The image of a dog being carried to the Polish border from Ukraine on a man's shoulders went viral when it was shared online - and now the real story behind it has been revealed.

Capturing the hearts of many, the photo shows a man carrying six stone's worth of Pulya, the family's dog, down a frosty road.

The photo taken by Alisa Teptiuk, 35, travelled the internet leaving behind many questions and concerns.

Belfast Live has exclusively shared the real story behind that incredible image, taken on a mobile phone by an exhausted wife and mum as her family fled Ukraine for their lives.

We tracked down Alisa to her temporary home in Poland where she explained how the snap of her beloved dog riding on her husband's shoulder became world famous in an instant.

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Pulya is the Ukrainian dog whose photo went viralPulya is the Ukrainian dog whose photo went viral (
Image:
Alisa Teptiuk/BelfastLive)



Dog being carried from the war in UkraineThe viral image of the dog being carried from the war in Ukraine (
Image:
Alisa Teptiuk/BelfastLive)

Until last month Alisa and husband Dmytro had lived in Kyiv with their two daughters and their German Shepherd.

Life was settled and happy, the children were at school, the dog spent her days between walks and snoozes and the family’s grandparents doted on everyone.


Now Alisa, her children and their dog are in exile in Warsaw where they are safe and close to her mother and sister. But Alisa’s beloved father is dead, still in a morgue in Kyiv awaiting burial, and her husband is back in Ukraine trying to take care of his parents and defend their home.

With the Russian bombardment now hitting their hometown hard, Alisa is living in abject fear while trying to keep her feelings under wraps in front of her daughters - but she has one steady comfort, her dog Pulya.




Alisa and Pulya in WarsawAlisa and Pulya in Warsaw