Dimitri, a reserved and quiet 98-year-old man, had always lived alone. However, with age catching up to him, his daughter Nastia, recently divorced and in her 40s, decided to move in to provide company and support. As she settled into her father’s old house, Nastia noticed that Dimitri would never allow anyone to enter his room, becoming visibly anxious whenever she tried.
One evening, strange noises filled the house—soft sounds like snoring dogs. The unusual noise piqued Nastia’s curiosity. Determined to uncover the mystery, she came up with a plan. The next day, she kept her father occupied in the garden, listening to the radio while she quietly unlocked the door to his room, something he had never permitted.
As Nastia pushed the door open, a strong odor greeted her, and she was stunned by what she saw. Inside, dozens of small, thin dogs cowered, eyes wide with fear. The realization washed over her: Dimitri had been hiding them out of misplaced care and loneliness. Shocked and saddened, Nastia’s first response was to call for help to ensure both her father and the animals received the attention they needed.
When the authorities arrived, they were met with the sight of Dimitri standing at the entrance, his eyes brimming with tears. “I was only trying to help them,” he whispered, his frail voice breaking with emotion. The officers, moved by the scene, assured him that both he and the dogs would be taken care of. What started as a mystery in a locked room marked the beginning of a healing process for an elderly man and the innocent animals he sought to protect.