Not all heroes have two legs; sometimes, they have four legs and are furry.
One stray dog in Estonia has united a divided community, and because of this, he was honored for being a good dog to both humans and animals alike.
Zorik is a stray who does not want to have a forever home. He does not want to be touched nor carried by humans. Whenever people try to capture him to bring him to a safer place, he will always run away.
Despite living on the streets for most of his life, Zorik wasn’t alone at all. He was a good dog friend for his fellow stray dogs and cats. Zorik used to have the best dog pal, but unfortunately, he died due to a car accident. Later on, Zorik lived and slept with a group of cats.
Zorik is loved by people living in a neighborhood where Estonians and Russians live. At first, the two groups cannot get along due to cultural differences, but Zorik brought them together. They have set aside their differences to take care of this black and white stray dog.
The first time people saw Zorik was when he was found at the coal storage area when he was still a puppy. Since then, he lived a stray dog’s life, yet he was very much well taken care of by the community. A cafe was even named after him.
When Zorik is already a senior dog, people saw the need that he needs a family. They would see him sleeping in the middle of the road, which was very dangerous for the community’s cute hero.
Luckily, a resident named Viktoria Ger was able to capture Zorik. She brought her home to give him a comfortable place to spend his retirement years. Viktoria continued to respect Zorik’s space. She gave him ample space so he could still live alone. She wants Zorik to live a happy and safe life while waiting for the time that he crosses the Rainbow Bridge.
When Zorik passed away, the whole neighborhood was heartbroken. The people missed seeing Zorik walking on the streets; that is why they decided to build a statue to honor his good deeds to the whole community. A local artist created his sculpture, which is placed in a nearby open space.
For the people in Estonia, the statue is a great honor for all stray dogs like Zorik. The monument is an excellent reminder that even a stray animal can do great things and unite the whole community.
Zorik, you’re dearly missed!
Photos courtesy of ŽORIK Kalamaja – Koer keset teed via Facebook