The Mayor of Kazan awards the winners of the Paw of Friendship city contest

Today, the results of the Paw of Friendship grant contest were summed up at the Black Lake Park. Preschool children, students of Kazan schools and their parents, as well as residents of the city took part in the contest and offered their projects aimed at helping homeless animals. The Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin congratulated the winners and presented them with money certificates for the implementation of best practices.

The Paw of Friendship contest was held in the city for the first time and became one of the events under the program “We are responsible for those we have tamed”, which is implemented in educational organizations of the city. “Kazan should become a city where people treat animals with kindness. We will continue to support the initiatives of residents aimed at reducing the number of stray animals and promoting human treatment for animals”, - I.Metshin said.

Thirty-seven organizations from seven districts of Kazan and one participant from the republic took part in the grant contest. The jury selected 23 winners in five nominations. In the nomination “A friend to a dog”, the first place was taken by the City Children's Ecological and Biological Center for the development of educational programs. Kindergarten No.159 of the Sovetsky district won in the nomination “Aibolit and friends”. The best in the nomination “Zoo-therapy in inclusive education” was the project of school No.65 of the Moskovsky district. The first place in the nomination “Zoo-volunteer” was taken by school No.12 of the Vakhitovsky district. The Shitov family (gymnasium No.37 of the Aviastroitelny District) won in the “Family Patronage” nomination. The contest participants who won prizes received certificates for 50 thousand to 200 thousand rubles.

The most interesting projects were presented in personal meeting with the Mayor of Kazan at today's festive event. Dmitry Dudkin, the head of the Kazan Police Dog Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, became a prizewinner in two categories - with the Young Dog Handler project he won in the nomination “A friend to a dog” and with the project “Faithful Heart” in the nomination “Zoo-therapy in inclusive education”.

Dmitry Dudkin said that the Young Dog Handler project is aimed at solving the problem of stray dogs. “Often, when people buy a pet, they do not understand their responsibility. Within this project, children will be able learn how to properly care for dogs, and why you should not be afraid of them”, - the specialist explained.

I.Metshin highly appreciated the Young Dog Handler project. “If we teach children from a young age to share responsibility for treating pets with their parents, then we will ensure that there will be no abandoned dogs in the city, - the Mayor said. - With the invitation of experts like you, we need to conduct more educational classes at schools and kindergartens”.

“Today we got acquainted with the most interesting projects. The implementation of many initiatives is just beginning, and the results will be presented in autumn”, - said Irek Rizvanov, head of the Education Department of the Executive Committee of the city.

The grant contest launched in November 2021. Participants were invited to present projects aimed at helping homeless animals, promoting the idea of taking dogs and cats from shelters, as well as informing residents about the volunteer assistance to animal shelters.