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Autonomous non-profit organization
“Center for Animal Welfare Legal Protection”
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Part:
LETTERS FROM GUARDIANS OF HOMELESS ANIMALS
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Letter from a lady-dweller of Moscow Eastern Administrative District
To: Autonomous Non-profit Organization
“Charitable Society for the Guardianship of Homeless Animals"
I’ve been feeding cats for the last four years; I’m 70 years old, rip off Rbls. 1000 a month from my pension. Nobody helps me. And now, about the main thing:
The cats live in the basement at this address: 59, Izmailovsky Passage. They threaten to close the basement, whereupon the cats will be deprived of their home; one basement has already been closed at my address, the kittens have been thrown out outdoors: that was in response to my phone calls to house repair and maintenance authority-2, requesting to release the kittens outdoors because their mother-cat was weeping all the time. In 2003, on July 17, I applied to the unitary customer management of the Eastern Administrative District (Mrs. Valentina Nikolaevna – tel. 965-53-55). She promised to sterilize the cats, but did not keep her promise; at that time, we had 4 cats, now we have 11, and this is not the end. On July 4, 2004 again I turned to her with a request to sterilize 5 cats, she accepted by request, but was very rude: «Put all the cats in the bag and take them to the forest, nobody needs them», and she went on to say: «We must do the way the governor of some town did: slaughtered all homeless animals, and now everything is OK with him». That is how I pay for my kindness with my nerves.
I applied to Moscow Mayor’s Office, too. Mrs. T.N.Pavlova had no time to talk to me, but Nelly Vassilievna (I don’t know her position at the Department, her phone number is 924-21-85), accepted my request for sterilization, but also told me many unpleasant things: «Do not feed the cats, let them run to refuse dumps, there's a lot of food there» (Alas, there's nothing at the refuse dumps (ONAs collect everything edible at 4 a.m.), yet she did promise to help with sterilization, i.e. when she had some s[pare time. Also, I asked her to accommodate the cats at an animal shelter, because I feel the workload has become too great for me, I'm unable to take care of the cats, pity them, rescue from vehicles, dogs and spiteful people. Nelly Vassilievna, who apparently is a staff worker of the Mayor's Office and is attached to T.N.Pavlova, said there was a shelter at Veshnyaki, but I mist make arrangement myself with the shelter manager Mrs. Angela Petrovna (her phone number 374-70-09). I don't see why I should make arrangements, i.e. obviously I need to give a big bribe. Those people must be ashamed to extort money from a pensioner: during the last 4 years I spent a lot to support the tiny female cats (our smaller brethren). Of course, I did not call her and am not going to, yet my patience is wearing thin. And now, to be more specific:
Our little female cats live in the basement of a 10-storied apartment house. The basement is dirty, damp, full of dampness-generated fleas; often, the basement is full of stale sewerage water, apparently a clogged pipe.
No preventive maintenance is carried out, they only threaten to close down the basement altogether as they are confident the dirt and fleas are generated by the poor homeless animals, therefore, it is much easier to wall up the basement, than help the animals. Government decree No 170 dated 27.09.2003 is not being implemented.
There was an animals-related TV program “What the People Want to Know”, where, incidentally, T.N.Pavlova made an appearance. She said she was pleased that most of the people present in the TV Studio voted for animal protection, not for the protection of people (such was the formulation of the TV Program title), yet I’m inclined to think these are just stilted word, whereas in actual fact nothing is being done to protect the animals.
In summer, cats and kittens sleep on the trees, what will happen to them in winter, I have no idea.
My proposal in respect of the foregoing is this:
1. Build decent animals shelters, not rabbit-hutches;
2. Build enclosures and small kernels for cats outside apartment houses, at least for the summer season, so the cats should not hang around in the streets and not evoke pity of the passers-by;
3. Introduce a tax (at least, Rbls. 10 per person, considering Moscow population of 11 million, this is peanuts);
4. Offer material aid to the guardians of homeless animals.
And last but not least, if all this cannot be done, let us stop talking about humanity, better give all homeless animals lethal injections and put an end to the anguish of homeless animals and their guardians who would be willing to help, but are unable to do anything.
I’m very, very sorry for our city, our authorities (callous and rude), who only sit at meetings, give promises, deceive people and do nothing.
09.07.2004, Signature
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Letter from a lady-dweller of Moscow Western Administrative District
To: Charitable Society for the Guardianship of Homeless Animals
Petition
I hereby turn to your Society for I can no longer tolerate the existing situation with homeless animals. I have long been living in Moscow, yet I don’t remember seeing so many homeless cats and stray dogs in city streets. In my view, the reason for this has been the breeding of pedigree stock on a mass scale; in fact, such breeding has become commercialized. As time goes on, most such animals become homeless: they are either lost, or are abandoned by the owners as these have become tired of their pets. The animals die of starvation and cold, are run over by vehicles on the roads, are walled up in the basements, used as fodder for larger predators, fighting breeds of dogs are taught how to kill cats; the cats are badgered, taunted by children, etc., etc. There is no end to the suffering of these animals.
Seeing all this, kind-hearted people bring such animals to their homes. Sometimes, the number of such animals at one’s home is too large. People spend their meager means, whatever strength, time and health they have to please the animals. The guardians’ living conditions deteriorate. At times, such people lose jobs, their family.
Something must be done. The existing situation must be changed.
An institution of guardians should be organized, i.e. homeless animals should not be gathered in animal shelters, where they die as often as they do in the street (because of the lack of money, and one cannot rely on the authorities as far as the money is concerned), there is not enough room in the city to set up such shelters, there are no people to attend to the trapping of animals, etc. Rather, people should be organized to detect homeless animals at the places where they live for such kind-hearted people to take the animals to their homes, provided such people are given the status of guardians and are provided with animal support allowances to recompense for the trouble. In the end, this will be cheaper than organizing animal shelters. And, of course, the matter of neutering and veterinary assistance must be settled.
Besides, international organizations should be approached with a view to resolving this problem, unless our authorities should fail to respond.
August 1, 2004, Signature
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Letter from a lady-dwellers of Moscow South-Eastern Administrative District
To: Director of “Charitable Society
for the Guardianship of Homeless Animals "
Mr. E.A. Ilyinsky
Dear Evgeny Anatolievich!
I’m appealing to you with a matter that worries me a lot, and I cannot find any ways of discharging it.
The case in point are homeless cats and stray dogs, the atrocities committed over them. All things one can see happening to such animals evoke the feeling of deep pain and compassion towards these absolutely defenseless, innocent animals, fully dependent on man, as they are domestic animals; man has domesticated the animals, meaning that he is responsible for them. All the more so that, unlike some people, they do not have the ugly defects and do nothing that would run counter to their nature, they are honest, like all other animals, they do not abandon their children unlike some inhuman humans. Said one of the great thinkers: “The more I get to know the people, the more I begin loving the animals".
I’m not a misanthrope; despite everything, I have a great pity for the people, but also a very strong feeling of indignation. It’s the people who are to blame for everything, responsibility rests with them and them only. Something must be done. After all, there are normal people, who treat animals with love and compassion, help them in any way possible in this life: feed, treat, sterilize them, at times, not eating enough themselves.
I suppose, many people would be paying fees and would provide money for the construction of normal animal shelters, if this could be organized properly, honestly. For example, few people know about your organization. For example, I learned about your existence quite by chance. There must be information about organizations like yours in every district, and assistance should be arranged.
Awareness campaigns must be carried out, and people must be indoctrinated properly, and misunderstandings, a lot of which one can see around, should be avoided. People must have pity for those who do not feel well, otherwise, such people are not humane.
The world will only be saved by pity and love.
I hope for his. I long for this.
Respectfully yours,
July 17, 2004, Signature
Ð.S. Pardon my unintentional attacks on some part of humanity.
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Letter from a Dweller of Moscow South-Eastern Administrative District
To: Director of the Autonomous Non-profit Organization
“Charitable Society for the Guardianship of Homeless Animals"
Dear Evgeny Anatolievich!
It hurts to see people, who regard themselves cultured and civilized, being directly involved in the annihilation of the so-called “our smaller brethren”, cats and dogs … Many are so vacant and narrow-minded they don’t realize that a holy place is never void. The place of shot off cats will be taken by swarms of rats. We’ve seen that already, when a ski lodge was converted into a secondary materials collecting depot. At that time, the rats went as far as the 9th floor, where they were met.
Another initiative of the local House Maintenance and Repair Authority consisted in walling up or bricking all air-ducts leading to the basement. Until now the Authority does not respond to the reasoning, emphasizing the need for the basements to be kept in a dry condition; moreover, it is not going to rectify its stupidity.
For over 10 years we have had the keys for our basement. There, we used to feed the cats that lived in our buildings, something like 30 animals, in all. We also sought to keep the basement clean, informed the house maintenance authority of each leaking or clogged pipe, etc. What it ended with, everybody knows. They were not grateful to us for our assistance, we were simply thrown out of the basement: they replaced the locks, even without so much as warning us. I leave the question of basement disinfection with a view to eradicating fleas and mosquitoes. This one can find out from the payment documents, which is not the same thing, you will agree.
At the same time, the House Repair and Maintenance Authority does not have the resources to place large concrete saucers – drinking troughs. During summer heat, the crows, pigeons and other living creatures have nowhere to get drinking water from. They are flying around, their beaks open. If the authority in question put up such drinking troughs, we would take care of the water. The designers even made a project of a grotto, but not a single designer was considerate enough to indicate drinking troughs for animals and birds in their drawings.
Mr. Zhirinovsky during his recent televized address said that every year Rbls. 2000 was allocated to each homeless animal. Now, where is the money? Apparently, it has been used up by the government officers, completing their cottages …
We, pensioners, have worked all our life, and have what we have at present: feeding the hapless animals using whatever our meager pensions we draw from the state, we also treat the animals, participate in the cat-sterilization program. Yet, all we get in return are the mockery and disdain.
The dogs are a special issue. The new breeds – fighting, bloodhounds, guard dogs are genetically brought up in a direction dangerous to man. Besides, most imported dogs were subjected to culling abroad.
In some countries, such dogs are regarded almost as cold steel. Meaning that Moscow government ought to have put this question point-black a long time ago.
Any civil servant exhibiting a devil-may-care attitude towards animals as well as people, does a great harm to the entire society.
Mr. E.A.Ilyinsky, please, make efforts and do the needful towards protecting and facilitating the life of defenseless animals.
10.07.2004, Signature
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Letter from dwellers of Moscow South-Western Administrative District
To: Autonomous Non-profit Organization
“Charitable Society for the Guardianship of Homeless Animals”
Evgeny Anatolievich Ilyinsky
We hereby inform you that in Moscow, the capital city of our Homeland, municipal authorities are doing all they can to annihilate stray, homeless cats and dogs; this is done in a most cruel manner:
(1) the basements, where the cats live, are walled up, whereby the cats are doomed to an excruciating death from starvation,
(2) dogs are either beaten to death, or are abandoned to die in an anguish,
(3) animals are deliberately run over by vehicles,
(4) the so-called “hunters” are practicing on living targets , etc.
The examples can be multiplied. The problem of homeless animals can be resolved (through sterilization, castration), provided one really wants to resolve it. Apparently, it is more lucrative to do “business” on horses and bees, than allocate money to rescue the hapless animals. All existing animal shelters serve the only purpose of laundering money and making more money. If this policy if pursued further by municipal authorities, our capital city will turn into a paradise for rats that will be walking freely down the streets. The municipal authorities are trying to convince us, Muscovites, that Moscow is becoming as civilized, European city. The thing is that the notion of a “civilized city” means, above all, a humane attitude towards children, old people and homeless animals. Furthermore: the timid attempts of a bunch of enthusiasts to improve the lot of hapless animals with their personal money are either nipped in the bud, or are resolutely resisted.
August 15, 23 signatures
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Letter from a Lady-dweller of Moscow North-Western Administrative District
To: E.A. Ilyinsky, Autonomous Non-Profit Organizations
“Charitable Society for the Guardianship of Homeless Animals”
Dear Evgeny Anatolievich!
I’m a pensioner, I don’t work, but for the last five years I’ve been take care of and feeding homeless cats. As I leave my home at 7 a.m. with two little dogs (these, too, were homeless, I gave shelter to them), so when we leave, one of the dogs starts barking, and hearing her bark all cats from the housing estate run to me, in all they are eight, sometimes, more. I feel this is my duty to feed them; of course, I’m unable to this alone, some other woman, my next-door neighbor, assists me, she is older than me, I’m 62, whereas Tamara Ivanovna is 70 years old. Obviously, there is nobody else around, except us, the pensioners, to take care of the poor animals. This is why myself and a few other people help each other, taking care of the poor animals. If only you could imagine the kind of attacks me and my charges experience from wicked people!
July 30, 2004, Signature
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Letter from a Lady-dweller of Moscow North-Western Administrative District
To: Autonomous Non-profit Organization
“Charitable Society for the Guardianship of Homeless Animals”
Mr. E.A.Ilyinsky
Dear Evgeny Anatolievich!
A work at a state pharmacy, and my salary is very modest. I can’t afford much, due to the fact that I have to support a disabled son, he has been disable since childhood. Wee are fond of animals. At home, we keep 5 cats and a dog. Also, I have, for twenty years, been feeding animals that live in our basement and near our house as well as all animals that I encounter on my way to the work and back. If I have anything left to give them as food. I can see many people, who are willing to help the animals, by giving not too much, but at least something. However, people mostly hurt the animals, badger and beat them. In summer, the animals find some strength to endure, but in autumn and winter the animals are an unbearable sight. It is hard, and simply impossible to feed all the animals. Those pets that are at our home were also picked up in the street in a horrible state. Of course, nobody claimed them, so they stayed with us and have lived at our place ever since. The dog is an epileptic and calls for expensive drugs. I only have one request to make: please, help the homeless hapless creatures. For how long can they be dying from starvation and cold? A human being is in a position to help himself, after all. But not the animals, unless they are assisted by normal people.
Respectfully yours,
Signature, 31.07.2004
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Letter from a Lady-dweller of Moscow Central Administrative District
To: Charitable Society for the Guardianship of Homeless Animals
Petition
How are you, dear comrades! I’m forced to appeal to you in connection with a defranchised position of domestic animals in our country Russia and, in particular, in Moscow, where I live.
Stray dogs are running about the city singly or in packs, live on whatever they can get in refuse dumps, and people look at them differently: some with sympathy, others with a dislike, still others can hit a poor creature. The dogs die from cold, starvation, are run over by vehicles.
The cats are in a similar position. They, too, are run over by vehicles, are torn to pieces by dogs Íå ëó÷øå ïîëîæåíèå è ó êîøåê. Not all the basements are open to the cats, at times, local authorities wall up the air-ducts, used by the cats.
Therefore, some kind-hearted people do not tolerate such disgrace and are forced to open an animal shelter at home.
Mine is a similar story: I arranged a shelter for cats and kittens that are occasionally thrown in the entrance spaces, and I have nowhere to take the animals. At times, I have as many as 20 animals at a time. Alas, other people have even more animals.
We have very few state-run animal shelters, their whereabouts are not disclosed, and the shelters are in a bad way. We can only dream of good, civilized animal shelters.
Naturally, cats feel well in home conditions. Not so with the hosts. The ghosts spend a lot of time for tidying up the place, cooking, search for cheap food stuffs. We are devoid of an annual leave. People, like me, who have no country house, have to stay in their flats all the time with their animals. In the meantime, the animals want to run, climb the trees, and the guardians, too, would be happy to have a bit of fresh air.
The treatment of ailing animals is also quite expensive. The drugs for animals cost as much as they do for people.
Therefore, I suppose it would be fair, if the state could participate in the maintenance of home shelters, namely: by way of supporting the owners financially by allocating some cash allowance. And what do you think?
Respectfully yours, and looking forward to your participation and assistance,
15.07.2004, Signature
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Letter from a Lady-dweller of Moscow Southern Administrative District
To: Charitable Society for the Guardianship of Homeless Animals
from a disabled of 2nd category, lone pensioner
Petition
I am a guardian of domestic animals of which I have 17 (2 dogs and 15 cats), besides, I am in charge of 10 homeless cats and dogs. Considering my meager pension – Rbls. 2400, one can only feed this many animals by making debts all the time. My living conditions and my health deteriorate. I suffer from diabetes mellitus of a grave form. As there are no shelters for homeless animals in Moscow, and considering the unsatisfactory moral state of our society, I feel compelled to make my own contribution to the rescuing of animals.
Despite P.P.Aksenov’s order to set up shelters in each Moscow administrative district before June 1, 2005, nothing has been done: the butchering and maiming of animals continues as before. The vet clinic Cherry-44 demonstrates a barbarous attitude towards the animals. The clinic’s performance was described in the newspaper “Semya” (‘Family’) No 20 for May. Since January, 2004, this vet clinic has been operating in Moscow Southern Administrative District. There is no other organization, except yours that can help the animals.
Ð.S. Svetlana Olegovna!
I wish to ask for your charity and, if you can, financial assistance, albeit, on a one-time basis, for my pets.
25.7.2004, Signature
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