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Cruelty behind the 'Bear-Dog' internet sensation

By 0 and 0 and 0
17 December 2017

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'The dog is in serious stress. We are looking for some really experienced carers for him, but have not found them yet'. Picture: Polina Kefer

This animal has made headlines around the world with people asking: 'Is it a bear or a dog?'

The pictures are very striking, but there is a sad story behind this abandoned pet, nicknamed Medvebaka (from 'Medved' meaning Bear, and 'Sobaka' meaning Dog).

The animal is a dog that was bred by irresponsible market traders in Chelyabinsk to look great as a puppy with little thought about what would happen later.

Nash Dom animal shelter volunteer Polina Kefer said: 'The dog is in serious stress. We are looking for some really experienced carers for him, but have not found them yet. 

'This dog is a ‘badly-made’ chowchow. Remember those pet markets, where irresponsible breeders sell dogs pretending they are pure breed. Once puppies grow into something like this dog, they throw them out like a broken toy.'

Cruelty behind the 'Bear-Dog' internet sensation


Cruelty behind the 'Bear-Dog' internet sensation


Cruelty behind the 'Bear-Dog' internet sensation
One owner who tried to rescue the dog was forced to give up. Pictures: Polina Kefer


'There is a chowchow breeder in our team, who checked the dog and confirmed our first guess that this is indeed a mixed breed, likely crossed with a long-nosed stray', Polina Kefer explained.

'He has a distinctive blue tongue which is typical for the chowchow. 

'We are calling him - jokingly, of course - Medvebaka Potapych (Porapych is a typical tender folk name for brown bears, often used in fairy tales and legends). 

'Sadly the dog is so stressed it fights and bites back.

'We think it might take months to socialise him.' 

Cruelty behind the 'Bear-Dog' internet sensation


Cruelty behind the 'Bear-Dog' internet sensation
'There is a chowchow breeder in our team, who checked the dog and confirmed our first guess that this is indeed a mixed breed, likely crossed with a long-nosed stray'. Pictures: Polina Kefer


One owner who tried to rescue the dog was forced to give up.

A volunteer said: 'The dog hid inside an ourdoor kennel and refused to come out.

'With his new family he was trying to escape.

'He hated the leash, and showed no interest whatsoever in making friends. 

'We tried our best foods on him, but the dog is clearly so stressed that it might take weeks, if not months, to help him trust people again.'

Comments (16)

Medvebaka (re-named Potapich) recently passed away, he lived the rest of his life in the shelter:(
A, R
23/02/2023 02:22
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Poor puppy wish this never happened
Jack Woods, Australia
16/08/2019 09:13
1
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was this poor baby adopted? no follow up ever. I know as above have had abused dogs and they get better with love and respecting them. they do have good lives if your patient. can anyone say if this poor baby was saved and has a family who respects and love him.
jesse correa, cranston RI
02/05/2019 01:18
2
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The person that did this should be held accountable, no animal deserves a life like that
Devon, Fort knox Kentucky United States
26/11/2018 20:37
1
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Medvebaka is most likely a Chow-Chow X German Shepherd mutt. That dog mix is done too often and the results are often not nice. And yes, they do tend to look like bears. The Chow Shepherd mutt is often very aggressive naturally and very hard to train and many end up in shelters or as strays when their owners cannot handle them.
Danica, KY, USA
26/11/2018 20:27
1
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Any updates on this pup please x
Marie, Uk
01/01/2018 19:30
3
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Mi piacerebbe tantissimo potermi prendere cura e ristabilizzare la fiducia col cucciolone. É possibile adottarlo?
Federico , Italia, Puglia
27/12/2017 23:25
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I have owned chows, for over twenty years they are fiercely independent and not liked by other dogs. I would be willing to work with or adopt this dog. My two chows currently can't live in the same apartment. I have been bitten many a time breaking up fights, still love this breed and will do whatever I can if allowed to help.
Lars Stenberg , Minneapolis, MN. USA
20/12/2017 23:19
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You can see it in his eyes his want to be a dog & not a bear, his want for less cruelty & more care.
Jaker, Dundalk
20/12/2017 09:49
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I hope they neuter him so that the bad genes will not be passed on if he is unable to be socialized with other pets let alone humans. He needs a home without other pets.
linda, MA USA
19/12/2017 14:40
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4
I have a chow-mix that resembles Potspych.
Bill, San Diego, CA, USA
19/12/2017 04:42
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To those that want to help this poor dog, are you willing to move, at least temporarily, to Russia? Because sending him to you would only cause more trauma. Think about it before you offer to help. Thank you.
Diana Roby, San Francisco, CA USA
19/12/2017 02:34
3
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I would gladly help him, and with patience and love, which I only have for animals, I can help him to trust me. Love and all the best to whomever you chose to help him x
Elaine Spencer layneybcfc@hotmail.com, Birmingham, England
18/12/2017 17:33
10
1
I have been a person who rehabilitates animals for many years in my personal life, through working with the US SPCA and with animal shelters. I would appreciate being given a chance to give this dog a home and work with him to socialize him and help him adapt to other people and animals.
Verna Reid, Denton , TX USA
18/12/2017 14:16
12
1
Chelyabinsk is such a big town that a few volunteers could not find the schum dog - breeder-?
Benedikt MORAK, Moscow
18/12/2017 00:11
7
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12

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