January 24, 2022

Put Those Cute Faces to Work!


Put Those Cute Faces to Work!
Wouldn't you want to say hi? Flickr user David Slater

With the addition of several cuddly bandits, Voronezh businessman Yuri Pavlov's shop on Patriot Avenue has become a place where drivers come for more than just new tires.

By adding a comfortable living space for four friendly raccoons in his tire shop, Yuri's intention was simply to keep himself and his coworkers from feeling lonely. However, the tiny petting zoo has turned his business into a local attraction, with customers coming in just to play with the fluffy mischief-makers. In fact, the raccoons have become the mascots of the shop, even making their appearance on the business's emblem. (Now that's what we call rags to riches!)

Yuri got the first three of his raccoons (Shipon, Tikhon, and Roni) nearly six years ago at a pet shop in Krasnodar. More recently, he adopted the fourth of the bunch, Businka.

The raccoons, though friendly and playful with customers, do get into their fair share of trouble. A small jar hangs on the animals' enclosure for tips to help with their upkeep, and Yuri noticed one day that 2000 rubles (about $25) had been stolen from the jar and made into bedding.

In case you're interested in other famous Russian animals, we have a treat for you!

 

You Might Also Like

Boozy Raccoon
  • August 06, 2021

Boozy Raccoon

Trash-panda no more, this raccoon has developed a hankering for fine wine. 
Ferreting Into Adventure
  • June 01, 2021

Ferreting Into Adventure

The world's luckiest ferret is set to go on the vacation of a lifetime in the Altai mountains. 
Missing Raccoon, Anyone?
  • March 23, 2021

Missing Raccoon, Anyone?

In which a raccoon is returned safely back home— but not to the habitat you might expect. 
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

White Magic
June 01, 2021

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955