Russian child protection officers have taken a feral five-year-old girl into care in the eastern Siberian city of Chita
Police said she was found barking and eating food like a dog, having had more contact with canines than humans.
Enatasha Mikhailova lived in what was described as a filthy apartment with her father and grandparents but also with cats and several dogs, with whom she appeared more comfortable.
Never allowed outdoors, the girl had not learned to speak but instead tried to communicate by barking.
When discovered by child protection officers, ‘the unwashed girl was dressed in filthy clothes’ and ‘threw herself at people like a little dog’, according to a police statement.
Police said the apartment owners never let anyone into the apartment and only went out to walk their pets, trying to avoid meeting their neighbours.
‘In all these years, the girl managed to master the animal language only,’ the statement said, adding that the girl could understand Russian, while not speaking it.
‘For about five years the girl was 'brought up' by several dogs and cats and not once went outside,’ the statement added.
Currently living in a care facility and receiving medical and psychiatric help, the girl continues ‘to jump against the door and bark’ if her carers leave the room she is left inside, it said.
In a report by the Vesti television channel, the head of the care centre where the girl is now living said she was still exhibiting dog-like behaviour and preferred to lap up her food rather than using cutlery.
The television channel found that the girl's family had practically barricaded themselves into their apartment in the wake of the attention.
Police said they plan to open a criminal investigation for abuse.
