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Couple jet off to Germany abandoning loyal family pet to freeze to death at airport in minus 30C

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23 January 2017

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Tori the dog was left in Koltsovo airport. Picture: The Siberian Times

The shocking story has led to a petition signed by more than 7,000 people calling for the couple to be punished, and outraged comments online protesting about animal cruelty. 

The husband and wife were told that their documents were not correct to allow the dog to fly on their booked flight from Yekaterinburg to Hamburg to see their children who evidently live in Germany with their grandmother, where Oksana also has citizenship. Rather than delay a day, Mr Usurov took the pet outside the terminal, left it in a zip-up carry bag for dogs, and went back to check-in.

He claimed to airport staff he had handed Tori to a friend, it was reported, but in fact the dog - which is seen on happy family photos - was abandoned in an obscure location in the airport complex. 

Tori the dog with the family


Tori the dog with the family


Tori the dog with the family

Oksana and Alexander Urusov were told they needed more papers to fly with dog Tori, so they dumped her outside the terminal. Pictures: The Siberian Times

Three days later Oksana, evidently with a pang of guilt, posted a message to E1 website in Yekaterinburg, saying: 'We are looking for our little dog, she is white with a flick of ginger.

'Our children can't stop crying, please can you help. We're ready to pay the fine. We had to leave her at the airport... they didn't take her on board at check in as we were flying to Hamburg to see children.' 

Animal protection activists rushed to the airport to seek to find the stricken dog. They needed help from airport staff and CCTV cameras because Tori had been left in such a hidden location. When they finally located her, the animal had frozen to death. 

The dog had been placed in a spot where people - who might have rescued the animal - would not see it. 

A janitor told them: 'It died right in this thing.' He held up the dog carry bag, and explained the dog had frozen to death in temperatures which ranged between minus 10C and minus 30C. They had spotted the animal dead three days after it was left by the couple. 

Petition


Tori the dog

The shocking story has led to a petition signed by more than 7,000 people. Pictures: The Siberian Times

The activist asked: 'How did it die, died, froze or what?'. He says: 'Well, yes.' And I just started crying and went away, not even asking when it happened.'

Dmitry Tyukhtin, spokesman for Koltsovo airport in Yekaterinburg, said: 'We heard about the story from journalists and couldn't believe a human could do that to a dog.'

He criticised the owners for not seeking help from the airport. 'If only we knew about the problem, at least the dog would be alive. The weather was so cold on those days. 

'Tori was left in an area where there are usually no people. If she was to be left closer or inside the terminal, the dog would have been rescued.' 

Place where the dogs was left

The dog had been placed in a spot where people - who might have rescued the animal - would not see it. Picture: LIFE

The couple had taken the animal previously to Germany, and must have known the documentation required, say reports. 

'The woman at check-in advised them or to change the tickets to the next flight and complete the procedures for taking the dog, or to pass the animal to some acquaintances,' said one account. 

'After that, the man left the building with the dog on a leash, and came back without the dog.When the couple returned to the check-in, staff asked them if they managed to solve the problem with the dog. Alexander replied that they passed it to a friend.'

Protestors have called for the mayor of Yekaterinburg Yevgeny Roizman to takes action against the couple.  Among the outranged online comments:

Elena Fenix: 'Such beasts must not be allowed to bring up children!'

Koltsovo airport


Airport Koltsovo inside

Koltsovo Airport. Pictures: Avia.pro

Viktoria Milovanova: 'I am signing this petition because people like Oksana Urusova and Alexander Urusov must be punished! Such idiots, to have left the animal when it is freezing! I wish they stayed outside themselves! Animals are not toys, they are living creatures, they feel pain, cold and fear just as people do!'

Olesya Khoroshilova: 'I think such people are sick and they are dangerous not only for the animals but for the whole society!'

Tatiana Maslennikova: 'I wish somebody would take this woman - dog owner to the abandoned place and leave in the freezing weather alone without mobile, food and water, let her feel what her dog felt.'

Alexandra Glushchenko: 'Cruel horrible people abandoning little dog in the airport. How cruel and terrible. They deserve to spend their life in jail. Someone should take the kids away from them they are terrible parents.'

Comments (16)

This is so shocking. Shame on these people.
John Kirkwood, Berlin
23/01/2017 14:18
23
1
12

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