Oleg says that the Kalmyk breed of dogs disappeared following the deportation of the Kalmyk people in 1943. This breed was trained to protect people and livestock. It had very good hearing abilities and could understand the situation based on observation of what was or was not going on around it. For example, if cicadas stopped chirping in the evening, the dog would prick up its ears. It also could feel approaching horsemen by feeling seismic changes in the earth. Kalmyk dogs that had white spots on top of each eye were especially valued, for it was believed that such dogs could see even when they were asleep. Oleg himself did not see a Kalmyk dog, but read somewhere that in Mongolia they still have a variety of Kalmyk dogs. In order to revive the Kalmyk breed, dogs have been imported from Mongolia. Oleg also read a story that hell is guarded by two dogs. In this regard, he recalls a story he heard from his mother about how she saw an impersonation of death. One evening, his mother saw a black horseman galloping towards her with his face covered with a black hood. On each side of the horse the man carried a bag from where were coming horrible screams and whining. She thought that this sound could come either from people or dogs. The horseman galloped past her but she did not hear the sound of the hooves.