Over 12 million people have fled their homes in Ukraine since the war began. For many, this conflict has also forced some to leave their beloved pets behind to an unknown fate. Bordering countries, such as Romania and Poland have been praised for their acceptance of both the lucky pets and the abandoned animals who have been able to escape the conflict zone.

Many have arrived carried in the arms of their owners, with no time to grab their harness, lead, a blanket to keep them warm, or even some food to keep them nourished. Many have also crossed the borders unvaccinated, carrying parasites, and diagnosed with tick-borne diseases on arrival, which has resulted in the need for a continuous supply of urgent medical resources, along with food and general essential items to neighbouring countries.

Wild at Heart Foundation is committed to providing an ongoing consistent level of aid directly to the animals affected by this crisis, both those who remain in Ukraine and also those who have sought refuge across the borders.

Save the Dogs was set up 20 years ago, with their biggest presence being in Romania, but they also work in Ukraine and Italy. They have a state-of-the-art shelter accommodating around 200 dogs, plus other animals,  in Cernavoda, a rural area of SE Romania.

Save the Dogs believes that humans have a moral duty to protect animals; and their commitment is to act with empathy and compassion, protecting the dignity and wellbeing of animals in need. Their objective is to reflect on the strong bonds that exist between people and animals, a bond that is so powerful that it cannot be broken, even by war.

Since the invasion of Ukraine began, as well as helping people and their pets daily at the Isaccea border crossing, along with welcoming 30 Ukrainian dogs into their care, Save the Dogs have been providing life-saving support to over 4,000 animals in Ukraine. The organisation is sending food every month to more than 20 shelters and contacts in the Odessa & Kharkiv regions, for distribution by a network of over 400 volunteer street feeders. To date, they have delivered over 700,000 kilos of food via this outreach work.

“The food, blankets, dog houses, and other supplies we are delivering every month are essential for the survival of these animals. Countless animals in Ukraine are alive only thanks to our help.” Gregg Tully, Country Director of Save the Dogs Romania.

Save the Dogs and their partners in Ukraine also rescued dozens of dogs after the devastating floods in Kherson. Water swept everything away in its path; dogs who were fortunate not to be chained, were found huddled on rooftops trying to save themselves from the advancing water.

Our Support

Whilst feeding the abandoned animals of Ukraine has been the main priority, and we are supporting in this capacity, it is now crucial to prevent them from reproducing uncontrollably, and to ensure that one emergency situation doesn’t lead to another, even bigger one.

Sterilisation is the only effective way to combat a growing stray dog population and Save the Dogs have recently begun a sterilisation programme in Odessa, with the goal of sterilising 1,000 animals in six months across this region and others in Ukraine.

We are proud to be supporting this initiative by funding 50 sterilisations, along with Rabies vaccinations, in Ukraine per month from August 2023.

Sava’s Safe Haven is a family-run animal shelter, founded in 2012, near Galati in Romania, with capacity for 250 animals. Over their 10-year history they have helped 5,000 animals in need. 

Situated close to the Isaccea border into Ukraine, the Sava’s Safe Haven team regularly provided both animal and humanitarian aid at three border crossings at the outbreak of the war, whilst also working in conjunction with the Anim All Delta vet team providing medical care to displaced Ukrainian dogs, both on site at the border and also at their new charitable hospital in Isaccea.

Sava’s Safe Haven is additionally providing refuge and medical care at their shelter, whether temporary or permanent, for displaced and abandoned Ukrainian animals, along with assisting refugee pet owners to navigate their new lives in Romania.

Our Support

Since April 2022, we have provided Sava’s Safe Haven with the funds to purchase a quarantine unit for their shelter, which provides initial medical care and a place to call home for newly arrived vulnerable dogs from Ukraine. We also facilitated a large delivery of many essential dog care items which PetSafe kindly donated to us, and which have since been distributed to Ukrainian dogs in need.

In conjunction with our long-standing Romanian partner Anca, we have have also provided much needed medication which Sava’s Safe Haven transported themselves across the border to the animals of Ukraine.

We have also funded the purchase of over 2.5 tonnes of dog and cat food which has reached starving owned, stray and in-shelter dogs in the Izmail area of Ukraine, with more still to be dispatched.

Additionally, we are supporting the medical resource needs of both Sava’s Safe Haven and Animal All Delta via funding the purchase of a blood analyser machine, vaccination and disease test kits, along with microchips and pet passports; all of which will help the animals of Ukraine to have a second chance at life.

Dioz (Dolnośląski Inspektorat Ochrony Zwierząt) is a Polish animal rescue service whose team has tirelessly travelled into Ukraine to primarily rescue injured and disabled dogs from the war-torn streets and abandoned shelters; who they have then both onward transported to clinics around Poland for treatment, and also taken to their rescue centre to recuperate and begin their new lives in safety.

Our Support

Since May 2022, to alleviate the strain on their resources whilst having 100+ dogs from Ukraine in their care, we have provided Dioz with 1.5 tonnes of mainly dog, along with some cat food.

If a regular donation towards a specific project is set up and we subsequently cease to provide support in the future, any recurring donations will be allocated to the areas of our other work requiring the most support.