Following the tragic death of Diesel, a Belgian Malinois who was a member of a French anti-terrorist police unit, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs sent their French counterparts a little German Shepard puppy, named Dobrynya, to show solidarity with the French people and their police in the fight against terrorism.
This warmed the hearts and minds of many French people, including Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.
"The gift of the Russian canine handlers to their French colleagues [Dobrynya] who will replace the fallen police dog Diesel… is very symbolic, strong and exceptional gesture on your part. I personally was very touched and I assure you that this puppy will have the best conditions," Cazeneuve said in the letter addressed to Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev.
Diesel was killed during the siege in Saint-Denis that targeted terrorists involved in the Paris attacks. The dog was sent upstairs to check out a potentially dangerous situation before police officers could move in for an attack.
As Dobrynya receives his French residency he will have to pass a medical check and regulatory quarantine requirements. After that he will start getting to know a new country and learning commands in French.
