Over the past 18 months, the war in Ukraine has garnered global attention. Countless lives, both human and animal, have been uprooted and shattered. Dogs and cats, abandoned and facing life-threatening situations, are struggling to survive in increasingly harsh circumstances. Fortunately, animal rescue organizations have stepped in to make a difference. They are saving these animals from the war-torn country and transporting them to safer environments where they can receive the care they need and have a shot at a brighter future. In this article, we will explore the amazing work of two such organizations and the impact they are making on the lives of Ukraine’s dogs and cats.
BIG DOG RANCH RESCUE
Since 2008, Big Dog Ranch Rescue (BDRR) has been a beacon of hope for countless dogs in perilous predicaments, including natural disasters and other life-threatening situations. Although saving dogs from the war in Ukraine has presented an unprecedented challenge, BDRR has risen to the occasion. The organization’s founder and CEO, Lauree Simmons, states, “Nothing quite compares to our venture into the war-torn terrain of Ukraine, a mission we had not anticipated but could not turn away from.” BDRR has received assistance from numerous sources in their efforts to rescue as many dogs as possible from Ukraine. The city of Poznan in Poland, for example, generously donated the use of a vacant dog shelter for nine months.
Image: BDR founder Lauree Simmons bonds with a rescue dog.
“This shelter has served as a haven for dogs who lost their homes and human companions to the conflict,” Lauree explains. BDRR has also enlisted the aid of Ukrainian refugees left homeless by the war, providing them with an opportunity to find purpose amidst the turmoil by staffing the shelter and caring for the dogs. The organization has established partnerships with receiving organizations in Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK, working closely with dog shelters and rescue groups in Ukraine, Poland, and Romania. BDRR has sent food and supplies to these areas, collaborating with local groups to transport hundreds of dogs out of Ukraine via a green corridor agreed upon by Russia and Ukraine for civilian evacuations. These rescued dogs have been sent to homes and shelters across Europe.
Image: Cats are also being rescued from the war-torn streets of Ukraine.
BDRR has taken additional steps to support shelters dealing with an overwhelming influx of animals. Lauree personally visited an overcrowded Romanian shelter struggling with numerous dogs and cats abandoned due to the war. She guided the staff through the challenges they faced, helping them develop and implement effective policies to cope with the immense pressure. Furthermore, BDRR transported nearly a dozen dogs from the shelter back to their headquarters in the United States, alleviating space constraints. Operating in an active war zone required BDRR to develop a unique security blueprint. As Lauree emphasizes, “We were treading on uncharted terrain, where conventional disaster response strategies were no longer adequate. We are proud to say that no individual or four-legged friend was injured during our mission. It wasn’t a small feat but an international endeavor that crossed borders and united hearts.”
NETWORK FOR ANIMALS
Network for Animals (NFA), an international animal welfare organization, was one of the first on the ground to support Ukraine’s innocent four-legged victims of war. As stated on the NFA website, “Many animals were abandoned as people fled for their lives. Others are street animals in urgent need of help as bombs tear up the cities and towns of Ukraine.” Together with their partners in Ukraine and Poland, NFA has been working tirelessly to feed, treat, and evacuate thousands of dogs and cats who would have otherwise perished in the war zones. A key partner for NFA is DIOZ, an animal rescue service and shelter based in Jelenia Góra, Poland. DIOZ dispatches convoys to the most dangerous areas to feed and rescue animals, embarking on 621-mile round trips to evacuate animals from Ukraine and bring them back to their shelter. To support their crucial feeding and rescue missions, NFA purchased a new animal ambulance for DIOZ and provided funds for fuel.
Image: Network for Animals works with partners in Ukraine and Poland to help animals affected by the war.
NFA has also been supporting and collaborating with the Animal Guardians Program (AGP), a project that aims to provide food and veterinary care to street animals in and around regions affected by the war. The AGP relies on the goodwill of pensioners, disabled individuals, and the poor who emerge from shelter during lulls in the fighting to help animals. They often take multiple cats and dogs into their own homes to care for them. NFA supports the AGP by covering the costs of pet food, medicine, sterilizations, emergency veterinary treatments, and transportation to and from clinics.
Although it may not make the news headlines, animal rescue and welfare organizations like BDRR and NFA, driven by compassionate volunteers, are working tirelessly to save dogs and cats from the war-torn streets of Ukraine. They navigate dangerous conditions to give frightened, abandoned, and needy animals a second chance at life in a safe and loving environment.
To learn more about the remarkable efforts to rescue animals affected by the war in Ukraine, visit Pet Lovers Diary.