Killing of stray dogs in Kiev

[Larry1]

Kiev's dog hunters go on the attack to rid the city of strays
Creatures slaughtered with poison or a single shot to the head on the grounds of public health

Kiev has up to 18,000 stray animals, mostly dogs, the authorities say. They adopt nicknames such as hunter, comrade and chemist-amateur. They swap tips on the whereabouts of a target and recipes for poison. And when the moment is right, they strike with doctored food or a simple shot to the head.

Kiev's dog hunters are taking matters into their own hands, targeting the city's thousands of strays in the name of public health. But in so doing, they are stoking a row about animal rights in a country famously blase about the welfare of its animals.

Last year, when pictures of strays lying on Ukrainian streets provoked an international storm in the runup to Euro 2012, the government invited in foreign vets, including the Austrian organisation Vier Pfoten (Four Paws), which offered free neutering and vaccination of stray animals at mobile clinics. But soon after the football fans went home, the slaughter of stray dogs resumed in Kiev.

Now Vier Pfoten has stopped its neutering programme after death threats were posted on the web. "They said I could be killed exactly like happened to a judge in Kharkiv," said Amir Khalil, head of the Vier Pfoten project in Ukraine, referring to a judge found decapitated in his flat together with three members of his family in December 2012. "They said: 'We don't need foreigners to castrate our dogs!'"

He said because the authorities and police in Kiev had not taken action after the threats, the project had been moved out of the city.

Kiev, which has a population of about 3 million people, has up to 18,000 stray animals, mostly dogs, city officials say. The authorities claim they lack money to keep them all at shelters.

Dog hunters use a website called "Vreditelyam.net?" ("no to pests") to share information about the dogs' locations, discuss recipes for poison and post photographs of the dogs they have killed. They call the dogs "flea carriers", the pieces of food laced with poison "yummy" and the dog's killing "sending to a rainbow".

Oleksiy Sviatohor, a lawyer, is one of the few who admits to being a dog hunter. "This work is like cleaning up the trash," he said. "Some may not like it, but we are finding the solution." Sviatohor claimed that the neutering by Vier Pfoten was merely mutilating the dogs and did not solve the problem. He said the poison, an anti-tuberculosis medication that is extremely toxic for dogs, causes a relatively fast and painless death.

But Tamara Tarnavska, an animal rights campaigner, finds it almost unbearable to talk about the dog hunters. "An animal takes five or six hours to die in agony," she said.

Volunteers have seen the hunters giving poison to the dogs and reported them to the police. But they remember only one case of someone being imprisoned for slaughtering stray dogs. In June 2012 a student, Oleksiy Vedula, who tortured and killed more than 100 dogs and posted videos on the web, was sentenced to four years in jail.

Sviatohor said thousands of residents had been attacked by stray dogs and many people supported the dog hunters.

But animal rights activists say family dogs and even children playing in gardens risk eating poison left by the dog hunters.

Serhiy Morozov, a video engineer, was recently bitten on the leg by a stray dog. He said he was lucky to be wearing jeans, which protected him from the dog's teeth and the risk of rabies.

Morozov said that while he would be more careful around stray dogs, he would never justify the killing of animals by dog hunters. "I would strangle these people with my own hands," he said.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/11/kiev-dog-hunters-rid-city-strays

What are your thoughts?

[jone]

Anyone who knows me knows that I belong to Friends of Animals - the chapter based in Kharkiv.  As I am writing this, my larger Miniature Pinscher is on my lap and my smaller one has his head hanging over the keyboard.  I am in Ukraine.

Ultimately, Ukraine needs a solution for the dog population.  When I first came to Nikolaev, in April, there was a pack of over thirty dogs begging for food on Sovietskaya.  Those dogs are now gone.  They were a menace to the small children who played on the street.  (Sovietskaya is a closed street and is the parade ground for all of those RussBabes people keep talking about.)  I asked a merchant who works at a booth on the street and she said that all of the dogs were put into cages and taken away.  I would assume to be put to sleep.  These dogs all were mutts with basic size and markings of Shepherds.  I can see why they would intimidate young children and it would be impossible to take a dog of this size into an apartment.

Quite honestly, the only thing to do with these dogs is to put them down quickly, with no pain.

But both of my dogs were rescues from the street.  I am very conflicted that such resolutions are necessary.  There is a type of dog that can live in the typically small living quarters typical to Ukraine.  And, unfortunately,  there is the type, like this, that cannot. 

Most of the bigger dogs belonging to people are used as watch dogs.  The mentality is to let these dogs run on the street, but appear home at night for dinner and to watch the premises.  One can't help but think of some redneck in Louisiana, with his pickup truck and his double wide and a couple of hounds out front.  It is very unfortunate.  But that is the way most dogs are viewed.

There is a small subset that I have found that loves dogs.  In the mornings, here, I walk my dogs around 6:30 and find the park filled with dog enthusiasts.  Typically the breeds I see are Boxers, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, and occasionally a small dog like a Pug or a Shih tzu.   My dogs are never seen here and, so, I am constantly stopped to ask what breed I have. 

The great number of dogs are not on leashes.  Only about thirty percent are.  I would assume that the ones on leashes present some type of a threat or control issue.  Occasionally, you will see a blue tag, which is a dog license, that is permanently attached to the dog through a slit in his ear.

I sincerely wish that the population would take more notice of their canine friends, but I see the necessity of euthanizing some of the strays so that a healty population of dogs can enjoy the friendship of man.  I don't believe that funds for such a program exists when you see the number of destitute people living on the streets and the poor income standards experienced by the great majority of the rest of the Ukrainians.

The ultimate (final?) solution to the dog problem in Ukraine is to put down those dogs that are free roamers and to neuter any dog that is left out on the street, but belongs to a home, so they cannot reproduce.  I would not expect such a solution to be embraced any time soon.  Those dogs without homes find how crippling winter is in Ukraine and, come springtime, many are found starved and frozen and that is an even greater tragedy. 

[mendeleyev]

It is indeed a problem for many FSU cities, exacerbated by the lack of Thai or Vietnamese restaurants on those streets, and unfortunately your solution may be the only one.

Over a decade ago Green Peace sued the city of Moscow in an attempt to have Moscow set aside a reserve/green space reserved for dogs. Since they had no clue on how to advertise to the dogs about the reserve, no maps in dog language showing them how to find the reserve, no plan on how to feed them after they arrived, and no way to keep the dogs from leaving once they'd arrived, the plan went nowhere.

[TS]

Most people who just visit Ukraine and do not live there for more than 1 year probably have no idea how bad it gets.  There are dog packs who know who and where to try to take their groceries.  Remember many old women still go to the market several times a week and after last bus stop may have 1 kilometer walk or more to house.  Its outside the city but close enough to the city where you see the educated gangs of dogs. I say educated because they attack with a plan.
My mother-in-law had a problem in past year and she basically had to drop her bag of groceries or be attacked.  My father-in-law solved it by poisoning the dogs next day with some new groceries.  Giving dogs posioned groceries is very common.   
I had issues in Kiev running several times for exercise.  Running by these dogs gets them worked up but most of these dogs are in bad shape and hungry.  Going after a runner with no food lasts seconds before they realize there are more easier targets. 
Never in toursit areas do you see the dog issues like you do when you get away from city center.
My in-laws also had there own dog who was always on a chain and they have a gated house (they live outside city of Kharkov) posioned by their neighbor who did not like their dog barking.  They believe it was neighbor but could have been someone else.
 
 

[Larry1]

It is indeed a problem for many FSU cities, exacerbated by the lack of Thai or Vietnamese restaurants on those streets

That would be a solution to the problem.

[Ranetka]

Not sure about ukraine but in russia during democratization years many city adopted neuter and release progrms. Which of course is near perfect way of transferring city money into private company accounts. Since who can realistically count strays or how many dogs have been neutered. Dogs do not have ids . Hence Stray packs problems unheard of before.

[mendeleyev]

This issue is complicated in part by a genuine cultural issue in my opinion: generally FSU folk, specifically Russian-Ukrainian-Belorussian, seem to have a relationship with nature that is for the most part deeper than us typical Westerners. Perhaps it is because they remained an agrarian society longer, or for whatever reason, but in general it seems that they may hate the nuisance of these animals but love them just the same.

Perhaps you remember the event surrounding the killing of a dog at Moscow's Mendeleyevskaya Metro. As that station was named in my honour (LOL), I want to tell you this dog story:

The dog, named Malchik (translated: "little boy") had staked out the entrance to my Metro and as is more common that you'd think, local residents fed him and other strays outside the station. In 2001 a young woman was carrying her dog into the Metro and Malchik barked at her dog but did not attack. The woman set her dog down, reached into her purse for a knife, and proceeded to brutally stab Malchik to death.

The woman was arrested, convicted, and sent off for a year in a psych hospital as it turns out she had a history of animal cruelty.

Today there is a monument to Malchik created by artists who donated their talents and donations from citizens across Moscow. That event happened in 2001, yet hardly a day passes without some citizen stopping by his memorial with a handful of flowers. It seems that the expression is not just about one dog who died needlessly, but about the relationship these people share with the animal kingdom.





You can also see the monument to Malchik starting at 1:56 in this video:

[lordtiberius]

Peta can stuff it

[Anotherkiwi]

Peta can stuff it

Very Christian of you, lordtiberius!  Do you have a solution to the problem (I admit that I don't)?

[lordtiberius]

If you are going to a pick a fight over the Bible, you shpuld at least read it.

The solution for Peta is to drink some drano. The people of Kiev live in Kiev.  Leave them aline -learn from them and stop being an obnoxious busy body.

[PaulK]

Not sure about ukraine but in russia during democratization years many city adopted neuter and release progrms. Which of course is near perfect way of transferring city money into private company accounts. Since who can realistically count strays or how many dogs have been neutered. Dogs do not have ids . Hence Stray packs problems unheard of before.

In Bucharest, Romania a yellow tag is attached to a dog's ear when has been caught and sterilized, after that has been done they are released. Not too long ago some of Bucharest's city officials were talking about euthanizing all of the stray dogs in the city which caused a huge uproar that put an end to the idea... supposedly. The last time I was there, many of the stray dogs were noticeably missing.

The solution to the problem is to enforce mandatory dog licenses that must be renewed yearly, with a large discount to those animals that have been neutered. Also, they can hire Betty White to do public service announcements while there is still time.

[Muzh]

Very Christian of you, lordtiberius!  Do you have a solution to the problem (I admit that I don't)?

AK, LT is correct. You should read the bible.
 
Did you know that Moses was a mass-murderer and most probably was done by his own people, not rode into the sunset to Jaweh as some of the B-thumpers claim?
 
That may explain his thinking.

[Ranetka]

Paul. I would respectfully disagree . Can you perhaps explain how licensing payments will take strays off the streets? There is plenty of money assigned for sorting this problem already.

[PaulK]

Paul. I would respectfully disagree . Can you perhaps explain how licensing payments will take strays off the streets? There is plenty of money assigned for sorting this problem already.

The mandatory licensing would have to be done in conjunction with neutering the strays that are already out there. The neutering of strays alone would do nothing if there was no incentive for people to be more responsible for their animals.

[GQBlues]

Man, I hate stories like this...

Animal control is a problem everywhere. Not just dogs, cats, reptiles, etc...I feel for these animals. It's the people who need to be neutered, spayed, or better yet castrated without anesthesia (like they do with sheeps in the old days); for taking on a pet they otherwise cannot sustain then just abandons it.

I hope one of these days Cesar Milan would smarten up and quit rolling in the NGC dough and put out a class seminar to really educate people worldwide to better understand dogs. Jackson Galaxy should do the same for cat lovers.

In Bucharest, Romania a yellow tag is attached to a dog's ear when has been caught and sterilized, after that has been done they are released. Not too long ago some of Bucharest's city officials were talking about euthanizing all of the stray dogs in the city which caused a huge uproar that put an end to the idea... supposedly. The last time I was there, many of the stray dogs were noticeably missing.

The solution to the problem is to enforce mandatory dog licenses that must be renewed yearly, with a large discount to those animals that have been neutered. Also, they can hire Betty White to do public service announcements while there is still time.

I fully agree.


Bestfriends.org actually have an active program that sends out people who traps stray cats and dogs and 'fixes' them if they aren't able to keep them. They clip the ears to signify that they've been 'fixed'. They're one of many who supports the 'No Kill' policy.

I've dedicated a few of my weekends already doing just this. We trap stray cats and truck them to clinics for the weekend to 'fix' them, clipped their ears and place them back.

Folks who 'buy' or 'adopt' animals are obligated to have their 'animals' fix before ever taking them home. It's those neighborhood litters that are put in a box and given out to 'friends, strangers, neighbors, etc' without ever registering and fixing the animals prior to taking them home that are largely the problem.

I agree that countries should implement a capture and fix program for the ones that are deemed 'salvageable' and 'adoptable'. This is a hugely effective way to keep a lot of these dogs off the streets. Educate people.

Some that had gone feral/wild (though I hate to say it) should at least be humanely euthanize if they've become a danger to themselves and those around them.

[GQBlues]

I also wanted to add:

The pet *chip* insertion program is a huge success. Lost animals are easily reunited with their owners and the chips also help determine the animals' medical history. Lastly, it determines who the responsible parties are.

There's a write-up not too long ago about how some stupid people are now making monies off these 'lost' pets. They find them and publicize an ad on Craig's list they are found and can be retrieved - for a 'price'....sick.

[Muzh]

Man, I hate stories like this...

Animal control is a problem everywhere. Not just dogs, cats, reptiles, etc...I feel for these animals.

Man, you don't know how bad.

 
 
 
 

 
On our landing on the island my wife was startled and said she saw 'dinosaurs' on the runway. I laughed and told her they were probably little iguanas. Suddenly the plane came to a complete stop and the Captain announced on the PA that they were waiting for some iguanas to move from the runway. As I looked out the window, my jaw dropped. These three babies were about 5 times the size of the one the boy is holding in his hands.
 
Not only iguanas. They have been squatters for more than 20 years. Now the problem is with boa constrictors. While I was there I saw a newscast where conservation officers had nabbed a 13 ft baby.

[GQBlues]

Dinosaurs! Too funny...These reptiles are thrown into an environment where they lack a natural predator...Add the heat and humidity with it, these guys can grow to enormous sizes.

The wild pigs that runs rampant in the southeast, or like you said, even the pythons that had literally infested the everglades. The ones they're finding out there can consume a plane, much less a human being...easily.

Luckily, us down here in LA, we only have to contend with illegal immigrants. They haven't yet found any of the natives 'tasty' but the government still should enforce the capture, neuter/spay program nonetheless ...

[Anotherkiwi]

If you are going to a pick a fight over the Bible, you should at least read it.

I've read some of it, and I can easily look up relevant quotations.

The solution for Peta is to drink some drano.

I could post a really obnoxious reply to your obnoxious statement, but I won't.  Advocating murder by poison isn't going to win you any friends.  For someone so fond of the Bible, you seem to have a copy which is missing the Sixth Commandment.
 
 

The people of Kiev live in Kiev.  Leave them aline -learn from them and stop being an obnoxious busy body.

I have been to Kyiv, and have seen this problem first-hand (have you?), although not to the extent of being terrorised by a pack of strays.  I admitted that I don't have a solution, but I was closely involved with animal control here in Auckland during my time working for our City Council.  I also helped draft some of our legislation in this area.  Any stray dogs that are properly adopted here (from the SPCA, dog pounds, etc) MUST be neutered before handover.  Part of this cost is built into the price.
 
New Zealand has compulsory registration for dogs, originally as a means to track treatment for the hydatids cyst, and most Councils offer discounts on registration fees (some being quite substantial) for neutered pets.   Fees in Auckland range from $55 for a neutered or spayed dog owned by an old-age pensioner with a Responsible Dog Owner Licence, to $181.50 for an entire dog, classified as dangerous, owned by a younger person with no RDOL.
 
Of course there are still stray dogs around, but they are a tiny proportion of the total dog population in Auckland (about 65,000 registered, with maybe 3-5,000 unregistered, but the vast majority of the latter group still have homes to go to).  This is thanks to the various animal control contractors who, over many years, have succeeded in almost eliminating the true stray from our streets.  My wish here would be for someone to fund the same sort of cleanup in every city (not just Kyiv), but I can't see any of the oligarchs wanting to part with that much money for a nebulous benefit to themselves.

[Anotherkiwi]

AK, LT is correct. You should read the bible.
 
Did you know that Moses was a mass-murderer and most probably was done by his own people, not rode into the sunset to Jaweh as some of the B-thumpers claim?
 
That may explain his thinking.

Whose?  Moses' or lordtiberius'?  I can't for the life of me see how Moses (mass murderer or no) is relevant to stray dogs in Kyiv.

[Anotherkiwi]

...The solution to the problem is to enforce mandatory dog licenses that must be renewed yearly, with a large discount to those animals that have been neutered.

See my post further upthread.  It all comes down to money, and whether or not there is enough of an incentive for the local authorities to do anything about reducing/eliminating stray dogs.  I would have thought that there must be some rich guy in Kyiv who would love to be known as "the person who got rid of the stray dog problem!"

[Anotherkiwi]

Man, I hate stories like this...

Animal control is a problem everywhere. Not just dogs, cats, reptiles, etc...I feel for these animals. It's the people who need to be neutered, spayed, or better yet castrated without anesthesia (like they do with sheeps in the old days); for taking on a pet they otherwise cannot sustain then just abandons it.

I hope one of these days Cesar Milan would smarten up and quit rolling in the NGC dough and put out a class seminar to really educate people worldwide to better understand dogs. Jackson Galaxy should do the same for cat lovers.


I fully agree.


Bestfriends.org actually have an active program that sends out people who traps stray cats and dogs and 'fixes' them if they aren't able to keep them. They clip the ears to signify that they've been 'fixed'. They're one of many who supports the 'No Kill' policy.

I've dedicated a few of my weekends already doing just this. We trap stray cats and truck them to clinics for the weekend to 'fix' them, clipped their ears and place them back.

Folks who 'buy' or 'adopt' animals are obligated to have their 'animals' fix before ever taking them home. It's those neighborhood litters that are put in a box and given out to 'friends, strangers, neighbors, etc' without ever registering and fixing the animals prior to taking them home that are largely the problem.

I agree that countries should implement a capture and fix program for the ones that are deemed 'salvageable' and 'adoptable'. This is a hugely effective way to keep a lot of these dogs off the streets. Educate people.

Some that had gone feral/wild (though I hate to say it) should at least be humanely euthanize if they've become a danger to themselves and those around them.

Totally agree.    Congratulations on your volunteer work.

[GQBlues]

It isn't Ukraine, although they should begin such movement, but animals none the less...

10 bucks here and there would make the differences between life and death for many of these poor creatures. In the US, this is still tax deductible.

http://www.strutyourmutt.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=17187


Geez, I hope this doesn't make me a 'Commercial' member.

[SANDRO43]

Geez, I hope this doesn't make me a 'Commercial' member.

There's no sign (yet) for 'Franciscan' members :

St. Francis and Gubbio's wolf