A 36-year-old bear which performed during the 1980 Moscow Olympics has been kept for the past two years in a rusty old bus on the outskirts of St Petersburg. During the 1980 Games, the bears performed at a ceremony opening the football competition in St Petersburg, then called Leningrad. Katya also appeared in two films in the 1980s. Since its retirement in 2009, Katya and the painted bus on which it once toured with the circus have not left a car park near a busy road. The aging bear spends the hours jumping up and down in its cage and trying to crack the rusty metal railings with its chipped and yellowed teeth. Dozens of other retired circus animals also live in the cramped cages inside the bus and a minivan parked nearby.
Some occasionally are taken out to accompany photographers to the centre of town to have their pictures taken with children and tourists. Others never get washed or examined by veterinarians.
Apparently they are being taken care of, but not more often than once a day, and this care is perfunctory because the smell here in the parking lot is unbearable." Klava the bear shares a small cage with Pasha the boar. Birds with atrophied muscles live next to cats that do not meow and stare straight ahead with pus-covered eyes.
We DEMAND that Russia does more for animals and the protection of animals and sets Katya FREE to an animal sanctuary and FREE all the other animals to other such sanctuaries or good caring zoo's as they deserve freedom and help, love and caring. PLEASE sign and Share with all that you know get the word out on Care2, on Twitter and on Facebook. With respect always, James Howie.
