Большой русско-английский фразеологический словарь
Щ4
БОРЗЫМИ ЩЕНКАМИ брать, давать комуironorhumorNPinstrumInvaradvfixedWO
(to take or give as a bribe) something other than money
token(s) (of gratitude).
From Nikolai Gogol's The Inspector General («Ревизор»), 1836. Borzoi puppies («борзые щенки») were what Judge Lyapkin-Tyapkin, a character in the play, admitted to accepting as bribes.