The 15-year-old first saw pictures of the dog when she was preparing for the Olympics in Japan, and asked her parents to allow her get one if she wins a gold medal — and Niigata Prefecture officials, along with the association, are happy to oblige.
"The matter is not completely resolved. We only conveyed to Zagitova our intent to present her with a dog," says the Akina Inu Preservation Association representative Takashi Sasaki.
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So far, Zagitova hasn't responded to the offer from the association, but she did say "arigato" when told about it by a reporter.
If the champ says "yes" the puppy, a girl, will become the second Akita Inu presented to Russia by Japan after Vladimir Putin's Yume.