January 18, 2024

Buryat Strays Hit the Road


Buryat Strays Hit the Road
Russian dogs, contemplating their new lives, presumably. RussianLife files

A nonprofit called Dogs for Happiness is rescuing stray dogs from euthanasia in Buryatia.

Last year, the republic made it legal to euthanize strays shortly after their capture. The law states that shelters have 30 days to find new owners for lost or abandoned dogs, after which time the dogs can be put down.

In the last month, Dogs for Happinesss has saved 600 of the 3,000 dogs being held in a private shelter in Ulan-Ude. When the shelter began experiencing financial difficulties, volunteers took it upon themselves to have the dogs shipped to other cities across Russia.

Volunteer Kristina Sokolova reported working around the clock to save dogs before their time was up, driving dogs to Khabarovsk and then putting them on flights to cities such as Perm, St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Kazan multiple times a week, including on New Year’s Eve.

Animal rights activists are currently working to repeal Buryatia's law.

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