Neighbors Defend Stray Dog After Chita Resident's Capture Campaign

A Chita resident spent two years pushing for the capture of a stray dog living in her yard, but neighbors have now rallied to defend the animal after it was caught.

Feb 22, 2026

A screenshot from a video shows the stray dog Leva on the street where he was commonly seen.
Source:
Natalya

A resident of Chita fought for two years to capture a stray dog that lived in her yard and warmed itself in the building«s entrance. However, after the legally mandated capture, neighbors stood up for the animal. This was reported to a Chita.Ru correspondent on January 28 by one of the dog»s defenders.

Another photo unexpectedly shows Leva in a homely setting, suggesting he may have had caretakers.
Source:
Natalya

Letting dogs roam freely in Zabaykalsky Krai is officially banned by a regional law that has been in effect since 2023. All ownerless dogs must be captured, and for this, Chita residents can call the Unified Duty Dispatch Service (EDDS) or dial 122.

«Leva is about 10 years old. He is very kind. He lived in the yard of our house and warmed himself in the entrance for many years. And for a year now, he has found a real home. All the children in our yard adore him. In his long life, he has never hurt anyone. His kind eyes and calm temperament are known to all residents of the neighborhood. Leva is not a threat but a symbol of kindness and reliability,» states a message circulated by the building«s residents.

«A mean and ill-willed neighbor systematically pursued his capture through all authorities for two years, up to the presidential administration. And her harassment finally »succeeded«—Leva was captured and put in a cage in a »shelter«,» the story recounts.

Now, the residents of the building are asking for help to transfer the dog to new owners in another house. The message does not specify how the dog ended up unattended, whether it was roaming freely at the time, or why the new owners cannot pick up the animal from the shelter themselves.

Rules for dog owners are gradually being tightened to foster responsibility. From October 1, 2025, a law on mandatory registration of domestic dogs has been introduced in Zabaykalsky Krai. Fines for owners of 3,000–5,000 rubles (approximately $30–$50 at current rates) will begin on March 1, 2026. Read about the cost of the service here.

In 2026, federal legislation continues to change: safety requirements are being tightened, and punishments could become more severe.

Currently, several criminal cases related to stray dogs are being considered in Chita. Investigators have just transferred to court the case of Yulia Makukha, head of a department in the Chita administration—she is accused of negligence, allegedly for poorly controlling the execution of dog capture requests. Because of this, over five months in 2025, 13 residents of Chita were injured by animal attacks, including seven children.

A criminal case has also been initiated against Alexander Soldatov, owner of the company «Pyat Zvyozd» (Five Stars). The case is related to an attack by a pack of stray dogs on a 4-year-old girl at the KSK in Chita. Initially, Soldatov was sent to a pretrial detention center, but after multiple appeals, he was released under house arrest.

In September 2025, the Legislative Assembly of Zabaykalsky Krai passed a law permitting the euthanasia of stray dogs. Since October, the concept of an «extraordinary situation in the area of handling ownerless animals» has been established in the region. Read what this implies in the news.