Bristol-based charity Viva! rescues hundreds of Ukrainian animals in ‘desperate situation’

As Ukrainian refugees pour into Poland with their pets, Bristol-based UK charity Viva! has teamed up with its Polish counterpart to rehome and supply take care of animals caught up in the battle. The charity is offering pet meals, carriers, collars, veterinary care and area at a close-by animal sanctuary for pets that may now not be taken care of.

The charity has supplied a warehouse full of provides and has delivered 45 tonnes of pet meals to animals throughout Ukraine. Its group is prepared at prepare stations and refugee factors throughout Warsaw in Poland to assist these arriving with animals.

One refugee, Diana was met by Viva! volunteers at Przemysi prepare station in Poland, who had been prepared to help her along with her two canine and pet chicken. She pleaded in a video interview for individuals fleeing warfare to not depart their animals behind. Diana stated: “War could be very exhausting however do not depart your animals behind, they love you.”

READ MORE: Ukraine warfare LIVE: Ukrainian flags torn down in village as locals branded ‘Nazi sympathisers’

News that Ukrainian volunteer Anastasiia Yalanskaya, 26, had been killed after dropping off pet food to a shelter, horrified long-term Viva! volunteer Lisa Buck and impressed her to take motion and make the journey to Poland alongside different volunteers. Lisa drove for greater than 1,000 miles with a van load of provides for animals arriving in Poland from Ukraine as a result of she could not bear the thought of “animals being hungry and homeless.”

Lisa stated: “My intention was to journey to the Ukraine border with pet provides and keep there for 3 weeks, serving to individuals and animals. I posted on Facebook asking for donations of pet meals and requested native outlets to arrange donation packing containers.

“I’ve been flooded with so many kind donations that I have to keep re-packing the van! Every time the doorbell goes with more packages I feel a lump in my throat from the generosity. Having reached capacity, I’m planning a return trip in April.”

Rehoming plea

After transporting 100 Ukrainian cats and canine to a sanctuary in Poland, who had been in danger of ravenous or being bombed, the Polish shelter started to achieve it is capability. In response the Bristol-based charity managed to lift £30,000 to help efforts in Poland to rescue animals.

Founder and director of Viva! Juliet Gellatley stated they’ve now launched a scheme to rehome Polish canine in the UK. She stated: “To ensure we can accept more animals into our Polish sanctuary, we have launched a rehoming scheme in the UK.

“We have appealed to British people to home some of our existing Polish dogs, whose characters we know and who don’t require quarantine. They have responded magnificently, creating more space for us to receive new refugee dogs.”

Cezary Wyzinsky, who has been in cost of Viva! Poland for 18 years, stated: “The scenario was chaotic and we had been bringing each individuals and animals from the border 5 hours’ drive away. But now it’s higher organised, with six refugee centres having been arrange in Warsaw who contact us with particulars of what they want – meals, carriers, leads, flea collars and so forth.

“So far, we’ve delivered over 45 tonnes of meals, some inside Warsaw however most of it we’ve despatched to the group, Animal ID Ukraine. They are supplying sanctuaries and teams of animals inside Ukraine.

“Being a big sanctuary with space, we have been able to divide up pens to accommodate the 100 newcomers. Our volunteers and resident vet, along with a refugee vet from Ukraine, have been able to settle, reassure and treat the often traumatised new arrivals.

“It is a desperate situation, with two million refugees and their companion animals now in Poland, and the flow continues. We are coping at the moment but we are very close to capacity.”

What do you suppose? Sign in and be a part of the conversations in the feedback beneath