Moscow: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was gifted a puppy by his Bulgarian counterpart, Boyko Borisov.
The Bulgarian Karakachan puppy was given to Putin after the two countries signed a gas deal in Sofia.
The Russian Premier accepted his "new family member", hugging it close to his chest and kissing it on the nose.
Putin has been given all sorts of pets by many political leaders.
A Siberian tiger cub - Mashenka - was given on his 56th birthday two years ago, while a labrador named Connie was given to him when he was president by Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu on the 2001 New Year's Eve.
The former KGB agent also has a Persian gazelle given to him by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2002. A crystal crocodile was gifted by former Moldovan president Vladimir Voronin the same year.
Putin is also the owner of a cat, two poodles and a she-goat and her offspring.
The Russian Premier also likes horses - photographs of a horse-riding "Rambo-like" Putin emerge in the media every now and then.
IANS
First Published: Sunday, November 14, 2010, 10:28