Find out where to look for pet friends in Kyiv
Visiting Kyiv’s Kurenivskiy market from time to time, in order to buy some travelling equipment, I just can’t stop myself from lingering for a while among the rows of cages, baskets, aquariums, and pots filled with various pet animals. At such moments, I usually start imagining myself with my future pet and all the great times we’ll have together. Yet, as I try to imagine this future pet in my daily routine, my plans to get one start seeming more and more hypothetical, and the chances that I will get one and have it live in my apartment look quite dim. I finally came to the conclusion that I’m not made for taking care of any animal and should find my only consolation at my friends’ homes playing with their dogs, cats, and hamsters, or watching the fish in their nicely equipped aquariums. However, it looks like many people would disagree with me. I see more and more people walking in the parks with their pets, or crowds gathering around tiny kittens sold by some old lady in the underground passage, or even strange lonesome inquirers, looking for exotic reptiles and spiders to keep them company. If you have already decided to join the company of pet keepers and want to buy an animal or are just considering it, here are some tips on where and how you can go pet shopping in Kyiv.
Cats & Dogs
A little while ago, when I was briefly obsessed with the idea of buying a pet, I was advised to visit the so-called “bird market” – Kurenivskiy – situated rather far from the city center and always very crowded. The reason for such popularity is that you can find practically anything there, from second-hand toys to various equipment and gadgetry. However most of the fuss is created by the area where different animals are sold. The kiosks at the market are not properly equipped and you’ll see pets on display without any cages, and walking among fidgeting, whimpering, and barking creatures. However, even sellers who at least provide their pets with small cages have them crammed to the brim with animals. Moreover, some people sell animals and birds illegally, and as a result you might buy a sick animal.
When I called a veterinary clinic to ask them where they thought the best place to buy a puppy or a kitten, I was mildly advised to forget all about Kurenivskyi market. “Very often small pets that were bought at the market are brought to our hospital just three or four days after they have been taken to their new apartment. It is difficult to define clearly the cause of illness, because the animals are very small and were with the owners for only several days, but more often it is caused by different infections and the absence of necessary vaccinations,” an assistant at Alden Vet veterinary clinic explained. However, if you are careful enough while choosing your future companion, you can be sure of a successful purchase. If you are looking for a dog, you can find pets of certain breeds, as well as mongrels. When I inquired about the toy-terrier puppies ($400), I was told that if necessary the pets are provided with all the appropriate documents, but that will increase the price of the pet accordingly. The main advantage of market shopping is that you can freely bargain and as a result purchase an animal at a considerably lower price.
Previously, Kurenivsiy was a really popular pet shopping place, but now customers prefer to buy pets from individual breeders, who take great care in raising and train their pets. If you want to choose a certain breed of dog or cat, the best option is of course to visit special exhibitions. Yet you should be ready to pay a pretty penny for it. At Kyiv Expo Center, such events are held once a year at the beginning of summer. During the exhibition you can choose the breed you want, as well as get more information about the psychological needs of your future pet and estimate your ability to take care of the animal properly. If you decide to buy a puppy, it’s better to take it when it’s a month and a half old, since it starts to live independently from its mother at this age. As for a kitten, it’s better to get one at two months, so the animals will get used to you and the new environment sooner and without difficulties.
Unfortunately, many of the small city pet shops do not sell large animals like cats or dogs. Some good ways to find the right pet are by searching ads on the Internet or inquiring at pet shops or veterinaries. Taking a great interest in animals and having a pet or two at their own homes, they would usually know people engaged in dog and cat breeding. If you don’t intend to buy a special breed, you can visit shelters for homeless dogs and cats. Most often the animals are mongrels, but that will decrease your problems, since sometimes pets of a distinct breed are inclined towards mental or physical health problems.
Birds
The most widespread type of pet, sold at practically every pet shop, is birds. Usually those are various breeds of parrots (more popular are rosella, budgerigar, African grey, macaw, cockatiels), cockatoos, and canaries. Some extreme bird lovers prefer keeping pigeons, crows, owls, and hawks, but these are not very popular and such birds are usually sold illegally. You’ll find a great variety of birds at Kurenivskiy market – the number of various species is really impressive. In shops there usually isn’t a large variety to choose from.
The budgerigar parrot is probably the simplest and most popular among schoolchildren; I bet no one ever missed an opportunity to teach them how to talk like humans as a child. The usual price for budgerigar males is Hr 60 and Hr 50 for females. Rosella parrots cost considerably more, around Hr 400 (ZooZone) or Hr 350 (Discus). That’s mainly because of their rareness and the great longevity of a rosella, whereas budgerigar is widespread, but has a comparatively short life-span. Remember that if you want to teach your parrot to say words, you should buy it as a nestling. As a child, I never missed an opportunity to beg my parents to buy me a budgerigar parrot. Moreover, I wanted it to be blue, but the only blue one we were able to find was rather old. Of course, I insisted on taking this one anyway, but later on, no matter how long I sat in front of his cage, repeating certain words, the parrot never learned to talk.
If you choose a lovebird parrot, you need to either buy a couple of them or equip the cage with toys and be ready to spend time playing with it, because lovebirds are very emotional and always need company.
Rodents and rabbits
Other kinds of animals you can find in every pet shop are rats, mice, hamsters, chinchillas, and guinea pigs. Being small, they are very popular pets, especially for children. The simple breeds are not very expensive, only about Hr 18-50, but if you want to keep a beautiful rodent or rabbit with long silky fur, it will cost you much more. If you buy such pets in a pet shop you can be sure that they are healthy (because rodents are known as carriers of infections), since they are taken from special farms. For example, the pet shop Kudlatiy Pes (Shaggy Dog) orders the desired breed directly from the farm and the price for such a chic pet is Hr 150-400 for a rabbit and Hr 80-200 for a guinea pig. I was also explained that some breeds bought that way can even take part at exhibitions. If you want to keep a chinchilla, it will cost around Hr 300 at LapUsik pet shop, but you should remember that chinchillas are very noisy animals. If you are woken up in the middle of the night by strange barking or chirping, don’t be afraid, it is nothing but your beloved pet.
Exotics
Some people prefer having such exotica as reptiles, spiders or insects as pets. Lizards, non-venomous snakes and turtles can be found either in pet shops or at Kurenivskiy market. Turtles are the most widespread and there won’t be any problem finding one. Besides, turtles are very calm, and if you want an independent companion that won’t cause too many problems, the turtle is the best option. Along with the simplicity of keeping them, turtles are less expensive than other reptiles at only about Hr 100 approximately. Little snakes and lizards cost around Hr 300, but they are more delicate as well. You need to keep an eye on the temperature in the terrarium, make sure not to spray aerosols near the pet, and make sure there is always fresh water in the container. If you decide to buy a reptile, you need to learn everything about the conditions it should be kept in right on the spot, because a small amount of milk, for example, or hot sun, can fatally harm your pet. Speaking of snakes, they are very undemanding in terms of feeding – a small mouse once a week will suffice to keep it completely satisfied. If you are a fan of insects and spiders, keep in mind that most of them are have a short life span. The Preying Mantis, for example, lives from the beginning of summer till autumn, yet tarantulas can easily live to the age of 30.
Fish
Before making inquiries about aquarium fish, I thought that they were the most undemanding animals and don’t need constant attention. Yet all the pet shop assistants told me that fish get very accustomed to their owner, and can even feel something like depression if left alone. Some simple species, like guppy, and angelfish, can be found in every pet shop and will cost Hr 3 to Hr 15 depending on their color and age. Before buying some species you should be sure that they will be calm enough to live together. The largest assortment can be found at Kurenivskiy market and Zoodom (Zoohouse). The main difficulty that arises when buying fish is the necessity to have an aquarium that is the right size and equipped with the necessary filtration and light equipment.
Kurenivskiy market (1 Frunze, 468-8058)
Shelter for Homeless Animals (Hostomel, Kyiv region), 241-0435, 8-067-717-5671, www.doggy.kiev.ua)
ZooZone (6 Haytsana, 254-3956)
Priroda (10 Khmelnytskoho, 234-5123)
Zoodom (12A Tsentralna, 570-2010)
Discus (46/2 Popudrenka, 573-2108)
Kudlatiy Pes (65 Saksahanskoho, 289-3093)
LapUsik (12G Geroiv Stalingradu, 464-6867)
Limpopo (4 Draizera, 515-8032)
