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Caretakers have spotted dogs turning blue near the Chernobyl power plant’s exclusive zone. A team went for sterilization when they spotted three dogs that were completely blue. The team revealed that they were clueless about this rare color change. However, it’s believed that dogs are getting “into some sort of chemicals”. Although there were no other physical changes, the dogs seemed to be very active. Three dogs were completely blue “A very unique experience we have to discuss. Chernobyl blue dogs. We are on the ground catching dogs for sterilization, and we came across three dogs that were completely blue. We are not sure exactly what is going,” said Dogs of Chernobyl, an affiliate of the non-profit Clean Futures Fund (CFF). The plant’s exclusion zone has been vacant since 1986, when the Unit 4 reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine exploded and spread radioactive materials into the environment. Previously, CFF estimated that over 250 stray dogs live around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, over 225 stray dogs live in Chernobyl City, and hundreds of other dogs live at the various security checkpoints and roam throughout the exclusion zone. Years ago, the nuclear power plant had hired a worker to catch and kill the dogs, because they did not have the funds available for any other option, but the worker refused to do so at this point. CFF decided to intervene to avoid this intolerable and inhumane outcome from occurring. Fur was blue possibly only temporarily Clean Futures Fund told Storyful that the dogs were blue not because of radiation or because somebody put something on them, but most likely because they had gotten into a leaking Porta Potty. Their fur was likely to have been dyed blue only temporarily. Previously, Clean Futures Fund also highlighted that every year, new puppies were being born at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and the workers would take care of them during the harsh Ukrainian winter. These dogs have been exposed to rabies by the wild animals living in the Exclusion Zone. Today, the dogs of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant rely on the workers at the station to stay alive. Some bring the animals inside and give them care if they seem injured or sick – but the workers also risk exposure to rabies by interacting with the dogs, according to Clean Futures Fund. The CFF started the Dogs of Chernobyl program in 2017 to help control the stray dog populations in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and prevent needless suffering. CFF worked with partners to set up a spay, neuter, and a vaccination program for the dogs that reside in the zone. They brought in veterinarians, veterinary technicians, scientists, dog catchers, and general volunteers from all over the world to help provide the medical care they needed. Each year, a different team of volunteers comes to the zone to provide medical care for the dogs, according to CFF.
