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Russia's Vladimir Putin declines Japan's diplomatic dog gift

By Amy R. Connolly
Russian President Vladimir Putin, seen here on Oct. 16, turned down Japan's gift of a male Akita puppy ahead of a planned summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Officials did not give a reason for the rejection. Photo by Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/European Pressphoto Agency
Russian President Vladimir Putin, seen here on Oct. 16, turned down Japan's gift of a male Akita puppy ahead of a planned summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Officials did not give a reason for the rejection. Photo by Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/European Pressphoto Agency

MOSCOW, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin turned down Japan's gift of a male Akita puppy ahead of a planned summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Putin, scheduled to meet with Abe on Dec. 15, turned down the diplomatic present intended to be a partner to his female Akita, Yume, which was given to the Russian leader by Japan in 2012. Putin and Abe are expected to discuss a decades-old territorial dispute and possibly sign trade deals.

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"Unfortunately, we heard from our counterparts, and our hope to present a bridegroom was dashed," House of Representatives member Koichi Hagiuda said in a blog post on Friday.

Putin also owns a male Bulgarian Shepherd named Buffy, given to him in 2010 by the Bulgarian prime minister.

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