Crime & Law on January 5, 2009 at 2:25 am

If you’re a dog, beware of a tiny Texas town of Ferris, about 20 miles south of Dallas. Oh, stray dogs are rounded up by animal control officers all over the US, but in Ferris, Texas, they shoot ‘em:

The rural North Texas town of Ferris — about 20 miles south of Dallas — has approved a policy that allows authorities to shoot “wild” roaming dogs.

Ferris City Manager David Chavez said the Ellis County town approved the policy because it was becoming a dumping ground for unwanted pets. People drive out to the country to release pets they no longer want, but the starving animals breed, form packs and wind up scavenging for food, he said.

Ferris Police Chief Frank Mooney said the city would shoot only “potentially violent dogs,” and only as a last resort — after attempts to humanely capture the animal had failed.

Link – via Muttskis

(The photo is from the iconic January 1973 cover of National Lampoon humor magazine, and yes, it’s not neat but isn’t it remarkable?)

 
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