November 18, 2024 marks the thousandth day of war in Ukraine, meaning a thousand days of fear and danger for animals whose homes have been transformed into a war zone. Fortunately, a team of brave and caring people from PETA-supported Animal Rescue Kharkiv (ARK) are on the ground helping displaced and endangered animals.
What is a day in the life of an animal rescuer in Ukraine like? PETA Germany spoke with Igor Sobko, deputy director of Animal Rescue Kharkiv, about life amid war.
A thousand days of war in Ukraine: interview with an animal rescuer
PETA Germany: Igor, it is unimaginable that the war has lasted for so long – 1,000 days – how do you see this situation?
ARK: Honestly, I forgot what Kharkiv looked like before the war, what our streets looked like, what life was like here. I feel like my head only remembers the omnipresent military, the destroyed city, the air raids and the daily attacks on our city and region. But we stick together at ARK, our goal as a community is to help as many animals as possible. This is what pushes us to continue: every day is different and we constantly adapt the program according to the situation.
PETA Germany: What does supporting PETA’s International Compassion Fund mean to you and the animals in this situation?
ARK: It can be summed up in a few words: without it, we and the animals would be lost! We would not have the financial means to carry out such a project. The exchange, the economic and moral support, the joint planning – all this allows us to continue our work because we know that they will continue no matter what. We are very grateful to PETA Germany and the International Compassion Fund for their valuable assistance.
PETA Germany: What is the biggest daily challenge?
ARK: It’s difficult to express. Probably accepting that we don’t know exactly how things will develop. Every day can bring change – big or small. It depends on the progress of the war, the scale of the attacks in our region, the state of the front line, where the teams rescue animals with the military. Every step is delicate, we make sure everything is as safe as possible. But security is just a feeling, there is no security one can rely on here. We are always vigilant, we are constantly adapting, and we have eyes everywhere, as the team risks their lives on every mission. We are constantly at the limit, because the needs continue to grow; Every day new animals arrive and need urgent care. The pressure is extremely high – without PETA Germany, which is a strong partner, we really could not operate on this scale.
PETA Germany: How do you do it?
ARK: With God’s help and finding humor despite the pain. Solidarity and support give us strength. Moreover, there is no alternative. Leaving Kharkiv and the animals is not an option: they need us here, more and more every day. We will continue no matter what, but the hope of peace accompanies us. We must not lose hope!
6 Ways PETA’s International Compassion Fund Helps Animals in Ukraine
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, PETA Germany and its partners have been on the ground building a strong network of rescuers, who have saved more than 17,000 cats, dogs, horses and other animals to date. Supporting animals in a war zone requires considerable logistics – a herculean task amid the tumult of attacks – but despite the difficulties, ARK and PETA agree that abandoning animals in need is not an option .
“Leaving Kharkiv and the animals is not an option: they need us here, more and more every day. We will continue no matter what, but the hope of peace accompanies us. We must not lose hope! » – Igor Sobko, deputy director of Animal Rescue Kharkiv
Since February 2022, support from the International Compassion Fund has been used to:
- Create and maintain 1,300 safe havens for hundreds of dogs, cats, horses, sheep, goats, chickens, pigeons, geese, ducks, swans, fish and many other species.
- Build a veterinary clinic that can accommodate and help up to 180 seriously ill or injured animals receive life-saving treatment.
- Implement a sterilization project to sterilize 150 animals per month to reduce the suffering and distress that would result from the birth of thousands of additional animals.
- Delivering almost 1.7 million tons of vegan food to Ukraine for dogs, cats and other animals.
- Purchase and maintain a fleet of vehicles to transport animals. Due to the extreme constraints of traveling in a war zone, cars often need to be replaced or repaired, as when the engine of one was hit and destroyed by a Russian drone.
- Provide medical care and quarantine space for at least four months per animal, in accordance with EU regulations. The majority of animals are reunited with their caretakers who have been evacuated, and others are being placed with people who care about their well-being through partner animal shelters in Europe.
PETA’s International Compassion Fund is supported exclusively by contributions from caring people like you. Your donation helps PETA entities and partners create positive, lasting change in parts of the world where animals desperately need help and may have no other hope.
Your generous support helps make the world a better place for all animals. Help them however you can today:
