Crisis in Ukraine: Help Evacuate Pets From the Frontlines

Crisis in Ukraine: Help Evacuate Pets From the FrontlinesCountless Animals Need Rescuing from Shifting Frontlines Relentless bombings continue across Ukraine day and night. Abandoned animals are cowering in rubble as missiles continue to rain down. Critical infrastructures are being targeted and knocking out power and water to civilians. Calls for help continue to come in to rescue groups who risk their lives to save animals on the frontlines. Many are injured and need immediate medical care. These brave

Countless Animals Need Rescuing from Shifting Frontlines

Relentless bombings continue across Ukraine day and night. Abandoned animals are cowering in rubble as missiles continue to rain down. Critical infrastructures are being targeted and knocking out power and water to civilians.

Calls for help continue to come in to rescue groups who risk their lives to save animals on the frontlines. Many are injured and need immediate medical care. These brave volunteers need our support to continue to save lives. 

Hundreds of animals- both owned and stray - are being rescued each week. Many families refuse to evacuate without their pets, while others are forced to leave animals behind in the care of local volunteers. Abandoned and injured animals are also being recovered by dedicated teams operating under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions. 

That's why our partner, Greater Good Charities, is supporting local evacuation teams working across eastern, southern, and northern Ukraine. These volunteer-led groups play a critical role in transporting civilians -often elderly individuals, people with limited mobility, or families with children- as well as assisting with the evacuation and care of animals. 

UPDATES

Terrified Dogs: 

Krystina and Lala from 12 Guards continue to risk their lives to save dogs from the frontlines. A recent mission saved several dogs of all ages and sizes. These life-saving missions are possible thanks to your continued support.

Senior Cat- Bounty:

Rescuers continue to enter frontlines to risk their lives to save animals. During one rescue mission a woman came up to rescuers carrying a cat in her arms. She said she was leaving and unable to take the cat named Bounty with her. She wanted him to go somewhere safe. Thanks to your support, the senior feline who arrived in poor condition at Patron Pet Center has regained his health. 

Meet Krystina:

Krystina is one of countless heroes who risk their lives to save animals near the frontlines. She enters dangerous areas to rescue animals left behind AND takes many back to her shelter, Under the Sun. 

She is caring for hundreds of dogs at her shelter that she started building when the war began. Little by little she has expanded the kennels and it is now a safe haven for dogs until they can find a forever home. 

Animal shelter bombed.

Thankfully, Krystina was treated for her injuries and no other people or animals were hurt in the attack. All of the pets will be examined by a veterinarian to ensure they didn't receive concussions, as they were directly under the blasts.

Husband & Wife Risk it All: Yana and her husband stayed behind when their village was bombed to care for homeless and abandoned animals. When the bombing increased, they risked their lives again to transport all of the animals to safety. 

Your donations are helping save lives. United for Animals took in some of the elderly animals and shared, "Thanks to your support, we are able to assist volunteers like Yana, who stay until the very end, risking everything to save defenseless lives."

Lucky: A dog who survived two years on her own near the frontlines in Ukraine was finally rescued. She spent countless nights hungry and alone cowering in fear in a small shed to stay safe. 

She was appropriately named "Lucky" and thanks to your support received all the food and care she needed to recover. She left Ukraine and her painful past behind for a new life in France with a loving family. 

Martin: This sweet feline lived with his mom near the front lines. She stayed behind to care for her beloved cats and made the ultimate sacrifice. Sadly, she was killed in one of the bombings and Martin was injured. 

Rescuers found Martin and managed to get him to safety. Thanks to your support and the devoted team at Patron Pet Center, Martin made a full recovery. Read his full story here. 

November 2024: Devoted animal rescuer, Anatoly, was killed after a bomb destroyed his home. His daughter and Animal Rescue Kharkiv entered the dangerous area that ambulances would not go to rescue his beloved animals. Read the full story here.  

October 2024: Air raids intensify across Ukraine. Brave men and women continue to evacuate animals from the frontline. Dozens arrive at Patron Pet Center in need of care. 

May 2024: Military members are currently evacuating animals from various regions of Ukraine, as the situation there is getting worse, and the frontline is moving. 

Dozens of pets have been evacuated from across the regions and every day, heroic rescuers are risking their lives to bring more animals to safety. Evacuated animals are being brought to the Patron Pet Center in Kyiv, where they receive medical attention, care, and are eventually adopted out.

But there are countless more animals who need our help.

We were just informed that 50 new pets are arriving at the center today and another 30 are expected tomorrow. 

All animals are domestic. Most of them were abandoned by the owners when they evacuated, but some were surrendered by the owners because they decided to stay. Evacuations will continue to take place throughout the week.

May 2024: Ukraine military members risk their lives to save abandoned pets near the frontlines. These dogs and cats are finally safe thanks to these brave individuals. Your donations help care for the rescued animals.

April 2024: Richard- This 10-year-old cat lived alone for two years after his owners died shortly after the war in Ukraine began. Richard was rescued and is thriving thanks to your support. See how happy he is with his new family below. 

Feb 2024: Warm wool blankets were brought to Inna, the owner of Shelter in Tomakovka, where there are more than 100 dogs and cats that were taken from the front-line territories of the Zaporozhye region. The dogs and cats quickly curled up on their new blankets donated thanks to your support. 

March 2023 -

Volleys of Russian missiles frequently strike Ukrainian cities at all hours of the day and night. Many of these attacks target Ukrainian electrical power plants. The people and pets of Ukraine are suffering, and Greater Good Charities is committed to funding hot meals and distributing meals kits, blankets, and other supplies in eastern Ukraine. Your ongoing support is critical.

Recently GreaterGood and our non-profit partners, including Siobhan's Trust and Greater Good Charities, were able to feed and offer assistance to first responders in the aftermath of a Russian rocket attack on an apartment building in Ukraine.

February 2023 

It has officially been over 1 year since Russia began their brutal invasion of Ukraine, and Ukrainians are still struggling to survive. The UN estimates that over 13 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes and have now become internally displaced people (IDPs).. Many of hese men, women, children, and their pets have spent months living in fear, worrying that each day could be their last. With winter now looming over them and Russian attacks targeting electrical power plants, survivors need your help now more than ever.