Gor’s Ovcharka dog costs Sh350,000

 Flamboyant businessman-cum-politician Gor Semelang’o with his eight-month old Ovcharka

It is not uncommon to spot a city lass walking around a shopping mall with a Chihuahua peeking through her Jimmy Cho handbag.

Owning a ‘designer’ dog in Nairobi is indeed a status symbol. Flamboyant businessman-cum-politician Gor Semelang’o owns three. His favourite is an eight-month old Ovcharka - a Russian military attack dog.

“His name is Rodgers. I got him from a friend who imports them from Russia,” Gor told The Nairobian. Ovcharka, a Caucasian shepherd, strongboned, muscular and even tempered dog, costs Sh350,000, almost the price (after bargaining) of an old model Toyota Premio.

If you want to interbreed it, then be prepared to ‘bark’ Sh150,000. Gor spends Sh35,000 a month on veterinary fee, grooming and feeding his dog. Ovcharkas are popular in Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and now, Nairobi.

Gor, who has a caretaker for his pets, says that some of the challenges of keeping such pricey dogs include getting someone who can blend in and selflessly take care of them.

“Animals can tell if a human being does not like them and in some cases, they can become hostile,” says Gor.

While Gor needs a caretaker, some Nairobians use pets as nannies. Former Miss Kenya Cecilia Mwangi owned ‘Bobby,’ which had become a ‘celeb dog’ and often accompanied her to social events, besides taking care of her kid. Bobby was even featured in The Nairobian as one of the city’s most pampered pets.

But in 2013, Cecilia needed a new dog after Bobby, her beloved Terrier Cross of six years, died from injuries suffered after an attack by two Dobermans in Nairobi’s Ridgeways estate.

“One dog bit Bobby’s neck and the other bit his stomach. He bled to death before the vet arrived at the scene,” Cecilia told The Nairobian. Bobby was buried at Kiambu Veterinary Clinic.

Her neighbour and a guest, who is the supposed owner of the Dobermans, are said to have apologized and even offered to buy Cecilia a new dog. But Bobby was more than a pet. “I will miss Bobby as he was not only a good friend, but he was a great babysitter.

He was always taking care of Cherise, who will be turning two in August. I never had to use a baby monitor because whenever Cherise was up, Bobby would always look for me to let me know.

He was Cherise’s playmate and best friend. He slept sandwiched between my door and hers,” explains Cecilia who later acquired new dog, a Dachshund - a short-legged, long bodied, hound-type dog breed – also named Bobby.

But those are not the only famous personalities with pets. In 2013, Kenya, just like America, finally had its first public First Dog. He even appeared on the official photo album taken by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s official photographer, Emmanuel Jambo.