Update

100 days of war in Ukraine: helping refugees and animals

June 3, 2022 marked the 100th day since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. IFAW’s Disaster Response team, together with our partners, was at the forefront of the crisis providing urgent support to animals from the very beginning.

We’ve been working with local shelter partners in Ukraine since 2014 to rescue and care for animals, and we stood by those same shelters when Russia invaded earlier this year. We have been working tirelessly to support refugees and their pets, fund shelters and zoos in need of critical supplies, and aid with animal rescues.

Since the start of the war, IFAW has directly helped more than 42,000 companion and wild animals, most of which were cats and dogs, and wild animals like bears, bats and tigers. In addition to helping animals in crisis, we also supported the incredible families and caretakers of those animals.

Thank you for supporting our critical efforts.

Warm regards,
GivingGrid on behalf of IFAW

Update

IFAW’s Shannon Walajtys recently appeared on CNN International’s “First Move with Julia Chatterley” to discuss IFAW’s work helping refugees and animals impacted by the war in Ukraine.

Thank you again and warm regards,
GivingGrid on behalf of IFAW

Update

Ukraine’s animals, from beloved pets to endangered wildlife, have thus far been treated as an afterthought by many rescue and aid operations. Undeniably, the scale of human suffering makes it easy to overlook animals caught in the crossfire. But as we’ve learned in nearly every war and natural disaster, this is a mistake with dire long-term consequences. According to researchers, the single most important predictor of whether species prosper or perish isn’t poaching, or deforestation or even climate change. It’s human conflict...

Please share this campaign, so that help for these animals caught in the middle of this terrible tragedy continues on...

Thank you again and warm regards,
GivingGrid on behalf of IFAW

Update

At IFAW's "blue tent" they recently met a refugee named Viktoria who was touched by the care she received from their team. After fleeing from the Kharkiv region with her daughter Sofia and their three dogs, she arrived at the IFAW tent after a day of traveling. To their surprise, one of her dogs, two-year-old Jessie, was pregnant with her first litter of puppies—and just 10 days away from giving birth. After Jessie was examined and found in good condition, they provided the family with carriers to comfortably transport Jessie, along with new leashes, harnesses and water for the journey ahead.

So much good coming out of so much bad... 

On another good note, we're very close to hitting our goal for the IFAW and the animals in Ukraine! ????

Thank you again and warm regards,
GivingGrid on behalf of IFAW

Update

The dog who found his way home at the Ukraine-Polish border.

We wanted to share a special story from our team on the ground in Poland. Spoiler alert: it has a happy ending. ????

While on her way to IFAW’s animal service tent, disaster responder Diane spotted a dog along the main road, but unfortunately, he bounded away before she could bring him to safety. Later that day, another responder named Dan came by the tent requesting a leash for a dog that had been hanging around the registration office near the Medyka border crossing for about a week. They were feeding the dog, but it kept disappearing. They had also asked around trying to find the owners, but no one knew where his family was. Diane went to help Dan and was surprised to find that it was the same dog that she had spotted in traffic earlier!

Diane sat on the ground to establish trust, and soon the dog came over to her. She was able to slip a leash on him and bring him to the tent for a health check. The dog was in relatively good shape, and it was clear he had a Ukrainian owner as he listened to commands like ‘sit’ in Ukrainian.

Dan continued to take care of the dog, who the team nicknamed ‘Little Wanderer,’ with the hopes that his owners might return. Then, one morning, while out on a walk, Dan decided to let Little Wanderer take the lead and see if he might find his way home—and it worked! Little Wanderer sniffed his way back to his family and is now in the safety and care of his owners. ????

Please continue to share the campaign! We've almost reached out goal!!

Warm regards,
GivingGrid on behalf of IFAW

Update

Here's the latest:

There is an overwhelming need for pet supplies and basic veterinary care at the main border crossing near Medyka, where an estimated 80 % of refugees and their pets cross into Poland. Our teams have assumed management of the only animal service station there—a large blue tent—helping the hundreds of animals arriving. Two German NGOs, Deutscher Tierschutzbund (DTSchB) and Bundesverband Gemeinschaft Deutscher Tierrettungsdienste (GTD), initially set up the animal service station at the beginning of the war. Now, trained IFAW responders, veterinarians and local volunteers rotate in 12-hour shifts to provide 24/7 access to pet food, triage veterinary care and supplies for refugees with their pets.

Animals that arrive for care are traumatized from the war and stressed from long days of travel to the border crossing. The most common health issues documented by our veterinarians at the station are malnutrition, dehydration, hypothermia and stiff joints from being carried in cardboard boxes, coats and plastic bags.

Another key transit location for refugees and their pets is the Przemy?l train station. With the help of your donations, we are able to have two IFAW-supported veterinarians from Ukraine working alongside Polish veterinarians operating the animal border control. In 24-hour shifts, the veterinarians assess the animals’ health, provide vaccinations and microchipping, and help with the paperwork required to ensure pets can travel into Poland and other EU countries. The owners are also provided with items such as carriers, leashes, harnesses and muzzles, and pet food to bring with them on their journey.

Tomasz Dzimira, Head Veterinarian of the Przemyski District, told us that there was one dog in particular that he remembered: “One of the dogs that came in was not well. He was supposed to have surgery in Ukraine on the day that its owners were forced to flee. So the minute the dog came into Poland, a veterinary colleague and I operated on the dog to remove some kidney stones. I am happy to say that the dog is doing well!”

Please continue to share the campaign! They need lots more help.

Warm regards,
GivingGrid on behalf of IFAW

Update

The latest video update from the Poland/Ukraine border.

Please continue to share the campaign! They need lots more help.

Warm regards,
GivingGrid on behalf of IFAW

Update

At several border crossing points along the Ukrainian-Polish border, refugee welcome centers have been set up. Every day, thousands of refugees come in who need a place to stay overnight, before continuing their journey into Poland and from there other neighboring countries. Our team has visited several of these border crossings, supporting the local veterinary teams and distributing water, pet food, harnesses and carriers to refugees who have fled Ukraine with their pets. Here are some of their stories.

In Korczowa, we meet Iuliia as she sits on a cot in the refugee center. She tells us that she escaped the bombing in Kyiv and is hoping to bring her eight-year-old Pomeranian, Hugo Boss to the United States, where she has family. IFAW emergency responders Jennifer and Shannon help advise her on the process for getting Hugo Boss the correct vaccinations and paperwork for an “owned dog” importation permit.

At the border crossing in Medyka, our team finds Tania sitting outside in the cold. Tania left the war-torn Kyiv region with her 10-year-old daughter and one-and-a-half-year-old Pomeranian, Mikaela, who she calls her “best friend.” While talking to us, Tania is overcome with emotion trying to explain why she had to leave Ukraine. We stay with her for a while, give her some dog food for Mikaela and wish her well on her way to Germany.

Making a difference for Ukrainian refugees and their pets.

At another location, we meet a family with a little dog called Lala, sporting a small ponytail and sitting wrapped in a pink blanket. The family is at the border crossing trying to figure out how to get to a pet-friendly shelter. Apart from Lala, they have two other dogs with them and at least three cats. Part of the family has stayed with the animals, while the others are looking for a place to stay for the night.

And then there was Bono, who our team met while taking the train from Przemy?l to Kraków. Bono’s owner is from Kyiv and on her way to Kraków to stay with family. She left her home because of the war, and her husband stayed behind to fight. She is understandably very sad and luckily has Bono with her to provide some comfort. The team sees that she doesn’t want to put him down on the seat beside her because Bono is a bit dirty from the travel, and she explains that someone else might want to sit down. One of our team members gives her an old black t-shirt so that Bono has a little bed for the duration of the train ride. He falls asleep soon after, while his owner tells us that he’s been very nervous from all the bombs going off and hasn’t been sleeping well. We feel that this train is probably the first quiet place they’ve gotten to in quite some time.

There are many, many more stories like these. All people and families trying to get to a safe place, together with their loved ones—including of the furry kind. We are so thankful to be able to make even the slightest difference for some of these animals and people in their time of need.

Warm regards,
GivingGrid on behalf of IFAW

Update

Just part of what the IFAW is doing on the ground in Poland, near the Ukraine border.

Thank you so much for continuing to help!! Your gifts make a difference!!

Warm regards,
GivingGrid on behalf of IFAW

Update

A message from the IFAW team on the ground helping:

IFAW’s emergency response team has met with organizations and authorities in Poland working on the frontlines of the crisis. Staff and volunteers we have met are tired, anxious and very emotional about the situation facing Ukraine citizens and animals. There are still so many needs, for people and animals.

Our shelter partner, ARKA Animal Protection Association is located in Przemy?l, about 15 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Before the conflict started, they made the tough decision to transport dogs and cats in their care to neighboring countries, to make room for animals arriving from Ukraine.

When we visited ARKA the other day, we met Pavo, the shelter manager, and learned that they are expecting a new influx of dogs and cats to come in any day now. They are working closely with volunteers who bring over animals from Ukraine, and with their veterinary inspector to process the animals. IFAW’s support covers veterinary expenses for exams, microchips and vaccinations prior to placement. Pavo and the entire ARKA team work tirelessly to care for animals in need and we are proud to support their mission to save lives of Ukraine’s dogs and cats.

We are very grateful for your ongoing and generous donations that make all this work possible. And we will continue to stand with dedicated and selfless shelter staff in Ukraine, Poland and all countries supporting those most in need.

Let's continue to share this campaign and help them save and care for these animals in need.

Warm regards,
GivingGrid on behalf of IFAW

Update

In the midst of all the chaos, we wanted to share a small story of goodness and hope.

Shortly after the conflict in Ukraine began, one of our shelter partners rescued Dashenka, a small one-eyed dog. She was well taken care of and clearly from a good home. Right away, the search began for her family. It took about a week before the team finally connected with her family, who had been searching for her the entire time. We are happy to report Dashenka has been reunited with her loved ones and we wish them all the best.

Warm regards,
GivingGrid on behalf of IFAW

Update

It is impossible to tell the story of our shelter partner in Berdyansk, Ukraine, without telling the great losses this horrible war has cost them. Their facility has remained at the center of terrible conflict and attacks. Yet, the team remains onsite and committed to caring for the animals.

Some animals have died from explosions or gunshots, while others have run away after an explosion opened a hole in the shelter’s walls. For the first five days of the invasion, we were not able to reach the facility. Since that time, connectivity has been restored and we have been able to communicate and send emergency funds.

In the last couple of days, the shelter team sent us an update that they used some of the emergency funds to purchase two tons of grain and dog and cat food. The shelter director sent a heartfelt thanks, saying, “Your help at the moment is invaluable.”

Our thoughts are with the team and their dogs during this incredibly difficult time. We cannot say thank you enough to our supporters, who make it possible for emergency aid to reach those who need it most.

Warm regards,
GivingGrid on behalf of IFAW

Update

Since the conflict started, IFAW has supported multiple partners helping animals and people in Ukraine and the surrounding countries. Their team has now deployed to Poland and will continue to work with local shelters and government authorities. Their first priority on the ground is to understand the scale of unmet needs for shelters, animals, and people and their pets.

Because of you, they are able to provide immediate support where it is needed most. Thank you to everyone who has supported them so generously to help save lives and keep families together!

Warm regards,
GivingGrid on behalf of IFAW

Update

One addition to yesterday's update that we were just made aware of is that 24 dogs have lost their lives, as a result of the shelling. Just heartbreaking...

We are not sure of the human lives lost.

Thank you,
GivingGrid on behalf of IFAW

Update

As you might imagine, it is extremely difficult to get updated information, but here's the latest from the IFAW and it's not great...

"Our shelter partners in Ukraine have received additional wire transfers of emergency funds to support the purchase of dog and cat food and veterinary supplies. Tragically, we received reports today from local partners of more shelling resulting in damage to facilities and loss of life, both human and animal. We send our condolences to the survivors and continue to stand in solidarity with all victims of this war."

Thank you again for all your help and we'll do our best to keep you posted...

Big hugs,
GivingGrid on behalf of IFAW

Update

Thank you so much for being a part of this important campaign to help the animals stranded in Ukraine. You're amazing!

Here's a message to all of us from IFAW:

"Thank you very much for all you and your community do! As the crisis continues across Ukraine, we know the needs will keep growing. We continue to monitor the dire situation faced by all animals, including those confined in zoos and sanctuaries. We are collaborating with other international organizations to verify reports of damage and unmet needs. There may be instances where we’re not able to immediately disclose our activity and contacts on the ground...

Thank you so much!"

Anita/Deputy Vice President, IFAW

We'll let you know if we learn anything new...

Big hugs,
GivingGrid on behalf of IFAW