Since the first day of the Russia invasion, Ukrainians have fled the violence with whatever they could carry to seek safety. Despite the chaos and immense danger, we’ve seen time and again how people have prioritized their pets as part of their family when forced to leave their homes. Dogs, cats, hamsters, birds, and many other animals have crossed the borders into other countries with their owners in whatever fashion possible. These are just a few of the stories we’ve heard from hundreds of Ukrainian refugees who never questioned bringing their pet with them.
The families of Tatjana, Inna, and Alina, and their pets Nikki, Busia, and Marta escaped from Kharkiv and Kiev the first day of the Russian invasion. Their journey on multiple trains via Lviv, Krakow and Vienna to Trieste, Italy took 15 days. They are now hosted by Caritas and HSI continuously provides pet food and supplies for their beloved animals.
“Every refugee, every animal, is a unique story of strength and courage. Fleeing to get to a safe destination often involves endless journeys that cause enormous stress to people and animals. The lack of reference points or part of the family can be frightening and disorienting for dogs and cats, so it is important that refugee centers allow people to keep their animals with them. We are grateful to Caritas for their sensitivity and for allowing us to take care of the animals who arrive. Even a simple scratcher or a clean blanket represent a moment of relief to people and animals in this particularly difficult time” – Martina Pluda, HSI/Europe Director in Italy.
To support our animal rescue fund, click here: [ Ссылка ]
