Who was Kupata, the dog from Batumi?
The street dog who helped children cross the road.
Short answer
Kupata was a street dog from Batumi who became famous in 2020 when a video of him barking to stop cars and helping kindergarten children cross the road went viral worldwide. The Adjara authorities gave him a kennel inscribed 'The People's Choice', and a mural of him appeared on a building in the centre. Kupata died in October 2023, but a cartoon was made about him, and he remains a symbol of kindness to street dogs.
Why
- A local butcher named him Kupata, Georgian for a kind of sausage.
- Because everyone fed him, he developed weight problems and vets asked people to stop.
- A Batumi programme supporting people who adopt street dogs was named after him.
Details
The mural of Kupata wearing a crown is in central Batumi, and tourists often take photos there. His story helped many of Batumi's street dogs find homes.
People also ask
- Who was Kupata the dog?
Information checked on October 3, 2026.
Related questions
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Which animal is considered a symbol of Georgia?
Georgian law names no official national animal, but the wolf is most often called the country's symbol, linked to King Vakhtang Gorgasali, known as the 'wolf-headed'.
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What Georgian dog breeds are there?
The main Georgian breed is the Georgian Shepherd, or Nagazi, a large livestock guardian that for centuries protected flocks from wolves in the Caucasus mountains.
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Where can you buy a dog or adopt an animal in Georgia?
In Georgia you can buy a pedigree dog or cat from breeders and kennels, or adopt one free from shelters and volunteers who rehome stray dogs and cats.
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Where can you leave a dog or cat with a pet sitter in Tbilisi and Batumi?
When you go away, dogs and cats in Tbilisi and Batumi can stay at pet hotels, with private sitters at home or in boarding at some vet clinics.