SOCHI, Russia, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Humane Society International has released a guide for people to encourage them to help find homes for the stray dogs in Sochi.
Since officials in Sochi announced their plan to poison the city's stray dogs prior to the Winter Olympics, animal rights activists and animal lovers have been scrambling to find ways to save the homeless hounds from being euthanized. U.S. slopstyle skier and silver medalist Gus Kenworthy found a mother and her four puppies and announced he planned to bring the puppies home to the U.S. and find homes for three of them while keeping one himself.
Now Kenworthy is not the only one who can help with the Sochi stray problem. In Humane Society International's guide, they walk through the steps of adopting one of the animals and getting them out of the country. They warn that transporting the dogs can cost from $150 to $2,000 based on airline accommodations and quarantine requirements.
If transporting to the U.S., they say to check the Centers for Disease Control website to check for the necessary paperwork, vaccinations, and quarantine procedures. For other countries, they recommend contacting the embassy in Russia.
After the required health exam, the animals can fly on one of five airlines where a reservation will be required. They list the shelters and veterinarians in Sochi to help bring the dogs home as well.
[Humane Society International]
