Sobering words: “You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.” The quote comes Antoine de Saint-Exupery in his classic novel, “The Little Prince,” but was used to inscribe a monument to lost, stray, and abandoned dogs in Russia. The monument was erected on Jubilee street outside the Square of Lenin Komsomol as a reminder to others what NPDD readers already know: Education and responsibility are keys to being good stewards of all dogs, whatever their ancestry. In this case, the sculptor recreated the image of an Irish Setter out of concrete-polymer. The dog with sad eyes waiting for its owner to claim him was so effective that the residents of Sosnovoborsk felt compelled to name him,”Salty,” after the Soviet film, “Dog Salty.”
Wonderful memorial. I want to know more about the history of purebred dogs in Russia. I understand Irish Setters were bred there before the revolution and would love to know what happened to them, and other purebred lines after the revolution. What was the attitude toward all dogs, particularly purebreds? Does anyone know if anything has been written about this? Any books available in English?
All great questions, Ginger, and the stuff of masters theses, we think! Tackling the subject of Irish Setters in Russia may be do-able and we’ll look into that, but the other questions are pretty big ones! Perhaps other readers can direct us both to some good sources?