Stray dogs in an industrial area in Russia have been turning up with bright blue fur. The dogs seem to be healthy. There are traces of chemicals in their fur.
It is thought that they have rolled in the chemical pigments in an abandoned plant. It is not certain what has happened and it is not certain that there will be no health consequences. If they continue to be healthy they will either be adopted into homes or turned lose to be strays again.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56129464
There are a number of issues here. Industrial areas need to be cleaned up. If dogs can get at these chemicals so can many other animals. They can also be washed into the soil or water and end up in the food supply for humans and animals. A pack of blue dogs may be an interesting story, but it is also a warning sign or industrial pollution contaminating an area. Something needs to be done or there could be worse consequences than a few blue dogs.
The other issue is the dogs. Clearly there is a stray dog problem. Those dogs shouldn't be out there where they can get into chemicals in the first place. This is a problem that needs to be worked on. The blue dogs are being looked after, but if home are not found they will be put back on the streets. That is not a solution.
Instead they should be the first of many dogs that are rescued and removed from the streets. Clearing up the dogs should be part of clearing up the chemical contamination of the area. The consequences of not doing this could be very dangerous in the long run for everyone in the area. The blue chemicals might not be the only thing contaminating the area. There may be much more deadly chemicals that are in danger of getting into the environment. The cost of doing nothing could be much higher.
It is thought that they have rolled in the chemical pigments in an abandoned plant. It is not certain what has happened and it is not certain that there will be no health consequences. If they continue to be healthy they will either be adopted into homes or turned lose to be strays again.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56129464
There are a number of issues here. Industrial areas need to be cleaned up. If dogs can get at these chemicals so can many other animals. They can also be washed into the soil or water and end up in the food supply for humans and animals. A pack of blue dogs may be an interesting story, but it is also a warning sign or industrial pollution contaminating an area. Something needs to be done or there could be worse consequences than a few blue dogs.
The other issue is the dogs. Clearly there is a stray dog problem. Those dogs shouldn't be out there where they can get into chemicals in the first place. This is a problem that needs to be worked on. The blue dogs are being looked after, but if home are not found they will be put back on the streets. That is not a solution.
Instead they should be the first of many dogs that are rescued and removed from the streets. Clearing up the dogs should be part of clearing up the chemical contamination of the area. The consequences of not doing this could be very dangerous in the long run for everyone in the area. The blue chemicals might not be the only thing contaminating the area. There may be much more deadly chemicals that are in danger of getting into the environment. The cost of doing nothing could be much higher.
![[Image: IMG_9091.JPG]](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rtQnRVnpHuw/Upv4HXYM20I/AAAAAAAAAqo/K5MmSTvkZdA/w296-h229-p-no/IMG_9091.JPG)
Catherine
