You see, a bit of research about the stray dogs of Russia shows that there is an estimated 20,000 stray dogs currently living there. These dogs have adapted well to their life on the streets - riding the subways, finding warm areas to nest in the winter, multiplying through puppy explosions in the spring and dogs getting free all year long. These canines are all of a similar build and type - medium sized with medium length coats, suited for the Russian climate. They get by on eating scraps given to them by kindhearted people, and scavenging from garbage cans. They roam the streets in packs or alone, and are slowly reverting to their wild heritage. People seem to think of them while fondly remembering watching Disney's Lady and the Tramp.
These dogs aren't Tramp, though. These dogs are animals that are growing more and more feral with each passing generation. They are not going to sing and dance for you, they are going to beg for food, and if you don't feed them, they may pluck up the courage and attack you. There are videos online of Russian stray dogs attacking humans, in broad daylight. They are not safe. They are not able to be tamed or rehabbed.
It seems this problem has been going on for numerous years now, the stray dog packs. Even the most lackluster of google searches turns up news articles from as far back as 2008, meaning that there has been 6 years for these dogs to grow(however probably many more years; one report I read stated that the dogs were mentioned in 19th century literature). Now, most people are probably thinking "6 years isn't that long, the initial dogs that weren't feral are still out there, dogs live 10-14 years, or more!" Except those dogs that live 10-14 years are domestic dogs, dogs that are fed and watered, walked and cared for. These stray dogs? They won't live that long. The initial dog population that started this issue are long dead - they've been shot, or struck by cars, they've frozen or starved to death, or they've died of infection from fights, or a million other things that would kill them. Some of these dogs are 6 generations into going feral, they know people as the ones who occasionally throw them a scrap, or the ones who kick or shout at them, or the ones who mill about and ignore them. Some of these dogs, they haven't known a gentle touch, nor have their parents nor their parents parents. These dogs are on a fast tract to becoming feral, and they are a liability and a huge safety risk.
These dog roundups aren't new. They have been going on for a number of years, but are underfunded, and fighting a losing battle. There was an attempt to initiate a trap/sterilize/release program - they could handle around 500 dogs a month, but should have been doing 2500 dogs a month to make headway with the program. These dogs are being shot, struck by cars, killed by civilians in horrible ways - the life they are living is not suitable, not at all a healthy life. Reports indicate that fatal traps and poisons are being used in this attempt to clear the stray dogs - I do not agree with this method. If they cannot succeed with a trap/sterilize/release program, then they should be trapping as many as possible and humanely euthanizing them. These dogs are a problem. They attack people, they attack children. They are not socialized, and for the most part would never be able to be socialized properly. It's not a pretty solution, killing the dogs, but it might be the best solution for everyone involved.
What bothers me the most, though? It's not that the dogs are being killed, or how the dogs are being killed... it's that people are announcing their plans to not watch the Olympics because of the dog round up. That's their right. They are free to feel that way, for sure. However I am very disappointed in these people. Not because they're boycotting the Olympics, but because they've only decided now, at the announcement of the dog round up to boycott the games. I decided back in August to not watch the Olympics, since homosexuality is illegal in Russia, and I have many gay friends. I think that the people who were still intending to watch the Olympics after Russia passed so many anti-gay laws back in the summer of 2013, but are now boycotting over the death of some feral dogs that pose a real threat to humans? Those people have their priorities wrong.