In the autumn of 1974, a passenger was boarding an Ilyushin Il-18 flight from Moscow. He was traveling with his German Shepherd, a dog he called Palma. However, upon reaching the steps of the aircraft, the crew refused to let the dog board because the owner lacked the proper veterinary health certificates.
Faced with a choice between missing his flight or leaving his dog, the owner made a heartbreaking decision. He took off Palma’s collar, unleashed her on the tarmac, and walked up the boarding stairs. Palma, thinking it was a game or a temporary separation, ran along the runway after the accelerating aircraft until it disappeared into the sky.
Palma didn’t leave the airport. Instead, she set up a daily routine near the runway, surviving on scraps given to her by sympathetic ground crew and airport staff. What made Palma’s story extraordinary was her memory. She didn’t just wait for any plane; she specifically watched for Ilyushin Il-18 aircraft, the exact model her owner had boarded. Whenever an Il-18 landed, Palma would trot up to the mobile boarding stairs, carefully scanning the faces of the passengers descending to the tarmac.
For two years, through scorching summers and bitter, freezing Moscow winters, she kept this precise vigil. Airport security initially tried to catch or remove her, but she was incredibly clever and elusive. Eventually, the airport staff grew to love and protect her, building her shelter and ensuring she was fed.
In 1976, a journalist named Yuri Rost from the prominent newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda heard about the dog. He visited Vnukovo, witnessed Palma’s routine, and published a moving article titled “A Dog on the Runway.”
The story exploded nationally. The newspaper received thousands of letters from citizens offering to adopt Palma, sending money, or expressing outrage at the anonymous owner. The article also included a plea for the owner to return.
The owner actually did see the article. He wrote a letter back to the editorial office (wishing to remain anonymous due to the immense public shame), explaining that he had been working in the far north and felt too guilty and embarrassed to return for her after so much time had passed. He never came back.
As Palma’s health began to decline from living outdoors, it became clear she needed a real home. However, she was deeply traumatized and wary of strangers. A woman named Vera Kotlyarevskaya, a teacher from Kyiv and a descendant of a famous Ukrainian poet, decided to help. She traveled to Moscow and spent weeks at the airport just sitting near Palma, earning her trust inch by inch. Vera didn’t force the interaction; she simply showed patience and kindness.
Eventually, Palma allowed Vera to put a collar on her. To prevent the dog from panicking, she was given a mild sedative for the journey to Kyiv. Palma’s transition to domestic life wasn’t easy; at first, she tried to escape and would stare out the windows, still looking for her runway. But with time, love, and the presence of Vera’s other pets, Palma finally relaxed. She spent the rest of her days surrounded by a family that truly valued her loyalty.
Palma’s story remains a powerful cultural touchstone. In 2021, her story was adapted into a major feature film titled A Dog Named Palma (released internationally as Palma), ensuring that her incredible devotion on the tarmac of Vnukovo is never forgotten.
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