Kyiv/Vienna, 21 December 2022 – Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS has partnered with the Ukranian office of the Small Animal Veterinary Association (USAVA), an umbrella organisation uniting and providing for small animal veterinary practices across the country. At the moment the focus lies on the three most affected Ukrainian cities by the war: Mykolayiv, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia.

Together they help in re-opening veterinary clinics, to take care of pets and strays alike with vaccinations, sterilisations and other medical treatments. In the first phase of the programme, starting with December, 600 dogs and cats will be sterilised and vaccinated. FOUR PAWS has been ongoingly active in Ukraine for over ten years.

The 24th of December marks ten months since Russia started its relentless war against neighbouring country Ukraine. Not only has that created millions of displaced families across Europe and Ukraine, but also a vast amount of homeless animals. Many courageous veterinarians stayed behind to ensure that these stray animals were looked after and protected.

Efforts of food delivery in the cold continues

Since March 2022, Ukranian Pet Association Worldwide (UPAW), a platform established by FOUR PAWS together with partners, has taken care of the distribution of almost 1,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid, which has helped more than 110,000 dogs and cats.

During the last days an emergency feeding of stray dogs and cats has been carried out in the city of Mykolayiv and neighbouring region Kershon, in the Southern part of Ukraine – one of the most shelled areas in recent months. 24 tonnes of food could be delivered which helped to the feeding of many malnourished strays that are roaming the bombed streets.

Rowlings adds: “We were in the midst of setting up a sustainable dog population project in Mykolayiv, when the invasion started. Until then we worked in a stationary veterinary clinic and by February we were able to sterilise 1,000 dogs. Now the city has become one of the most bombed cities in Ukraine. It is good that we are back to deliver the urgently needed help.”

Background

FOUR PAWS has been working on companion animal projects in Ukraine since 2012 and the SAC team has delivered much needed veterinary care to 30,000 stray dogs and cats in over 60 municipalities over the last ten years. The team in Ukraine is operating a mobile clinic, carrying out catch-neuter-vaccinate-return projects in different municipalities in the country.