An alabai shepherd puppy. (Photo by Fotografbee from Pixabay via Courthouse News)
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (AFP) Turkmenistan’s authoritarian ruler has recognized a national dog breed with a state holiday, government media reported Friday, elevating the canine to the same status as the gas-rich country’s beloved horses.
The alabai shepherd dog has inspired presidential poetry and an ostentatious gold statue under the leadership of strongman Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a puppy for his 65th birthday in 2017.
Now, thanks to Berdymukhamedov’s decree, the dog will share a holiday on the last Sunday of April with the Akhal-Teke horse, an animal long heralded by state propaganda.
Heir Apparent? The Grooming Of Turkmenistan s Serdar Berdymukhammedov
rferl.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rferl.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Achilova: a Turkmen reporter who persists despite attacks
yahoo.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from yahoo.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.