Tag Archives: pets

Rhodesian Ridgebacks to Russia

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Dear Zak,

We met someone you’d have liked this afternoon – he loves his Ridgebacks!

Yuri is a Russian geologist who specialises in lithium and his contract has expired so he has to go back home. He has two lovely Ridgeback males that he has fallen in love with and would really like to take them home but didn’t know if it’s possible. We have got in touch with a company that specialises in moving pets around the world and they say that it certainly is but it won’t be cheap. There is also a challenge of finding an airline that will fly from Dubai to Russia because of the war with Ukraine.

The dogs are locally bred (he got them from someone else – not the breeder), brothers and inseparable. Before we came up with the plan to move them back to Russia Yuri said he wanted them adopted as a pair. Yuri comes from the south of Russia near the Caucasus mountains. He said they hunt wolves in the area. When I suggested he crossed one of his dogs with a wolf he replied “None of the locals would like me if I did that”.

When we asked Yuri when he was leaving he replied “I should have already left but I am looking for a solution for my dogs first”. We liked him. A lot.

Love you.

I am Zak!

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firstDay2

Wow, my first day in Zimbabwe and already I am cute AND posed!

This is me, Zak. I am 8.5 weeks old and a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Actually, I don’t have a ridge so I am not technically a Ridgeback but Ridgelessback doesn’t sound quite right and I am from a long line of very well bred Rigebacks so I don’t think it matters very much. But some breeders think it matters a lot and “put to sleep” their ridgeless siblings. Why they need to be “put to sleep” I have no idea – have you ever seen a puppy that cannot sleep by itself?

He means euthanaze.

Well, anyway, here I am in Zimbabwe after a long and tiring day mostly sitting in a box listening to people make silly baby-talk to me.

Well, we are not exactly going to discuss politics are we?

Phew, it was hot when I arrived at the airport. Not that I am complaining – we ridgebacks are a tough lot so we can cope with a bit of heat. And danger. My ancestors were bred to hunt lion and the ridge made them brave!

No, not quite. It was noticed that dogs with a ridge were mostly not afraid of lions but I’ll forgive you that bit of licence.

I am not the only dog here, there is another Ridgeback called Kharma and she is really big and I don’t think she’s even noticed me. It’s not like she’s jealous of my cuteness or anything like that. I will have to charm her!