The Growing Problem of Homeless Animals in Russia

Recent data reveals a significant number of stray animals roaming Russia’s streets. Estimates indicate approximately 700,000 unowned dogs and 2.9 million cats are currently without homes. While there has been a reported decrease of 12% in the overall stray animal population since 2021, the number of animals residing in shelters has increased from 144,000 to 170,000. Despite this increase in shelter populations, dogs in shelters only account for 19% of the total stray dog population.

The Cycle of Abandonment: A Root Cause

Disturbingly, statistics suggest that a significant portion, around 98%, of these homeless animals were once pets. A survey indicates that approximately 25% of Russians admitted to abandoning dogs, and one in three admitted to abandoning cats. Furthermore, 10% of Russians confessed to abandoning litters of kittens or puppies, with only a mere 1% surrendering unwanted pets to animal shelters. This highlights a critical issue: irresponsible pet ownership and a lack of resources or willingness to utilize existing animal welfare infrastructure.

This issue is not unique to Russia. According to the ASPCA, approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats.

Public Safety Concerns and Calls for Legislative Action

The presence of stray animals, particularly dogs, poses a significant threat to public safety. Alarming reports indicate that attacks by stray dogs result in approximately 14 fatalities annually in Russia, averaging more than one death per month. This statistic underscores the urgency of addressing the issue.

Nina Ostanina, a State Duma deputy and head of a working group focused on amending the law “On responsible treatment of animals,” has voiced strong criticism of the government’s perceived inaction. She asserts that despite repeated appeals,including an official request from the State Duma,concrete legislative measures to protect citizens from stray dogs have not been implemented.

Despite the repeated calls to the Russian government, including the official appeal of the State Duma of March 18, it has not yet received specific legislative initiatives aimed at protecting citizens from the threat of stray dogs.
Nina Ostanina, State Duma Deputy

Regional Distress and Urgent Appeals

The severity of the situation is further emphasized by alarming reports from various regions, including appeals directed to the President of the Russian federation. Vyacheslav volodin,the State Duma speaker,has repeatedly stressed the need for immediate solutions to the problem of ownerless dogs,rather than passive observation.

Ostanina highlighted the desperate pleas from residents of Yakutia, including mothers, elderly individuals, and families with children, who are seeking protection from packs of stray dogs that have overrun streets, parks, and playgrounds. She characterized these appeals as a scream for help.

The deputy urged the government and relevant colleagues to finally respond to human troubles and implement decisive measures to address the crisis.

Keywords

This article contains the following keywords: homeless animals, stray dogs, Russia, animal shelters, public safety, legislative action, animal welfare.