A Perm vet operates on kittens at night, organizes runs by day
He is beloved by animals and known by many residents of Perm for his community work.
Ilya Yuryevich is known in Perm even by those who don«t have pets—through stories from friends and acquaintances. They call him exactly that, with his patronymic, despite his young age. People come to him with their cats and dogs for help when they are scared, in pain, and confused. This installment of »Urban Legends« is about veterinarian Ilya Martyshenko.
Urban Legends are stories about the people who define Perm«s character. They are remembered for their deeds, profession, inner strength, and unique path. These are the people the city truly cherishes. The project partner is the federal developer Brusnika. The company works carefully and thoughtfully with the urban context. In Perm, Brusnika is renovating Tikhii Kompros, preserving its atmosphere and infusing the area with new meaning and life. Next year, Perm residents will choose the city»s main legend in a public vote.
Animals surrounded Ilya from childhood. At home—the cat Basya and the rat Vova, on walks—lizards, birds. There were always those who needed attention and care.
«I«ve loved animals since childhood, any kind: be it a pigeon with a broken wing, a lizard, a spider, a kitten, or a stray dog. But loving them and treating them are completely different things,» Ilya states. «The idea of becoming a veterinarian came to me in 11th grade. I won»t romanticize it and say I dreamed of it since kindergarten. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, that«s not the case.»
He still remembers his first day at the clinic. Back then, he was just a doctor«s assistant, with a heart full of desire to help everyone and a soul filled with a huge fear of making a mistake. Today, Ilya Martyshenko is a veterinary dentist and maxillofacial surgeon. He works with patients of all ages, from those just a few months old to those nearly twenty.
He works as a veterinary dentist and maxillofacial surgeon on animals from kittens to seniors.
«There was a case where I operated on a four-month-old kitten at night after a dog bit through its head. I had to piece together fragments of the jaw bone like a puzzle. Our little patient recovered and grew into a beautiful cat,» the doctor recalls.
He isn«t afraid to work with animals that have long been »senior citizens«. A recent patient was a Papillon named Ochcho, who was 19 and a half at the time of surgery. This year, Ochcho received the title »Russia«s Oldest Dog».
Animals sometimes remain at the clinic after being abandoned by their owners (due to illness or no longer being wanted). Ilya understands that taking all these abandoned animals home is impossible, so he actively works on finding them new homes. For example, a couple of years ago, the story of the Pekingese Shurik was well-known among Perm residents. In freezing weather, the elderly dog was left at the clinic«s door—he was blind, deaf, had difficulty walking, and had major dental problems.
«My colleagues and I, without a second thought, took him into the hospital, warmed him up, fed him, performed diagnostics, and ran all the tests. It turned out he wasn«t in such bad shape. I named him Shurik because during that shift I was working with two doctors named Alexander,» the doctor remembered. «Yes, there were many health problems, but within a month we managed to solve them. In the end, Shurik was taken in by our client Tatyana. She already had a dog but decided to give him a home too. For two years now, the dog has lived in love and care. We often meet for check-ups and walks. He»s doing great—everyone should have an owner like that!»
Although Ilya has many furry patients at work, he has his own team at home: the Pomeranian Igor and the Scottish fold Senya.
«Igor is an abandoned animal, he«s been with us since his first day of life. I bottle-fed him during night shifts, and for the first month he lived in a carrier with an electric heating pad,» Ilya said about his pets. «Senya has nearly all the chronic diseases typical for this breed. Thank God he ended up in our family—we know how to keep them under control and not over-medicate. We used to have a cat, Anfisa; unfortunately, she died of cancer, but she remains in my heart forever. A tattoo of my beloved cat serves as a reminder of her.
Work for Ilya doesn»t end with his shift. Calls, messages, and pleas for help continue in the evening and at night. To avoid burnout, he tries to change his pace and switch focus. Running, music, sports, blogging, charity—all this helps him stay afloat and not become solely focused on the clinic. His unusual hobbies include cooking and flowers.»
Ilya runs a Telegram channel where he honestly talks about his work, patients, and complex cases. He supports shelters, participates in city initiatives, and launches charitable projects.
«One of the most notable projects is the Run Dog Run race in support of homeless animals. This year we combined it with another project of mine—Animal Garden. It«s a party where our DJ friends perform, great chefs cook food, and the space is decorated with flowers,» the veterinarian said.
At the same time, Ilya remains honest when talking about his profession. He doesn«t hide that there are cases that are especially difficult.
«The hardest thing is accepting that you can«t help everyone. There are diseases where we are powerless, and you can never get used to that. You replay every such case in your mind over and over,» Ilya admits.
The main recommendation from Ilya Yuryevich is not to delay a visit to the vet, whether it«s for an illness or just after getting a new pet. A veterinarian will always help, explain proper care, nutrition, and give basic care recommendations.
Ilya Martyshenko knows how to act quickly and precisely while remaining calm and attentive. He treats animals, and he helps their owners cope with anxiety and doubts. For these qualities, he is so highly valued by the people of Perm.
