With names such as Kuzya and Glasha, 10 mixed-breed dogs arrived with puppy-style passports to Dulles Airport Thursday in hopes of finding homes in the D.C. area.
This dog is one of the 10 flown from Russia for a chance at a new family in the U.S. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
WTOP/Megan Cloherty
This pooch wants a new home here in the District. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
WTOP/Megan Cloherty
The dogs will likely be up for adoption in about 10 days. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
WTOP/Megan Cloherty
This dog is one of the 10 flown from Russia for a chance at a new family in the U.S. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
WTOP/Megan Cloherty
The dogs needed passports to get from Sochi to the U.S. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
WTOP/Megan Cloherty
The dogs came from Russia with their own passports. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
WTOP/Megan Cloherty
On each passport, the dog's name is listed along with the type of breed and its final destination. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
WTOP/Megan Cloherty
If you look closely, part of each dog's passport is written in Russian. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
WTOP/Megan Cloherty
Most of the dogs are mixed breeds and medium to large in size. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
WTOP/Megan Cloherty
The Humane Society chose the Washington Animal Rescue League, due to their partnership, to shelter the first group of dogs from Sochi. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
WASHINGTON — With names such as Kuzya and Glasha, 10 mixed-breed dogs arrived with puppy-style passports to Dulles Airport Thursday in hopes of finding homes in the D.C. area.
“They went from Sochi to Moscow, spent some time in Moscow, and then they came from there to Dulles,” says WARL Chief Communications Officer Matt Williams.
The dogs were rescued from the streets of 2014 Winter Olympic host city Sochi, Russia. The influx of rescues came after Sochi hired companies to catch and kill the strays so they didn’t bother Sochi’s new visitors — or even wander into an Olympic event.
The 10 came into the country through the Humane Society’s efforts. All of them went to the Washington Animal Rescue League.
“They are all small, lab-size, and they’re really in good shape. They’re tired from the trip but I think they’re excited to be here now that they have their feet on the ground and not in an airplane,” Williams says.
Williams expects the dogs will be ready to adopt in 10 days to two weeks. First, they have to recover from their trip and get medical and behavioral assessments.