As the 2014 Winter Olympics come to a close most people know that the attention the event itself received was pretty negative.
Personally Wiley and I were extremely disappointed with everything we heard about Russia leading up to the games, beginning with their treatment of the GLBT community, continuing through the exploitation of the people and resources of various locations there, and obviously extending to their treatment of the stray dog population. If you don't know what I'm referring to, here is a link, but I warn you it's so sad I can't even describe it here.
Personally Wiley and I were extremely disappointed with everything we heard about Russia leading up to the games, beginning with their treatment of the GLBT community, continuing through the exploitation of the people and resources of various locations there, and obviously extending to their treatment of the stray dog population. If you don't know what I'm referring to, here is a link, but I warn you it's so sad I can't even describe it here.
To make a long story short, there are a lot of dogs in Russia looking for homes, and they need them pretty quickly. Gus Kenworthy, an Olympic Skier who earned a silver medal, has gotten a lot of attention over the past few days- not just for his skills on skis, but for his special heart.
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| photo courtesy of The Today Show |
Not only is he adopting a puppy, but he is also working with a Russian billioniare named Oleg Deripaska to get more dogs back to America and many others into a shelter Deripaska had built. Click here to read an article from their story featured on the Today show. This coverage also talks about the many other Olympic athletes who have stepped up to try to help.
These two pictures of Gus are ones he tweeted, so if you'd like to see more you should follow him @guskenworthy.
When athletes do these things, we should be forever grateful. They have an audience and a sway that most of us do not. Seeing these people reach out to lost and lonely dogs calls attention to the need to rescue our pets instead of buying them.
One organization that is also trying to help is Athletes for Animals. This group was started by David and Kelly Backes. They promote adoption and safe, pet-friendly practices like spaying and neutering, while simultaneously raising money for various animal causes.
David is a professional hockey player who plays for the St. Louis Blues and the US Olympic Team. In these pictures he is with Alex Pietrangelo, a Canadian hockey player. Look at how these rivals put aside their differences to help the dogs in Sochi!
These pictures are from Athletes for Animals' Facebook Page, which you should check out when you get the chance. Any high-profile positive attention brought to our cause is so encouraging!
It's important to note former athletes and journalists now in Sochi, like Amanda Bird, a press officer for the US Bobsled team, are part of the effort. In fact Amanda said she's hoping to adopt an older dog because she knows the puppies will have plenty of interested takers. Brava Amanda!
It's important to note former athletes and journalists now in Sochi, like Amanda Bird, a press officer for the US Bobsled team, are part of the effort. In fact Amanda said she's hoping to adopt an older dog because she knows the puppies will have plenty of interested takers. Brava Amanda!
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| Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images |
Sochi's dogs may have been on their own before The Olympics got there, but we can hope and pray that through the publicity brought to the situation, they'll be better off when we leave them than when we found them. In fact, wouldn't it be great if we could say the same about all of marginalized groups in Russia? The athletes' response to the dogs in Sochi reminds me of one of my all-time favorite quotes, which I have displayed in my classroom.
Twitter: @RescueDogBlog
Never
doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/margaretme100502.html#8lppZCpDqbFQXxk3.99
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret MeadRead more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/margaretme100502.html#8lppZCpDqbFQXxk3.99
Never
doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/margaretme100502.html#8lppZCpDqbFQXxk3.99
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/margaretme100502.html#8lppZCpDqbFQXxk3.99
Never
doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/margaretme100502.html#8lppZCpDqbFQXxk3.99
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/margaretme100502.html#8lppZCpDqbFQXxk3.99
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