The capital city of Estonia has erected a statue to honor one of the most important residents, Zorik, the stray mutt.
The city chose to build the statue after Zorik went to live with a family out in the countryside, according to an article published Thursday by the Associated Press.
ONE GOOD THING: A statue in Estonia’s capital immortalizes a stray dog, a free spirit who brought together two very different communities, reports @marishellrand. https://t.co/kdsyJSW07O
— AP Europe (@AP_Europe) December 17, 2020
“People donated for the monument,” animal rescue volunteer Heiki Valner told the outlet. “They wanted it and they still follow his fate even though he is already old and frail.”
The statue was Valner’s idea and the animal rescue volunteer organized the fundraiser for the dog. (RELATED: Barking Dog Reportedly Saves Family Of 4 While Fire Burns In Home)
“Zorik was a dog who was able to disappear, he was a dog whom everyone in Kalamaja knew, he touched everyone — young and old, Estonians and Russians,” Valner told the outlet. “He was a point of social integration.”
Nobody was ever able to catch and domesticate the pup, the outlet reported.
“When people tried to regulate or restrict him, he just escaped,” Valner said, according to the AP. “He was just a free spirit.”
Good for this dog. The pictures of him are so cute and I’m glad he’s finally getting to settle in a space of his own. More places should be more supportive of their stray dog population, so it’s nice to see a city really honoring them.
They didn’t ask to not have a home.