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Sochi Olympic Park’s condemned stray dogs ‘saved by Russian billionaire’ | Sochi Olympic Park’s condemned stray dogs ‘saved by Russian billionaire’ |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Condemned to death at the hands of a private extermination company, around 150 of the stray dogs from Sochi’s Olympic Park have been saved after the intervention of a Russian billionaire. | Condemned to death at the hands of a private extermination company, around 150 of the stray dogs from Sochi’s Olympic Park have been saved after the intervention of a Russian billionaire. |
One of Russia’s richest men, Oleg Deripaska has spoken out for the first time about why he decided to fund a quickly-assembled dog shelter in the hills above the site of Sochi 2014. | One of Russia’s richest men, Oleg Deripaska has spoken out for the first time about why he decided to fund a quickly-assembled dog shelter in the hills above the site of Sochi 2014. |
“My first dog I found in the street of my village, the tiny village [where I grew up],” Mr Deripaska told the BBC. “It was a very close friend for almost five years.” | “My first dog I found in the street of my village, the tiny village [where I grew up],” Mr Deripaska told the BBC. “It was a very close friend for almost five years.” |
Sochi’s city hall had previously dropped plans to “dispose of” more than 2,000 dogs and cats who roamed the Olympic Park building site, fed and affectionately looked after by its workers. | Sochi’s city hall had previously dropped plans to “dispose of” more than 2,000 dogs and cats who roamed the Olympic Park building site, fed and affectionately looked after by its workers. |
When they moved on, however, the authorities say the hungry animals became homeless pests, and in the build-up to last week’s opening ceremony reneged on their decision to save them. | When they moved on, however, the authorities say the hungry animals became homeless pests, and in the build-up to last week’s opening ceremony reneged on their decision to save them. |
Following widespread media reports and a Facebook campaign, Mr Deripaska was moved to intervene, and arranged for a team of animal welfare charity workers to recue as many as they could. | Following widespread media reports and a Facebook campaign, Mr Deripaska was moved to intervene, and arranged for a team of animal welfare charity workers to recue as many as they could. |
Shelter coordinator Olga Melnikova last week told the New York Times: “We were told, ‘Either you take all the dogs from the Olympic Village or we will shoot them’.” | Shelter coordinator Olga Melnikova last week told the New York Times: “We were told, ‘Either you take all the dogs from the Olympic Village or we will shoot them’.” |
Oleg Deripaska, the chief executive of the world's largest aluminium company, was moved to set up a shelter for the strays Around 140 of the animals have so far been saved from the cull, and a number have been successfully rehomed. | Oleg Deripaska, the chief executive of the world's largest aluminium company, was moved to set up a shelter for the strays Around 140 of the animals have so far been saved from the cull, and a number have been successfully rehomed. |
Many animals could not be saved. Last week, what appeared to be the final straw came when one stray got into the main Olympic stadium during a rehearsal of the opening ceremony. | Many animals could not be saved. Last week, what appeared to be the final straw came when one stray got into the main Olympic stadium during a rehearsal of the opening ceremony. |
Alexei Sorokin, the director of the company tasked with “catching and disposing of” the dogs, described the animals as “ biological trash” and said that Sochi has “an epidemic of rabies”. | Alexei Sorokin, the director of the company tasked with “catching and disposing of” the dogs, described the animals as “ biological trash” and said that Sochi has “an epidemic of rabies”. |
“I am for the right of people to walk the streets without fear of being attacked by packs of dogs,” he said. | “I am for the right of people to walk the streets without fear of being attacked by packs of dogs,” he said. |
Mr Deripaska was the subject of headlines in the UK in 2008 when he was embroiled in the so-called “yachtgate” scandal between Lord Mandelson and the then-shadow chancellor George Osborne. | |
The billionaire later said he had considered “severing ties with Britain” after the political row following a party on his yacht, which left the peer denying doing “any favours” for him, and Mr Osborne denying making attempts to solicit a donation to the Conservative Party. |
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