Paul Goble
Staunton, April 4 – The world has been touched by stories and pictures of Ukrainians under Russian attack struggling to save their cats and dogs even to the point of carrying them into emigration. The love Ukrainians are showing to their pets is one more reason for supporting them in their fight for freedom and dignity.
At the same time, Russians also are facing a problem in taking care of their pets. The Western brands of cat and dog foods that some better-off people there have relied on are no longer available because of sanctions (snob.ru/how-to-live/chem-kormit-kota-esli-privychnogo-korma-bolshe-net-v-prodazhe-kategorii-ekonom-i-premium/ and snob.ru/how-to-live/chem-kormit-sobaku-esli-privychnogo-korma-bolshe-net-v-prodazhe-kategorii-ekonom-i-premium/).
In a remarkable example of import substitution in an area not often discussed, some Russian companies are beginning to offer alternative Russian products; and Russians who can afford to feed their pets with store-bought food are now relying on veterinarians to say which Russian products are as good as Western ones and which are not.
This is a small but positive development especially given the tragic fate of so many animals in Russia whose owners don’t take care of them and who allow them to run wild in the streets, something that in turn sparks regular calls to round up and kill hungry animals lest they attack people.
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