The head of Moscow City Hall’s environment department says pet owners should put shoes on their animals.
This is, though, more about health than fashion: the anti-icing chemicals used on the capital’s streets could cause burns on the animals’ paws – and special winter boots will protect them.
“As far as their pets are concerned, people should think ahead,” said the head of Moscow’s ecological department, Anton Kulbachevsky. “Animals’ pawns are very sensitive to all the chemicals.”
Officials also recommend not walking pets near large roads or along pedestrian pathways.
Every winter, Muscovites are complaining about the poisonous chemicals used to de-ice the city’s roads.
Earlier, city authorities promised to replace the chemicals with something more animal and shoe-friendly. But now, officials say the city cannot do without the poison.