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Full Version: The dogs of Chernobyl
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I never thought about it, but when they evacuated the people from the area, they would not let them bring their pets. So a number of dogs were left behind to survive as best they could. They have survived and even under the harsh conditions they do fairly well. Their numbers have increased, but they haven't gone wild. They still relate to humans and look to them for help. Sadly because of the radiation levels they don't live that long.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...usion-zone
 

A group called Clean Futures Fund is helping them with medical help. The dogs are being neutered and vaccinated. If the numbers can be controlled it will be easier to provide them with food and shelter.

I suppose no one would want to adopt the dogs because of the radiation. I don't know if there would be any danger, but most people would hesitate to take the chance.

https://cleanfutures.org/

It is fortunate that there are people who are able to help the dogs.

https://youtu.be/9tu9xdZBBIA

https://youtu.be/uf0LkZ6sJng

Maybe some day there will be no strays struggling to survive in such a dangerous situation.
This is very interesting. They must have wondered why they were left alone though at first. It must have been so hard for the dogs, and for the people who had to abandon their beloved dogs to their fate. At the time they had no idea what would happen to them. That must have been beyond heartbreaking.

This actually makes me annoyed. The people were not allowed to take their animal friends with them?? Again?? WHY does that always happen?
People were forced to leave their pets behind and then the government tried to shoot them all. They must have been very confused and frightened. I am amazed they are so friendly now. Of course it has been 32 years and many generations of dogs have been born and died. The original dogs would have died almost 30 years ago. I am assuming that they didn't live long.

Why couldn't people have been allowed to take their pets. Of course they were not truthful about the evacuation and people did not know they were never coming back. It would have saved a lot of trouble later if they had brought their pets. It would have been a kind thing to do.

I am glad to hear that the dogs are being cared for now and helped. We can't change what was done, but at least the consequences can be fixed. Maybe someday dogs could be adopted. Although there may be too great a radiation risk and the dogs will never be able to live in homes. That would be sad.

One thought about the dogs being left behind. They would have been outdoors dogs so they would have been heavily contaminated by the time of the evacuation. Precautions would have to have been taken to safely evacuate the dogs. At the time the government was not telling the truth about what was going on. If they had removed the dogs and had taken all safety precautions to protect people from the radiation they were carrying,  people would have realized something was up.