The nomination "Our Brothers": A Labrador named Snezhok Snowball became not only the eyes of a blind family, but also the first student dog in Russia.
Snezhok Valentinovich Bychkov, full-time education, student ID of the Samara Institute of Culture was issued in January 2025. This is what is written in the official document of the alma mater for Samara musicians. So, a simple Labrador, who got into the family of Anna and Valentin through a support program for the blind, became a local celebrity, Vesti - Samara reports.
Wanted to take a nap at a lecture or maybe take care of your appearance in a practical lesson, such liberties are allowed only to the only listener of the Samara Institute of Culture. And none of the teachers are angry. On the contrary, everyone is just touched by this privileged freshman.
The family of students Anna Kazaeva and Valentin Bychkov waited two years for a snow-white Labrador. For them, he became not only an assistant on the street, but also a real member of the family. Valentin went blind in 2015 due to injury, and Anna two years later due to diabetes. We studied music together and entered the Institute of Culture. Anna is studying vocals; Valentin is a future saxophonist.
"We were walking, exploring the city, and it so happened that I fell into a pit. Although we already knew the city well, the utilities had dug something up, and so I fell into this trench. Valentin pulled me out, but after that we firmly decided that we needed to get a guide dog. After all, we are talking about our safety," says Anna Kazaeva.
According to his passport, Snowball is called "Our pet Kuprin," but in the student family he can be Snow, a Snowdrift, and even a Bakery product. The Snowball even began to respond to "kitty-kitty", as blind people sometimes call out to each other in order to find them faster.
"Our life was divided into before and after when we had a Snowball. I couldn't leave the house because I was a coward, and I was afraid to go anywhere alone, but you have to come to the institute on your own. With a dog, I can do this without any problems. My husband and I have new hobbies, new acquaintances and activities," Anna continues.
For obvious reasons, Anna and Valentin's family needed to get permission from the institute for the guide dog to attend all classes with them. And here the rector showed a creative approach. It was decided to simply give Snow a student ID. Let him also study music and master high art.
"Since then, he has become the star of the institute, and it is difficult to find a person who would not know that a guide dog is studying at our institute," says Valentin Bychkov.
Like an ordinary student, Snowball also has favorite subjects and those that cause nothing but yawning. In philosophy, for example, he is terribly sleepy. And as soon as the snow-white Labrador hears the word "Kant," his peaceful snoring can already be heard from the corner of the office. But the student dog loves to go to the choir, because there is a lot of female attention there.
"Everyone is petting him, squeezing him. Then he comes home and the Snow smells like a million feminine perfumes. He is our helper and savior. That's 30 kilograms of exceptional shaggy happiness," Anna Kazaeva shares her emotions.
However, no number of feminine charms will ever make Snowball forget about his duty – first of all, to be the eyes for his masters Valentine and Anna. And the head of the family, in turn, dreams of creating a guide dog owners club in Samara. So that those who serve a person 24 hours a day can have their own personal life with legitimate mini-holidays in pleasant company.
Photos from Vesti-Samara and from the personal archive of Anna Kazaeva.