In the city of Yalta, Crimea, a monument is being erected in honor of Mukhtar, a stray dog very popular with residents and tourists, who died in mid-August. Photo: RT.
In the Crimean city of Yalta, a monument will be erected in honor of Mukhtar, a stray dog popular with residents and tourists who died in mid-August. Known as the “Crimean Hachiko”, it was first seen in the coastal region about 12 years ago when its owner, a water lifeguard, lost his life.
Since then, the noble dog has been walking along the city’s promenade, waiting for his master to return. He eventually became friends with a street musician named Viktor Malinovski, who plays the trumpet. Sometimes Mukhtar “sang” with him, local media say.
Despite Víktor’s company and the good treatment he received from passers-by – who remembered him as a polite, intelligent and very nice person – the dog never stopped wandering along the seashore, looking at the horizon and looking around, perhaps hoping to see their loved one again.
After his death, many Yalta residents agreed with the desire to perpetuate the memory of their furry friend and turned to the head of the local administration, Yanina Pavlenko. A statue of the good Mukhtar will be erected on the beach promenade by the end of the year. “It is a great loss for us because Mukhtar knew and loved almost everyone who came to our city. A very loyal dog. Of course it’s a shame,” Pavlenko said.
(taken from RT)