NEWSWATCH: “The Diplomacy of Dog Walking in Russia” – Foreign Policy Magazine / Amie Ferris-Rotman

July 25, 2017 JRL Russia List Dogs, Cats, Pets, Animals, Strays, Shelters, JRL NewsBlog, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

File Photo of U.S. Embassy Moscow, with Russian Foreign Ministry Building in Distance

“Since [the early 1990’s] Svetlana has walked the dogs of American diplomats in Moscow. The 52-year-old Russian is not a U.S. Embassy employee but has come to this work through recommendations by American pet devotees … [she]doesn’t remember how many dogs … “… definitely under 100 … more than 60.” … what started out as a side job … while raising her children has become her life. She doesn’t speak any English, only Russian …. * * * She tries to stay in touch and sends emails to the owners of the many dogs and few cats … especially on the Fourth of July. … More often than not, the owners reply, giving her updates on the pets. By the end of the summer, all five of these dogs will be leaving Russia. “I’ll miss them so much, but they’ll also miss each other. … ‘I hope the new diplomats bring dogs’ …”