A rather peculiar discovery has emerged in the vicinity of an aged, deserted chemical facility.
In the city of Dzerzhinsk in Russia, located roughly 230 miles from Moscow, an uncommon sight has drawn the interest of the residents. In this locale, there resides a group of dogs displaying a distinct blue hue in their fur. According to advocates for animal welfare, this intriguing coloration is attributed to the emissions originating from a nearby factory responsible for manufacturing Plexiglas and hydrocyanic acid, the latter being hydrogen cyanide dissolved in water.
The investigation into how these chemicals impact the dogs’ fur coloration is now underway. Some individuals speculate that the dogs may have been exposed to specific substances, like copper sulphate, a vibrant blue inorganic compound commonly used in various industrial processes.
Kelly O’Meara, Vice President of the Humane Society International, remarked, “The dye on their fur suggests they had direct contact with or even ingested potentially toxic or hazardous substances.” According to those leading the inquiry, the blue fur has not led to any adverse health effects in the dogs thus far, but the long-term consequences remain uncertain.
A group of dogs near an abandoned chemical plant in Russia has garnered attention due to their blue fur. #Unveilings #StreamToday #DiscoveryPlus pic.twitter.com/eob7qRZKD8 — Business Charcha (@businesscharcha) February 13, 2021
Up to this point, veterinarians and experts have assessed seven of the dogs in question. Vladimir Groisman, the director of a veterinary clinic, conveyed to the news outlet RBC that “their overall blood and faeces analyses have revealed normal readings, including their biochemistry.”
Two of these dogs have been successfully adopted, and there are optimistic expectations that suitable homes will be found for the remaining canines too. Groisman believes it is highly probable that the dogs may have come into contact with residual chemicals. This is not the first instance of such reports of animals with unusual fur colours circulating on social media. In 2017, a photograph of a pack of dogs with light blue fur emerged from India, and subsequent examinations indicated that these canines had been exposed to illegally discharged chloride in a river.
The Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources has initiated its own inquiry and announced intentions to pursue legal action to facilitate routine inspections at the factory site. The factory, which ceased operations in 2015, now stands abandoned, allowing the dogs to freely roam the vicinity. Advocates for animal rights are optimistic that this matter will be addressed promptly, with no harm coming to any of the dogs. For additional details, please refer to the video below.