BRUSSELS―Animal protection charity Humane Society International and humanitarian agency Ukrainian Red Cross will reach their goal of helping 100,000 dogs, cats and other pets and 40,000 pet guardians in war-torn Ukraine by the end of 2024 from when their collaboration began in two years. a while ago. The organizations work together to provide lifesaving aid such as pet food, veterinary care and supplies for pets and support for their owners who are internally displaced or otherwise affected by the conflict in Ukraine.
To date, the partnership has provided emergency relief in 14 regions across Ukraine, reaching over 19,000 pet caregivers and 40,000 pets and delivering over 205 tons of pet food. In addition, 48 tons of cat litter, 3,530 litter boxes, 2,500 pet carriers and 9,000 packages of flea and tick prevention were distributed to help dogs and cats in need. To reach their goal, the HSI/URC program will expand its outreach to three more regions, Zakarpattia, Kharkiv and Sumy, to ensure that aid reaches those in need throughout Ukraine.
Ruud Tombrock, executive director of Humane Society International/Europe, said: “As the conflict continues in Ukraine, both people and animals are suffering unimaginable hardships side by side. Pets are family, and in these dire circumstances they provide comfort and a sense of normalcy. We are grateful for the recognition by the Ukrainian Red Cross that the welfare of animals in times of war is intricately linked to the welfare of the people who love and depend on them. We’re committed to keeping people and pets together.”
In the two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, the war has displaced more than 11 million people, including 5 million inside the country, many of them refusing to leave without their livestock. To help these people and their animals, the joint efforts of HSI and the URC provided vital supplies to Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Donetsk, Rivne, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Volyn, Poltava, Zhytomyr, Ternopil, Cherkasy, Chernivtsi , Mykolaiv and Kryvyi Rih. In regions like Donetsk where gathering in centralized locations poses risks, volunteers from the Red Cross facilitate door-to-door deliveries to ensure the safety of recipients. In select districts, such as Podil district in Kyiv, additional partnerships enable internally displaced Ukrainians to access complimentary veterinary care.
Maksym Dotsenko, director general of the Ukrainian Red Cross, said: “The Ukrainian Red Cross greatly appreciates the support of the Humane Society International in providing assistance for pets during this difficult time. Companionship with pets is very important to the well-being of our citizens, and this program helps make that happen.”
Humane Society International has been helping Ukrainian refugees and their pets since March 2022, providing emergency funding and supplies such as pet food, pet carriers, bedding and veterinary care.
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Media contact: Wendy Higgins: [email protected]
