St. Petersburg Shelter Dogs Step Into the Spotlight
St. Petersburg is preparing to host the second annual installment of the all-Russian photo project “I’ll be your best friend.” Set to run from September 1 to October 1, 2026, at the Primorsky Victory Park, the outdoor exhibition will feature more than 30 dogs from the “Lapushki” animal shelter awaiting adoption. Admission is entirely free.
Large-Format Photography at Primorsky Victory Park
The official opening ceremony is slated for September 5, 2026, at 15:00 near the park’s central entrance.
Animal photographers Yana Narbutovich and Yulia Zubkova captured the images alongside volunteer participants. The creative team aimed to portray the individual personalities and social readiness of the shelter dogs, directly challenging common public perceptions regarding rescue animals.
Dispelling Prejudices Against Rescue Animals
Amina Soltanova, project curator and head of the Soltanova International Cultural Alliance, emphasized the core message of the exhibition in published statements.
“Through these touching frames, we tried to show all the beauty and kindness of abandoned dogs to dispel fears and prejudices against them,” Soltanova stated. She noted that the initiative serves as a reminder of human responsibility toward animals.
Inside the Operations of the Lapushki Shelter
Svetlana Brovina, the project’s author, brings a seven-year relationship with the “Lapushki” shelter to the initiative. She detailed the heavy operational scale behind the rescue organization, which currently houses approximately 200 animals.
Daily maintenance at the facility requires consistent feeding, medical care, enclosure cleaning, and exercise.
“Our photo project is an opportunity to show the shelter wards to children and adults,” Brovina said, describing shelter dogs as a significant responsibility accompanied by true companionship.
Building Community Support and Boosting Adoptions
Volunteers who assisted with the animal photography sessions included participants associated with MazaPark, as noted in project releases. These contributors reported that the process demonstrated the remarkable adaptability and affectionate nature of shelter animals when provided with adequate care.
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