The flow of refugees from the invasion and conflict in Ukraine isn’t just a human crisis.
Dogs, cats, and other pets often make the journey with their people, and they have their own needs. Pets endure the stress of travel, unknown places and faces, and dangerous situations.
In turn, though, they give comfort to Ukrainians forced to flee their homes.
“When your world is turned upside down, but you have the unconditional love of a pet, that is going to be what helps. That bond is unbreakable,” says Marty Becker (’80 DVM).
Becker and others are helping with pets of Ukrainian refugees in Romania, Poland, and other places. Here are a few ways you can assist them.
World Vets
Started by Cathy King (’97 DVM), the Gig Harbor-based organization has been mobilizing its international aid network and organizing funds and resources to assist pets in need from the Ukraine invasion.
World Vets serves over 45 countries on six continents, as their volunteers, such as Becker, bring veterinary services to underserved areas of the world. They provide direct veterinary care to animals, disaster response services, and veterinary training and education programs. You can help their international veterinary service.
Read more about World Vets in the Fall 2012 issue.
Ukrainian War Animals relief fund
Daniel Fine (’82 Lib. Arts) and Mark Dyce (’89 Comm.) work with the ADA Foundation no-kill veterinary clinic and shelter in Przemysl, Poland, close to the Ukrainian border.
Fine and others travel into Ukraine to rescue pets as well.
They have a GoFundMe to help people donate and help the animals.
Fine posted this video after spending a few weeks helping pets at the Ukraine-Poland border, meeting the refugees, supplying the warehouse with pet food, crossing the border, encountering horrifying tragedy, bringing back animals and the road to recovery.
Note: The video linked above might not be suitable for everyone. It contains disturbing images of pets in the war zone.
The Today show offered a few more suggestions to help animals in Ukraine.
- Estonia has welcomed refugees from Ukraine and their pets, including the nonprofit Estonian Society for the Protection of Animals.
- The nonprofit Humane Society International works with local animal welfare organizations in Germany, Poland and Italy to provide emergency pet supplies like food, blankets and veterinary care.
- The International Fund for Animal Welfare and local partners are getting supplies to wildlife sanctuaries and animal shelters in Ukraine.
- The international nonprofit Network for Animals evacuated many animals from Ukraine.
- Happy Paw, a Ukrainian charitable organization, helps 60 shelters in Ukraine and shares stories of food deliveries and successful evacuations.
Read more about pets of Ukrainian refugees in “An unbreakable bond” in the Fall 2022 issue.