Statement About SOS Shelter Kiev
Please note, we are no longer affiliated with SOS Shelter Kiev or Ms. Tamara Tarnawska and are not collecting donations for her. For a list of the rescue projects we are currently working with, please click here.
Please note, we are no longer affiliated with SOS Shelter Kiev or Ms. Tamara Tarnawska and are not collecting donations for her. For a list of the rescue projects we are currently working with, please click here.
End Poisoning of Street Dogs Mission
Death by poisoning is happening silently everyday in Ukraine. When we arrived to the town of Uman where we had our first rescue mission, we learned that just 2 weeks before, in a nearby town, over 60 street dogs were poisoned. The citizens woke up, and there were dogs everywhere; unfortunately we saw the photos to prove it.
Due to a lack of programs to help dogs, a war in the east and a financial crisis, local animal advocates are left feeling overwhelmed and helpless.
Death by poisoning is happening silently everyday in Ukraine. When we arrived to the town of Uman where we had our first rescue mission, we learned that just 2 weeks before, in a nearby town, over 60 street dogs were poisoned. The citizens woke up, and there were dogs everywhere; unfortunately we saw the photos to prove it.
Due to a lack of programs to help dogs, a war in the east and a financial crisis, local animal advocates are left feeling overwhelmed and helpless.
How we can help
Winters are brutal in Ukraine, so we need to ensure the health of the dogs at the shelter and find new homes for as many
as we can to make room for new ones before October 2018. To donate and see the entire financial plan, please click HERE.
Winters are brutal in Ukraine, so we need to ensure the health of the dogs at the shelter and find new homes for as many
as we can to make room for new ones before October 2018. To donate and see the entire financial plan, please click HERE.
This is Liese (which means "fox" in Russian.) He is very lovable and so deserving of a forever home. We took him off the street because he had an injured leg. He will never be able to walk on all 4 legs, but he doesn't let that slow him down. He can still run, jump, hug and go for walks. Please see his video story below.
First Mission Update
Thanks to the generous contributions I received, on March 21st 2018, two volunteers, our dog catcher and a driver traveled 220 km to Uman, Ukraine to rescue the neediest street dogs and bring them to safety.
Thanks to the generous contributions I received, on March 21st 2018, two volunteers, our dog catcher and a driver traveled 220 km to Uman, Ukraine to rescue the neediest street dogs and bring them to safety.
The reason we chose the small city of Uman, is because the street dog problem there is so painfully obvious; there are street dogs everywhere you look. We realized, by talking to the local people that many of them love the dogs and do what they can to feed and care for them. However, without an official program to help the dogs, there are new puppies being born all the time and many sick or injured dogs are left unnoticed.
Lucy
The first dog we rescued was Lucy. We found her all alone at a bus stop- the way she was curled up on the cold concrete, she looked like she had given up on life. When our dog catcher pulled her up, she did not resist at all. It was then that we saw her left eye was badly damaged.
We are not sure what happened to Lucy, but the veterinarian confirmed that her eye is not infected and that she is in good health. Today she is a different dog! Instead of being lethargic and sad, she is excited and wagging her tail every time we see her.
We are not sure what happened to Lucy, but the veterinarian confirmed that her eye is not infected and that she is in good health. Today she is a different dog! Instead of being lethargic and sad, she is excited and wagging her tail every time we see her.
Nadiya
We are still thanking ourselves every day for finding Nadiya. We found her sitting on the steps of Hotel Uman, in the town square. One look into her eyes, and we knew something was wrong. We suspected she was pregnant and quickly realized she could barely walk.
When Nadiya arrived to the shelter, it was confirmed that she was pregnant. Her spirit and health seemed to improve after a day at the shelter. We thought all she had needed was a safe and warm place to be, so we just waited for the arrival of her puppies.
One night, Nadiya's caretakers found her crying and bleeding so an emergency vet was called, and it was discovered that Nadiya had an infection inside her, and all the puppies had passed. The vet had to perform an emergency surgery and she was given a 90% chance to live.
The day after her surgery, Nadiya was already eating and is now on her way to making a quick recovery. After the ordeal she suffered, we named her Nadiya, the Ukrainian word for hope. Despite what Nadiya experienced, she is still trusting and sweet.
When Nadiya arrived to the shelter, it was confirmed that she was pregnant. Her spirit and health seemed to improve after a day at the shelter. We thought all she had needed was a safe and warm place to be, so we just waited for the arrival of her puppies.
One night, Nadiya's caretakers found her crying and bleeding so an emergency vet was called, and it was discovered that Nadiya had an infection inside her, and all the puppies had passed. The vet had to perform an emergency surgery and she was given a 90% chance to live.
The day after her surgery, Nadiya was already eating and is now on her way to making a quick recovery. After the ordeal she suffered, we named her Nadiya, the Ukrainian word for hope. Despite what Nadiya experienced, she is still trusting and sweet.
Liese
Liese stood out to us because he had an injured leg. He was still managing to walk with three working legs, but we thought it was time to give the poor boy a secure place to live, so he wouldn’t need to struggle on the streets anymore.
Liese’s leg was broken some time ago, and was never treated properly, so it healed incorrectly. The vet thinks it is better to leave it that way, rather than to cause Liese any more pain. One of our friend’s named him after the Russian word for “fox.” Liese is a very friendly dog with a strong spirit- he does not even realize that he is supposed to have four legs to walk on!
Liese’s leg was broken some time ago, and was never treated properly, so it healed incorrectly. The vet thinks it is better to leave it that way, rather than to cause Liese any more pain. One of our friend’s named him after the Russian word for “fox.” Liese is a very friendly dog with a strong spirit- he does not even realize that he is supposed to have four legs to walk on!
Uman
Uman is a little guy- he is full grown, but only weighs about 10 pounds. He was not sterilized when we found him, but he was relatively healthy. We decided to take Uman because he was just too small for a tough life on the streets.
Uman is a very sweet boy. He does not mind being carried around and likes to have his belly scratched. He is very cute, with a silly little under-bite.
Uman is a very sweet boy. He does not mind being carried around and likes to have his belly scratched. He is very cute, with a silly little under-bite.
Thank You
Thanks to our donors’ support, the Uman dog rescue day was a big success! A HUGE thanks to EVERYONE who enabled us to save so many lives from a life on the streets.
Animal advocates plea for help
A resident of Uman told us that Ukraine needs global help and pressure on the local leadership to help solve the street dog crisis.
Working with Local Leadership
On April 9th, Anton Yatsenko, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, and representative of the Cherkasy region which includes Uman, visited the shelter to meet with us and thank us for helping the dogs in his region.
A resident of Uman told us that Ukraine needs global help and pressure on the local leadership to help solve the street dog crisis.
Working with Local Leadership
On April 9th, Anton Yatsenko, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, and representative of the Cherkasy region which includes Uman, visited the shelter to meet with us and thank us for helping the dogs in his region.
He explained to us that he loves animals, and has been fighting to pass animal protection laws. He informed us, that a sterilization center has been built in Uman and is scheduled to open in May 2018.
We were very thankful to receive Mr. Yatsenko’s ongoing support for our efforts to protect street dogs in Ukraine.
We were very thankful to receive Mr. Yatsenko’s ongoing support for our efforts to protect street dogs in Ukraine.
Why this cause means so much to me
If you have read this far, I am sure you must love animals as much as myself and the people of Ukraine who dedicate their lives to this heartbreaking but rewarding battle.
I imagine my own dogs when I see these dogs suffering on the street.
I think of my own precious fur-babies when I see the images of dogs dying of poison and heaped into piles in the fields.
Can you imagine your own dog going all day in the hot sun without any water?
Can you imagine your beloved friend trying to sleep through the night in freezing temperatures?
If you have read this far, I am sure you must love animals as much as myself and the people of Ukraine who dedicate their lives to this heartbreaking but rewarding battle.
I imagine my own dogs when I see these dogs suffering on the street.
I think of my own precious fur-babies when I see the images of dogs dying of poison and heaped into piles in the fields.
Can you imagine your own dog going all day in the hot sun without any water?
Can you imagine your beloved friend trying to sleep through the night in freezing temperatures?
Street dog resting on cold concrete in middle of winter
I have seen unspeakable suffering with street animals during my travels. I cannot live with these memories anymore unless I do my best to help even one dog know a life without pain and full of love and comfort.
Street dogs have the same feelings, wants and needs as house dogs, will you please help us help them? Please donate or click here to see how you can get involved.
Thank you!!
Street dogs have the same feelings, wants and needs as house dogs, will you please help us help them? Please donate or click here to see how you can get involved.
Thank you!!