Spay and neuter doesn't happen in Russia. As a result, there are packs of dogs wandering the city streets, swarming the outside of the dormitories, and cats in the Hermitage (which is actually intentional, since they keep the rodents at bay). The dogs in the streets are not a problem, they are not vicious, or mean and will eat whatever food scraps you throw to them. I'm just worried about them when it gets cold. Humane societies? Nyet. I've also seen packs of dogs, ear tagged like cattle-- still intend to ask some Russian friends about that-- I'll get back to you when I find out.
Birds here are interesting, too. They've got some monster-sized gray and white ones, bigger than the biggest crow I've seen. I tread carefully past these ones. They're like sleeker, faster, flying chickens. Then there are the smaller ones that live in the grocery store down the street. They seem to be out only at night. In flocks. Yesterday they were at the packaged foods, I don't know if they actually got into any of the bags, but they were having fun hopping around on the shelves. The night before they were perched in the produce section, helping themselves to the green grapes, leaving little beak marks as I chased them away. That same night, Masha and I walked back to the dorms. It was dark. As we came up to the doorway into the building, we saw a nasty rat scurrying into the basement culvert right under the kitchen. Eew. I'll now keep my eyes peeling for fur or pooh in my salad.
In other dormitory news, Rich and Rob woke up to people propelling on bed sheets from the third story past their window. The curfew isn't to their liking. But bed sheets? I guess there is a reason that people actually use them to climb out windows. They work.