Russian girl raised by dogs and cats

The toddler appeared at ease around the animals she has lived with for so long, never having been allowed outdoors. Unable to speak, but able to communicate through barking, the girl is said to throw herself at people "like a dog".

Russian child protection officers described her to be "the unwashed girl was dressed in filthy clothes".

The police statement humorously dubbed the girl "Mowgli" after a fictional character who grew up among wolves in a children's book by the Anglo-Indian writer Rudyard Kipling.

The flat's owners "practically never let anyone into the apartment and themselves only went out to walk their pets, trying to avoid meeting their neighbours.

In all these years, the girl has been able to master the animal language, whilst simultaneously understanding Russian but not speaking it.

"For about five years the girl was 'brought up' by several dogs and cats and not once went outside," the statement further highlighted.

The girl continues "to jump against the door and bark" if her carers leave the room she is occupying, it said. She is currently living in a care facility.

Conversations with the head of the care centre where the girl is now housed, has stated publicly that she displays strong doglike behaviour and prefers to lap up food much like a canine, and is not familiar with cutlery.

Police said they plan to open a criminal investigation for abuse.

As appalling as the situation is, the implications are that this matter will bring benefits to many different parties.

Firstly, child abuse may be given the attention it deserves, in Russia. In March, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev urged action on child abuse, saying that around 800,000 children were living in "socially hazardous conditions".

Secondly, academics and practitioners from various fields such as anthropology, sociology and even linguists may learn from this situation, and further studies and investigations will need to be developed and extended to be able to understand the interaction between humans and animals.

There have been several instances of animals raising human children over the past two centuries, most recent of cases which were in Russia, Romania, and Chile.

A majority of the children found became "normalised" and integrated into mainstream human society. It is hoped that the same fate awaits this neglected girl in the Siberian region of Russia.

Perhaps this brings to light a newer concept. One of allowing children to be immersed with animals well enough so that from a young age children will be able to speak human and animal languages. The results could only be positive and fascinating.

Imagine the already exisiting working and social relationship between humans and animals. This would be advanced beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Perhaps films such as Dr Dolittle will become a reality in future. Animal technologies will boom. Fingers and paws crossed.