This is the story of Chudo: a very special puppy, in all senses, who has miraculously survived abandonment and possible death in Russia and subsequently found a home in Switzerland.
Here he carries on with courageously fighting all the obstacles that his innate neurological condition is throwing at him every day.
Chudo – stands for Miracle in Russian.
This is the story of Chudo and everything that is happening around him, the way he is dealing with everyday challenges together with his family and him exploring every moment of his life.
I win the second chance to live!
Probably a special bright star was rising on July 4th, 2022 when Chudo was born. He was born in the family of Beagle breeders in the small town of Maykop, in the South of Russia.
Since his birth his owners/breeders have understood that something was wrong with him: neither was able to see nor walk like other puppies. Also, he was quite underweight compared to his siblings. Yet more at night he had seizures.
He lived like this with his Beagle family till the age of 2 months until the day which changed his life…One September day his owners brought him to a veterinary clinic to have him euthanized….
«He had too many health problems and we would not be able to attend to him should that be necessary», they explained. That was the first and the principal challenge Chudo had to face in his life: his family abandoned/rejected him…The first miracle that happened to the little Chudo was the vet, such a kind-hearted person, not having been able to euthanize him! She said, that when she took him, he started to lick her hands, and even the needle!
Like this, Chudo won his first battle: battle with the needle, with unfairness and with the abandonment. Now he could win his second chance to live!
ABOUT CHUDO
Life in Russia
Maykop
If Chudo only knew how adventurous his life would be! He would have been amazed and scared at the same time/all at once! If he only knew how this road in life would be filled with so many well-meaning and kind-hearted people! Starting with his miraculous survival by virtue of the kind vet’s inability to put him down. Since the clinic could not keep Chudo forever, the veterinarian contacted a private shelter for stray dogs in Maykop to get help from volunteers...
Then, Chudo’s trip continued. He arrived to the shelter, to wait till his destiny will be decided, to explore his second chance! The shelter volunteers started a cause to raise funds to have him transported to another shelter in Ekaterinburg (the Ural Mountains region). That one specializes in attending to dogs with disabilities. There Chudo would have shared space and care with other 200 dogs. At least he could have received the necessary care, as much as it possible. But! Then life brought him another chance…
The director of the Maykop shelter happened to have a friend, who moved to Switzerland 12 years ago, she was also a big animal lover and supporter of various causes. She also happened to be married to a guy, who used to have a dog, a beagle several years ago. That one was imprinted in his heart and memories forever. So, one picture (this one) basically led to a decision: the couple decided to take Chudo and give him a home! Then, you may think what a Happy Ending of the Story 😊 However, it was just starting for our little Chudo...his long way home.
Maykop-Moscow-Kazan
In the meantime while Chudo has been adjusting to his temporary place in the Maykop shelter his future family explore ways/options to bring him to Switzerland! It was a very stressful process full of bureaucratic obstacles along the way. However, they got through all of them to finally bring Chudo home! His journey started with a trip to Kazan, which is located 1,790 km away from Maykop.
So many people were involved to make it happen. Also, it was very important to make it happen on time. There was only one week before the mother of the Chudo’s future owner was set to travel to Switzerland. Mission impossible, some could have said. Truly nothing was impossible for Chudo and his team 😊
With all the paperwork preparation going on both in Russia and Switzerland, Chudo set off on his first long trip! With the help of a special animal transportation company and tremendous support from all those people who donated to pay for this trip Chudo left Maykop and headed to Moscow! 1,408 km, more than 17 hours of driving, and Chudo successfully arrived at a temporary place in Moscow kindly offered by a nice lady for him to stay overnight. Then, the very next day he continued his journey, from Moscow to Kazan. 830 km and 12 hours of driving with several nice people who drove him to Kazan for free! Chudo handled all those kilometers, new places and new people amazingly well!
Kazan
We were all so happy when he arrived at that destination point before taking his longest and hardest trip from Russia to Switzerland! Until then he stayed at a temporary home in Kazan with the mom of his future owner and a naughty old black cat. The latter did not want to share his territory with Chudo, that is why our brave little hero mostly stayed in one room of the apartment. Still, he was getting all the necessary care and support! Due to many administrative obstacles instead of a week Chudo ended up staying in Kazan for two months! He was growing fast, gaining weight, starting to bite and being a real puppy, playing with toys and trying his young teeth against Zukhra’s legs :D
He shared his temporary home with Tema, that is why he could not wander/walk around the apartment often. Also, due to his age (he could have his first vaccination only being 16 weeks old) and the lack of experience of Zukhra, Chudo was not going out for a walk at all while in Russia…Which was sad for a young puppy of course. The one who needs to explore the world around and actively play. But that was his reality for the moment...
After all the necessary vaccinations, check-ups with doctors and preparation of documents were done, after two months of living in the small room Chudo was finally ready to take his longest trip and finally meet his family 😊
Travel Russia-Turkey-Switzerland
Our little explorer was going to take two flights. The first one was from Kazan to Istanbul, then, another one was from Istanbul to Zurich! Not the easiest journey for a well-travelled human, imagine a small puppy! To fly a distance of 3,430 km in the small bag, with many scary noises, and some other obstacles which he coped with amazingly! Together with Chudo Zukhra flew to Istanbul. Raphael, Chudo’s human “daddy” awaited them there! Yes, Raphael had to fly to Istanbul only to meet Chudo and bring him to Switzerland as an owner! That was due to the strict requirements on entering Switzerland prescribed by the Swiss law on animals. That was the only way Chudo could legally stay here and be officially registered in the system. Then, the three of them arrived to the Zuirch Airport, went through all the necessary customs checks and…were ready to go home to meet other family members!
Finally Home - Switzerland
We would like to express out gratitude once again to everyone who made it happen. Starting from the veterinarians in Maykop, shelter volunteers Natalya and Zilya, transport company, overnight shelter Sveltana in Moscow, supporters of Kazan cat shelter Regina (drive from Moscow to Kazan) , Evgenya (Kazan shelter), Farida who helped with all the documents in Kazan, Renata - Kazan vet doctor, and of course Zukhra, an amazing temporary mom for Chudo in Kazan for two months and the one who brought him from Russia to Switzerland who covered so many expenses and dealt with so many obstacles! But we did it together. This huge team of ours made the very first step led to Chudo having arrived at his new home to his new and true family. A family which loves him so much and has been at all times ready to do everything for him to live a happy life full of joy!
Then, a new chapter started…his new life in Switzerland, with new challenges and discoveries, and a new team of amazing supporters!
We hope that Chudo’s story will encourage other people to adopt animals with special needs, give a second chance to those with whom others see no hope. To see beauty and an opportunity in every obstacle. To see what true love and trust can do. To embrace the deepest connection, we can with our four-pawed friends.
