LOCAL

Three groups of Moscow students are taking part in the construction of two shelters for homeless animals in a northern region (of Moscow), the press service of the Northern administrative district announced.

"In the Molzhaninovski district the building of two shelters for homeless animals has started. These two shelters can hold 1,350 animals," the press service representative said. "Both shelters will be located on the territory of disused dams that have already been prepared."

The students are involved in this project at the invitation of the prefect of the region, Yuri Khardikov, who considers this decision to be beneficial because contractors get real help and students earn a little spending cash during their vacations.

Khardikov said that although eight similar institutions already exist in the district, the demand for new ones remains. New shelters are to receive their first animals at the end of the summer. Officials anticipate that these additional shelters will contribute to reducing the number of homeless animals.

By the end of the next year, there are plans to build another 15 shelters for stray animals in Moscow for 24, 000 animals, or 80 percent of the stray animal population. Presently, there are about 3,500 animals in 11 municipal shelters. In Moscow, there are about 30 000 homeless animals and that number is increasing annually by 2,000-5,000. The reason is due to the stray animals that breed, as well as those that have been abandoned. The cost of upkeep for one dog or cat per day is about 130 rubles.

Every animal that gets to this shelter undergoes vaccination and sterilization. Since last February, homeless dogs have been implanted with special microchips that hold data about the animal's vaccination. The sterilization of one dog costs 5-6 thousand rubles. On average, a homeless animal lives on the streets for around 5 years, and 9 in an animal shelter.