: To survive in the besieged Leningrad, the artist and his wife have to sacrifice their beloved and very faithful dog.

In the pre-war Leningrad, the artist Peter Petrovich and his wife Elena Arkadevna lived. They had a black handsome Doberman Pinscher Dar - a wise, noble and helpful dog. He treated the mistress as a gentleman: he dragged her bags of groceries - heavy on her back, light in her teeth. With many guests, Dar acted tactfully and correctly. When the owners were not at home, he let guests into the apartment, but did not let them out until one of the owners returned. He allowed small children everything, even to ride astride.

On Sunday, June 22, 1941, when Dar was ten years old, the artist and his wife decided to throw a feast, a festive dinner with champagne and many cakes and cakes - the newborn's favorite treats. But the war began, and dinner did not take place.

In the autumn, a famine began in the besieged city. In mid-December, Petr Petrovich managed to get to the hospital. The doctor, a distant acquaintance, a terrible dystrophic himself, said that Pyotr Petrovich would last another week, and then ... The doctor, friends persuaded Elena Arkadyevna to donate the Gift, the janitor offered his butchery services many times. At first Elena Arkadyevna refused, but one day the janitor came, threw a rope around the dog’s neck, Dar did not show the slightest resistance ...Peter Petrovich was saved. He never asked about Dara.

Six months after the lifting of the blockade, Elena Arkadyevna fell ill and soon died. Pyotr Petrovich survived his wife for three years. On the anniversary of her death, he made a granite tombstone, and next - a granite stele on which he carved: "In memory of the unforgettable friend of the Dobermann Pinscher Dara, protector and martyr of the besieged Leningrad."

This was told by an old friend of the artist and his wife. She showed the cemetery in which they are buried.

This cemetery has long been gone. At this place are new residential buildings.