American Launches Quest to Bring Stray Dog Home From Sochi

Amanda Bird is trying to take Sochi home with her. Literally.

The spokeswoman for the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, an avid pet lover, was moved by the story of stray dogs being rounded up in the Sochi area before the Olympics began last week. When she heard some of the dogs were being housed temporarily with hopes that they would find new homes, Bird -- a former bobsled and skeleton athlete -- started asking around to see if she could rescue one herself.

So she sent her husband, Jason, an email asking if she could bring home, as she called it, a souvenir. He was immediately on board with the plan, and now Bird is desperately trying to figure out the process.

"I just want to bring one of these dogs home," Bird said. "You can tell that these dogs were pets."

She's made some progress. A woman who works with one shelter has been in touch with Bird to work out the formalities. There's still some red tape, and time is running out since Bird leaves Russia on Feb. 25.

Bird and her husband -- already owners of a pup named Sammy -- have a name picked out for the new dog:

She would be called "Sochi."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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