Gorky Bark

Gorky Bark, a pet-care service with a difference, will be established in St Marys this year.

The brainchild of a Russian immigrant, Boris Spatula, Gorky Bark will provide all the services normally associated with the care of animals, plus one innovation.

It will offer a translation service.

Much has been done to help migrants assimilate into their new country and assistance is commonly available in a variety of languages.

On the other hand, little has been done for their pets.

Consider the plight of a dog raised in a home where English is not spoken.

It has learnt commands only in the language of its owners and when it is left with a vet or boarded out during holidays, it is totally unable to understand what is required of it.

Simple commands like Sit! Come! and Walk! will be totally wasted on an animal that has been attuned only to Russian or Spanish.

Mr Spatula offers language-compatible accommodation for pets and is willing to supply interpreters for migrants who need to take their animals to a vet.

He also offers obedience training in the language of your choice.

For pets, that is. Not children. Pets are easier.