Roswitha HEYKEN: “In even the most difficult times people have rescued animals, even when their material situation was little better”

The German ambassador’s residence is a magnificent old building on the prestigious Gorky Street. The building is equally superb inside. As you go up the impressive staircase, among the matching interior, and come into the spacious rooms, you see original paintings hanging on white walls. The parquet is rich. All this makes you think of aristocratic simplicity. And then suddenly some typical mongrels rush out on the same parquet, as they were in a village or by a filling station, and run toward me, barking. But, just like in the village, the mongrels do not immediately bite you in the seat of the pants but stop at a safe distance and continue barking with abandon. They continue until their master comes, then wagging their tails they jump loving on him or her, as if to say with all their doggy manners, “See how well we do our guard duty. What about a piece of sausage or a cookie? Your choice.” In this case, the mistress happened to be none other than Ms. Roswitha Heyken, wife of the German ambassador in Ukraine. A handsome lady with delicate Slavic features. As it turned out, Ms. Heyken comes from Kaliningrad oblast, formerly German East Prussia. We spoke about why three common mongrels appeared in a diplomatic lodging usually characterized with impeccable style and exquisite taste. In this way our conversation easily found its main subject: mercy toward both humans and animals.

The German ambassador’s residence is a magnificent old building on the prestigious Gorky Street. The building is equally superb inside. As you go up the impressive staircase, among the matching interior, and come into the spacious rooms, you see original paintings hanging on white walls. The parquet is rich. All this makes you think of aristocratic simplicity. And then suddenly some typical mongrels rush out on the same parquet, as they were in a village or by a filling station, and run toward me, barking. But, just like in the village, the mongrels do not immediately bite you in the seat of the pants but stop at a safe distance and continue barking with abandon. They continue until their master comes, then wagging their tails they jump loving on him or her, as if to say with all their doggy manners, “See how well we do our guard duty. What about a piece of sausage or a cookie? Your choice.” In this case, the mistress happened to be none other than Ms. Roswitha Heyken, wife of the German ambassador in Ukraine. A handsome lady with delicate Slavic features. As it turned out, Ms. Heyken comes from Kaliningrad oblast, formerly German East Prussia. We spoke about why three common mongrels appeared in a diplomatic lodging usually characterized with impeccable style and exquisite taste. In this way our conversation easily found its main subject: mercy toward both humans and animals.

“IN OUR COUNTRY, STRAY DOGS AND CATS ARE SHOWN ON TELEVISION SO THAT THEY ACQUIRE MASTERS”

R.H. We picked up these mongrels out of pity nine years ago in Moscow. They are Elsa and Willie. As to Fanny, we took her in four years ago, this time in Kyiv. My husband sat reading at home on the weekend. Suddenly he heard brakes screeching and a dog squealing. He rushed out to the street and saw that the dog had broken its paw. We took it to a veterinarian. The dog healed quickly, for it was young. To look at, it was only four months old. But that accident left a deep imprint on it. She is the most timid of all our dogs.

Are there stray dogs in Germany?

R.H. No, because there are animal refuges in our country. There are bad people everywhere, those who can throw an animal out on the street. Incidentally, speaking of these refuges, there are special programs enabling dogs and cats to find new masters. Animals are even shown on television. And, as a writer said, is it worth raising so many pedigree dogs if there are so many homeless mutts?

But diplomats usually keep prestigious dogs, don’t they? What do your husband’s diplomatic colleagues’ think about this kind of menagerie?

R.H. Yes, diplomats prefer elite pedigrees, Scotch shepherds, for example. But we do not feel homeless. (Ms. Heiken smiled) Besides, it is much more difficult to keep non-pedigreed dogs. They cannot practically be tamed. It is very difficult to walk them because they are hard to manage. But mongrels have as much tenderness, warmth, and affection as do the most expensive dogs.

Could this launch a vogue among diplomats to keep mongrels?

R.H. I am unaware of such cases in other embassies. But in our embassy, there already are several persons who have taken in mongrels from a pound or in the market.

Was the emergence of dog pounds and the relevant laws on animal protection in Germany initiated from above or from below by the general public?

R.H. By the general public. People themselves wanted to put this question in order.

But our population still faces more acute problems of its own than those of the animals.

R.H. Yes, I am well aware of this. I often hear: “Good Lord, why deal with some poor dogs if there are so many poor people?” But I still remember that even in the very hard postwar years many tried to save animals, even though the plight of those people left much to be desired.

The position of your three dogs resembles the situation described by Kyivan writer Bulgakov in his novella Dogs’ Heart . Looking at this suite of rooms, I recall the thoughts of dog Sharik in the finale: “Oh, how lucky I am in this apartment, how lucky...”

R.H. (Laughing) Yes, maybe. I know and like this novella very much.

And what can you say about the way dogs who have masters feel on the streets here and in Germany?

R.H. Germany has very strict rules. If a passerby sees a dog without a leash, he can immediately vent his ire on its master. People also treat fighting dogs with a certain share of hysteria, even though we do not have hooligans, like here, who walk the dogs of such breeds in town without a muzzle.

Do you have a tough system of fines?

R.H. It is not so much a system of fines as that of taxes. Under the practice existing in France, Germany, and Britain, one must pay an increased tax on a dog like this. In principle, this tax is not so large, but it is ten times as high as that on a regular dog. Owing to a large number of accidents connected with some dangerous breeds, such as bull terriers, it is obligatory even to spay such dogs, for example, in France, in order to reduce their population.

But as to the ordinary breeds of dogs, they, of course, feel freer in our country. Excessively strict order also has its minuses.

“WHEN YOU SEE SO MANY POOR AND HOMELESS CHILDREN IN UKRAINE, THIS CANNOT HELP BUT CAUSE CONCERN”

Do you change your laws on animals, as time goes by?

R.H. Of course, according to new circumstances. Laws are being passed now against the negligent care maintenance of animals. For example, there already exists a ban on keeping four hens in one cage because one of the four cannot reach out to the feeding trough. There also are cases when, to economize on taxes, animals are transported from Germany to France, for example, via Italy. The animals get very tired. Saving money reflects on their health. Now such transport is banned.

Will you say a few words about yourself?

R.H. I am going to finish my work here this August. I am a lawyer by education and have always willingly worked in this profession, although sometimes I took pauses. I worked as a legal advisor in the consular section of the German embassies in Moscow and Kyiv. It is difficult to imagine what my life will be like when my husband and I return to Germany. I will then probably be thinking about my three dogs, the house, and the garden. But we will visiting the place.

Do you find it more interesting in Germany or in Ukraine?

R.H. It is far more comfortable there, but it is more interesting to watch the development of the country here.

And what do you like and dislike most in this country?

R.H. I admire Ukraine’s nature, whether a suburban wood or the Carpathians. It is really superb. What I don’t like is the poverty. At first, when we had just arrived, it did not leap into our eyes. But then, when you see rows of beggars and homeless children, you cannot help but be concerned.

What would you wish our readers in conclusion?

R.H. I want to wish all Ukrainians to get their economy up and running as soon as possible. It doesn’t matter whether you orient yourselves toward Western Europe or choose a path of your own. If only the latter were realistic! And if the people feel it easier, so will the animals, of course.

№13 April 18 2000 «The Day»
In using our publications, reference to The Day is mandatory. © "День"