Thousands of stray dogs in Sochi saved from pre-Olympics killings need homes

Animal lovers saved thousands of adorable stray pups that were slated to be killed to clear the streets of Sochi for the Winter Games.

Now the adorable dogs just need a home.

© Ints Kalnins / Reuters/REUTERS

Local authorities and private groups in Sochi rounded up stray dogs and built makeshift dog shelters, like the one seen here.

PHOTOS: SOCHI PROBLEMS

"They're beautiful dogs. These dogs are friendly and interactive dogs," said Kelly O'Meara, director of companion animals and engagement for the Humane Society International (HSI).

© Ints Kalnins / Reuters/REUTERS

Russian officials announced they would put down street dogs leading up to the Olympics, leading animal lovers to round up the animals to make them available for adoption.

Last April, Russian officials announced that they would put down street dogs leading up to the city's Olympics. But they backtracked and said they would look into other options after international outcry.

© Ints Kalnins / Reuters/REUTERS

Thousands of stray dogs in Sochi were saved after the animals were slated to be killed before the Winter Olympics.

"We were very surprised and appalled that they carried through with the killing and hired a private company to do it," O'Meara said.

The HSI says it reached out to help develop a humane and effective program to find the strays other homes — but they received no response.

© Ints Kalnins / Reuters/REUTERS

Volunteer Valentina Silevic plays with a dog at a private shelter in Sochi on Saturday.

PHOTOS: SOCHI WINTER OLYMPIC ATHLETES REACT TO THEIR SCORES

So the animal protection group put together a campaign for people to put pressure on the Russian government to stop the killings.

Dog shelters in Baranovka, near Sochi, on Saturday.

Meanwhile, several local organizations took it upon themselves to round up as many pups as they could to make them available for adoption.

"They have been collecting dogs for quite some time. Using their own houses and trucks to get them off the streets because of the killing," said O'Meara.

Hopeful puppy adopters can learn about the paperwork and necessary vaccinations for bringing a pup into the United States from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website.

O'Meara said that upward of 5,000 dogs may have already been killed. There are an estimated 250 to 300 million street dogs throughout the world.

mwalsh@nydailynews.com

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