Paris Waits For German Shepherd Puppy Dobrynya
Russian police have handed over a German Shepherd puppy Dobrynya to the French ambassador in Moscow to replace a French police dog killed in a raid, a show of solidarity with France in the aftermath of the Paris attacks.
Diesel, the 7-year-old Belgian shepherd killed in a French police raid targeting the suspected
mastermind of the Paris attacks in November, has been honored all over the world.
On Monday, Russia’s Interior Ministry gave the German shepherd puppy Dobrynya, named after a Russian
fairy-tale knight to French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert.
Ripert praised the gift as “a gesture that comes from the heart,” adding that “it shows the relations
between Russia and France quite well.”
A Russian police officer holds a German shepherd puppy Dobrynya during a ceremony at the French
embassy in Moscow on December 7, 2015. Russia on December 7 handed over a German shepherd puppy
Dobrynya to France in a gesture of solidarity after a police dog named Diesel was killed during a raid
on jihadists linked to the Paris attacks in Saint-Denis, suburban Paris, on November 18. (Photo credit:
YURI KADOBNOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Dobrynya, once he grows up, will try to replace service dog Diesel who was killed in an anti-terror
raid in Saint-Denis.
“The terror attacks in Paris shocked the whole world,” Russian Deputy Interior Minister Igor Zubov said
on Tuesday.
“I do not think it is a gift. I would rather say we are sending our employee to serve in the French
Ministry of the Interior,” he added.
French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert was very moved by the ball of fluff, who is still far from being
anything too formidable.
“The puppy you are giving us today will replace Diesel and proves your friendship. Paris is waiting for
him,” Ripert said as quoted by TASS.
The German Shepherd puppy Dobrynya is named after a Russian epic knight, who is a symbol of strength, kindness and bravery.
The decision to present France with a puppy was made after a service dog, Diesel, was killed on November
18, in a shootout during a police raid on suspected terrorists in Saint-Denis. The dog’s death touched
the French, who shared photos of their pets on social networks with the hashtag #JeSuisDiesel.
Speacial thanks to TASS, YURI KADOBNOV/AFP/Getty Images
It was death for France”, “We respect your courage”, “RIP, brave police dog” – messages of sadness filled Twitter after French police said one of their bravest combat dogs, Diesel, was killed by extremists during anti-terrorist operation in Saint-Denis.
“Diesel, a seven-year-old Belgian Shepherd police dog from RAID, has been killed by the terrorists during the ongoing operation,” said a statement by the French national Police, which really broke the hearts of thousands of social media users.
According to French media, the elite forces dog was killed at the very beginning of the operation, which later led to arrests and the deaths of terror suspects.
