Raining Cats and Dogs

I know I've talked about the rain before, but it LITERALLY rains cats and dogs here. That's the only explanation for the number of animals roaming about. A strange majority of Russians have little rat dogs (I'm assuming this is because they need something that doesn't mind being cooped up in an apartment). In the winter they're all over, dressed up in sweaters and booties. And in summer even more come out of the woodwork. But not just dogs. Cats too.
Sometimes stray. Sometimes with their owner. Creatures peek out of purses and carrying cases and over the laps of their owners on the metro. The other day there was a rather large man with his shirt buttoned only halfway up and one of those small, long-haired dogs with a ponytail on the top of its head snuggled in next to him on the seat. Another time I was going down the escalator into the grocery store and a certain scent reached my nose. I discovered it was the cat perched on the shoulder of the man a few steps in front of me. He too was heading into the grocery store... with said cat... I wasn't thrilled. I've noticed that the stray dogs are generally larger. But then I realized it's probably due to survival of the fittest--the little dogs can't handle street life. BUT it doesn't stop after cats and dogs. One day I saw a young-ish woman strutting down the sidewalk with a FERRET sprawled across her outstretched forearm. And recently I saw a small carrying kennel (this is unusual) on the metro only to discover a chinchilla as the occupant. There was also another kennel with a dog and one with a cat, but the chinchilla took the cake. Needless to say, Russians love their furry friends. Well, except my neighbor whose dog howls at any hour of the day or night.

I'm not sayin'; I'm just sayin'.