UKRAINE CRISIS: Helping animals during the ongoing devastation of war.

The war in Ukraine continues to cause immense suffering and destruction across the country to animals and humans alike. It is estimated that around 700,000 companion animals have been separated from their families – orphaned, abandoned, lost during the fighting – since the war began.

But as always, there are kind-hearted people who are saving lives.

In response to this urgent need, Animals Australia is assisting organisations helping animals on the front line in Ukraine through our Emergency Grants program. Funded entirely by our donors, these grants provide critical financial support to search warzones for survivors or those who have tragically been left in the midst of emergency evacuations, provide food, safe shelter and veterinary care. 

The organisation Home of Rescued Animals operates primarily in the city of Lviv and the Lviv region in Western Ukraine, where their shelter and rescue center are based. However, due to the war, their scope has expanded to multiple regions of Ukraine wherever animals are in urgent need. This dedicated team of animal advocates receive and care for animals evacuated from frontline and occupied areas, including Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Donetsk regions. Working in collaboration with local communities, veterinarians, and volunteers across Western Ukraine, they provide vital transportation, temporary shelter, food, and medical treatment.

The ongoing war in Ukraine has disrupted supply chains, limited access to affordable food and medicines, and increased transportation and housing expenses. Volunteers and veterinarians continue to provide daily care, but support is needed to ensure the survival of many displaced animals. Our emergency grant will will ensure that this team can feed, care for, and shelter animals safely until long-term solutions or adoption opportunities become possible.

Alexandra Mezinova, a remarkable Ukrainian animal rights activist, founded Sirius Shelter back in 2000. Since then, they have successfully rescued and rehomed over 10 000 animals, and continue to provide support and care to the overwhelming number of animals in need coming to their door since the war began.

Sirius is situated in Fedorivka near the capital Kyiv, and is the largest animal shelter in the country, caring for over 3500 vulnerable animals. With their city occupied for a period at the start of the war. Facing the horrifying prospect of animals starving to death, Alexandra bravely convinced Russian soldiers to let her source food from local farms, daily risking her life. Only due to the selflessness and unwavering commitment of Alexandra and her team, most animals survived.

Stressed by the sights and sounds of conflict and relentless bombings close to the shelter, scared resident dogs have panicked and tried to escape, sometimes seriously injuring themselves and damaging or destroying shelters.

Despite continuous, seemingly insurmountable challenges – no electricity, water shortages, internet outages, destruction of infrastructure – the gratitude the team at Sirius shelter shows to Animals Australia supporters from across the world has been overwhelming.

Our grant funded the build of urgently needed new enclosures providing protection from bitterly cold winter snow and rain. Adequate shelters give comfort and warmth to countless dogs in desperate need.

“They (the dogs) will live in a dry, much warmer environment, water or snow doesn’t get into their new houses, they feel cleaner, warmer and therefore are in better spirit…It makes us very happy that due to the grant, better life will be given to these animals. We are very thankful for your involvement and support,” says Alexandra.

Support of the Emergency Grants program will provide lifesaving shelter. It can mean the difference between life and death for a traumatized animal caught up in the war and give hope and care where it’s desperately needed.

It takes endless courage and compassion to put animals first in times of crisis. So for as long as the war devastates Ukraine, our work to assist those on the ground and help the most vulnerable will continue.

If you would like to support brave organisations like these, and sustain our ongoing efforts to help animals in times of disaster and crisis world-wide, please consider donating to our Emergency Grants program today.