In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, animal lovers across the globe – including Ukrainians themselves – are providing hope and inspiration in dark times by adopting the maxim that “act is the antidote to despair.”
For an example of courage and dedication happening in Ukraine, consider the efforts of Harmony Foundation, a US-based nonprofit that supports smaller animal rescue organizations around the world. The group worked with shelters in Ukraine for more than six years when Russia launched the attack. So Laura Simpson, the founder, immediately reached out to her trusted contacts to ask: “Do you know anyone who needs help? What can we do for them? ”
Simpson told The Dog People: “Before we knew it, we were helping out in so many different locations with so many different kinds of animal backgrounds.
A volunteer looks after donkeys at the Feldman Ecopark in Lisne, Ukraine. Courtesy of the Harmony Foundation
“The biggest mission of our career”
Main focus: animal shelters. Ukrainian shelters tend to be huge — “It wouldn’t be strange if an animal shelter there had thousands or more,” notes Simpson — with pets often kept in captivity. outdoor.
While some of the nearly 6 million Ukrainian refugees fleeing violence bring their petsmany others cannot.
“Before the war, we had a situation where there was a lot of homeless animals, and that was exacerbated by the war and the number of animals left behind,” Simpson said. “For most of this, this is the biggest mission of our careers.”
Dogs gather as water is restored at an animal shelter in Ukraine. Photo provided by Harmony Fund
To keep animals from starving, the Harmony Foundation purchases pet food — from Ukrainian businesses wherever possible to support the economy — and works with volunteers and shelter teams to transport them to shelters. Sometimes that involves paying for fuel or renting a trailer to help.
“When we couldn’t buy food from within Ukraine, we shipped it, mainly from Romania but also a little bit from Czechoslovakia and Poland. In those cases, we are talking about more difficult situations where the trucks are crossing the border, and then Ukrainian volunteers or teams of British volunteers are picking up food and sometimes making food. It’s been a tough drive to get to these shelters, try Simpson shared. “Because there’s been more than one case where a shelter might have a few days’ worth of food left, or it’s run out and nobody can get to it.”
A volunteer unloads pet food for Ukrainian refugees. The Harmony Foundation also purchased straw for outdoor kennels to help keep the dogs warm during the cold winter weather. Photo provided by Harmony Fund
While Simpson admits there are times when she wakes up with a fear that if the food doesn’t arrive in time the animals won’t eat, she doesn’t want to focus on the tragedies. In fact, Harmony Fund’s goal is to focus on empowerment, and the organization never shares graphic photos of suffering animals in an attempt to help.
So the Harmony Foundation continues to donate food, money, veterinary supplies — from antibiotics and pain relievers to flea and tick vaccines — and other necessities to help animal lovers are doing their best to save lives in Ukraine.
A shelter cat sleeps in a box with pills. Photo provided by Harmony Fund
“Unspeakably Brave Volunteers”
“It is only because of these absolutely brave volunteers that supplies are surpassed,” she said. “Many of them are Ukrainians – a lot of young men and women just feel passionate about helping their countrymen and helping animals. They are finding a way and we are doing whatever we can to make that journey and experience easier for them, to give them everything they need. ”
People are helping in many ways, she noted. For example, sometimes families need to get out of the house quickly from a bomb or rocket and think they’ll be back soon — leaving the pet locked inside. When they don’t return, neighbors, friends, and family members will send notifications to share the pet’s location and ask if anyone in the area can drop them off and take them to safety. whole or not.
Volunteers rescue abandoned dogs as their families flee the Russian invasion. Photo provided by Harmony Fund
“There have been some miraculous rescues because people who are computer-based warriors are sitting there doing really good things,” Simpson said. “That’s how they’re helping: from their computers.”
People with computers are also helping by donating money. Washington State based pet food company Darwin’s Natural Pet Products sent out an appeal for customers to donate to a suitable fund for the efforts of the Harmony Foundation in Ukraine, and has raised nearly $30,000 for the cause to date.
“Sometimes I stop to think, ‘What if people don’t care?’ If they just say, ‘It’s so far away. That’s not my problem.’ Simpson said. “But I think animal lovers get it: those are not Ukrainian animals. These are our animals. They belong to all of us.”
A woman kisses a horse in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Photo provided by Harmony Fund
Hope for trapped and vulnerable animals
With that spirit in mind, the Harmony Fund works not only to help dogs, cats, and other pets, but also animals stranded in farm sanctuaries and wildlife parks, such as Feldman Ecopark in Lisbon, Ukraine.
“They had about 5,000 before the war started and they were hit hard,” she said. “They were directly attacked by the Russians on many occasions. They lost more than a hundred of their animals to the rocket, and six of their staff and volunteers were killed inside Ecopark. “
Most recently was a 15-year-old volunteer, Dennis Selevina, who was helping his parents evacuate a herd of buffalo. They took him to the hospital after he was hit by a bullet but tragically, he died within an hour.
“I wanted to do some kind of memorial service for his family because they made their last sacrifices trying to help these animals,” she said. “It’s not something we should forget. We must honor and remember the brave heroes who did everything and gave everything to help the animals.”
A llama steps near unexploded ordnance at the Feldman Ecopark in Lisne, Ukraine. Photo provided by Harmony Fund
International Rescue Warriors
Simpson was deeply moved by the selfless sacrifices made by people working to help animals in Ukraine. There is one mother who sent her children safely abroad but stayed to continue caring for animals at an animal shelter she runs. Or British volunteers with the document company Break the chain who left her young son in the UK to run rescue missions in Ukraine.
Other efforts in the field include a group American Veterinarian stationed in border areas to care for displaced animals of refugees, where teams from the nonprofit World Central Kitchen prepare free meals for refugees, volunteers — and sometimes pet, too. Ukrainian citizens are setting up pet feeding stations in bombed areas so stray animals don’t starve, like Lorenzo the Cat recently tweeted.
“The cooperation is really delicate. It’s great to see such an international effort,” said Simpson. “At least in my own experience, everyone bends backwards to help each other and support each other. There is no ego in the way. It is really great. ”
A man from Polish rescue organization DIOZ bonded with Ukrainian shelter dogs. Photo provided by Harmony Fund
Non-profit organization Network for animals is buying ambulances for local groups to transport food and supplies into Ukraine and to transport animals out. The International Fund for Animal Welfare not only supports pets trapped in Ukraine and those who have escaped with their families, but also maintains a list resources and entry requirements of neighboring countries for refugees fleeing with pets — in both English and Ukrainian.
International Humanitarian Organization and the Romanian Red Cross cooperate for transporting food and supplies for Ukrainian pets in homes, shelters and on the streets. In fact, a lot charity organization are working to help during this crisis that has too much to say (although some nonprofits, such as Eurogroup for Animals, offer list of reputable organizations working to help).
Simpson said: “The Harmony Foundation is part of a global effort to help the people and animals of Ukraine during this crisis.
Simpson said: “It’s great to see how we all come together. “We are all brothers and sisters in a war we never wanted. Neither of us wanted this, and now we’re working together as a family to find a solution — trying to help every animal we can reach.”
For more information, visit: monyfund.org
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