The stray dog ecosystem of Moscow

This was a great article! Thanks for posting.

I noticed a bit of this went I was visiting the ruins of Pompeii. Many stray dogs were waiting by the food court area but there were a few that followed us for the entire day. I'm not sure why they chose over everyone else but they did end up with some food.

It's possible that the strays that chose to follow us may not be allowed into the food court by the other dogs.

Wow, the metro dogs are particularly interesting. I can see myself "adopting" one that shared my commute.

...they definitely do clean the city. They keep the population of rats down.

I wonder if the dogs have learned to relieve themselves in places more acceptable to people or if the people just tolerate it. Piles of crap on the train is not very appealing.

I wonder if Dawkins is aware of this ecosystem?

Recent discussion: the truth dogs reveal about evolution

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1057835

I'd be interested in seeing what Brian Thomas's analysis of the ecosystem is. I couldn't help but think of this article: http://everything2.com/title/Vampire+Population+Ecology as I read about the Humans and Strays co-existing with each other.

The selection for intelligence is appealing, but the low rate of reproduction impedes evolution. Although breeding by-design is probably a more effective selector, we don't breed for intelligence in a community of dogs nor for the inter-pack relationships, and intelligence is more effective in communities.

I thought that, by far, the most interesting bit was that some of the dogs had learned to use the transportation system. I think we underestimate the intelligence of animals.

Great article. Reminds me of the dogs in Sri Lanka. What I couldn't work out - was whether they were being looked after and by whom. I don't think they were aggressive though.

The dogs, from experience, are well fed enough to ignore the post-drinking blintz I tried to share.

Several also keep a regular schedule on the metro, riding at the same times and getting on and off at the same stops. I brought enough food to become friends w/ several whose schedule overlapped with mine.