Oxana Malaya: The Girl Who Was Raised by Dogs

Oxana was filmed by a Russian television crew after being rescued.

As humans we often wonder how much of our behavior is learned and how much is instinctual. The story of Ukrainian girl Oxana Malaya, a girl who grew up only interacting with dogs, shows us that so much of who we are is dependent on the people around us.

Oxana Malaya was born to Valentina and Aleksandr Malaya in the village of Nova Blagovishchenka in Ukraine in 1983. She was born a normal and healthy child but was severely neglected by her parents.

Neighbours of the Malaya’s remember Valentina and Aleksandr to be alcoholics and always fighting with one another and disturbing the peace in the neighborhood. Their children were always hungry, dirty and unattended. Their children all shared one bed together with several cats and dogs.

One evening when Oxana was a toddler her parents left her outside after nightfall. Having no where else to go she curled up to sleep with the dogs in their kennel. After this she hardly ever went back inside the house and began to live like a dog.

The dogs took her in as one of their own and she learned to live like one of them. She crawled around on all fours rather than walking. She could not talk but instead communicated by barking. She slept on the ground and took care of her hygiene like a dog.

When Oxana was 7 years old she was discovered by police and social services and removed from her parents custody. Oxana had formed a deep bond with the dogs and was devastated to be separated from them. She was taken to a foster home for mentally disabled children in Barabol.

She was given years of therapy to address her behavioral issues and eventually learned to speak fluently and suppress her dog-like behavior.

Oxana gained the attention of teacher Sergey Polyakov who has dedicated himself to helping her learn to read, write, count and integrate into normal society.

Oxana Malaya Today

As an adult she is still somewhat intellectually impaired but lives a fulfilling life milking cows on a farm. Her doctors have stated it its unlikely that she will ever be completely rehabilitated into normal society.

Oxana Malaya has appeared on Ukrainian TV answering questions about her upbringing. She speaks in a monotone in short sentences as if she doesn’t enjoy speaking. She says she just wants to be treated like a normal human being and hates when people call her a “dog-girl”. She has said she wishes her brothers visited her more often and her main purpose in life is to find her biological mother.

Ukrainian girl Oxana Malaya who was raised by dogs.

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