Originally published in The Moscow Times on October 13, 1999
Irina Petrova's devotion to dogs started in 1991 with what she calls a "love story."
"I was out taking Chip for a walk," she said of her big ginger dog, given to her by a friend. "And he met and made friends with Voissya, a stray." The second dog was wounded, and Petrova ended up taking her home as well. The happy canine pair now have six puppies.
But Petrova's four-legged family doesn't stop there. For the past 10 years, she has collected many abandoned animals from the street and given them shelter, food and medical care in her home in the village of Krasnaya Polyana, located northwest of Moscow. In total, 10 cats and 19 dogs live in the house she shares with her mother and daughter.
It's a situation that doesn't please her neighbors, who have complained that Petrova's makeshift shelter is destroying their quality of life. Now, following a ruling by the court in the nearby town of Lobnya, her animals face not only eviction but also possible "liquidation" unless she can overturn the verdict.
Petrova's legal troubles started two weeks ago when her neighbor, Zoya Sissoyeva, filed a complaint with the local police and court about the disturbance the dogs caused to the neighborhood. According to the court's decree, Sissoyeva said the foul smell and constant noise "prevent her from having a normal and peaceful life in her own home."
Indeed, a chorus of barking greets Petrova's visitors and can be heard echoing throughout the otherwise tranquil area. Other neighbors, dog lovers and owners among them, have also complained about the volume of the pack.
The Lobnya judge who signed the decree wrote that Petrova's activities infringe upon the rights and freedom of other people living in the area. She cited Article 17 of the Russian Constitution, which states that "the exercise of an individual's rights and liberties must not infringe upon the rights and liberties of other individuals."
On Oct. 4, Petrova, who works for the Moscow municipal police department, received a court order demanding that she remove her pets from her home. "A woman came to us with a decree and said we should get rid of the dogs, or they would take them away and deal with them themselves. She gave me five days," said Petrova, who so far has evaded sanctions despite missing the deadline. She is planning to appeal the ruling in the…
Read the full text at The Moscow Times.