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«Sympathy» - unusual monument to the killed homeless dog

At the last day of the Year of the Dog on February 17, 2007, an unusual monument to the killed homeless dog was unveiled. A bronze dog trustingly made itself comfortable at the entrance hall of the «Mendeleievskaya» metro station. Alexander Tsigal, the honoured artist of Russia, is the author of the sculpture. They say it is the only in the world monument of that kind.

The choice of site for the monument is not accidental. The prototype for the bronze dog was a real dog called Mal'chik (boy) that lived near that metro station. In the mornings, when thousands of Moscovites rush to their work, small packs of dogs wait for them near the metro. The animals know that there is always a «kind soul», and not only one that will share its breakfast with them. Many people took care of a friendly dog Mal'chik. In severe frosts the workers of metro did not drive it to the street, letting it get warm near the heating radiators. For them the dog was not an animal, but a good friend.

A mentally ill girl using a kitchen knife stabbed the mongrel Malc'chik to death. The murder of the defenseless dog shocked the Moscovites so much that they decided to perpetuate its memory.

The money for the monument was collected by all people. Among those, who donated were both ordinary and very famous people, many cultural workers. The monument, made in honour of Mal'chik, was called «Sympathy». It reminds residents of Moscow of homeless animals, unprotected from human cruelty and calls for humane treatment of those.