Help Animals in Ukraine
The Situation
Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Veterinarians Without Borders/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières North America has established long-term partnerships with local animal welfare organizations in Ukraine. These partnerships are focused on ensuring the delivery of pet food and medicine, providing preventative veterinary care (spay/neuter programs, vaccinations, and parasite treatments), support with search and rescue efforts, along with animal evacuations, building and upgrading shelters, and offering online veterinary services.
This support targets war-affected shelters and households, including internally displaced families, families who have lost their homes, and those who care for animals in volunteer and home boarding situations. We are working with on-the-ground partners in Ukraine to ensure that animals and animal care providers, (e.g., veterinarians, animal shelters), have the support they need to provide ongoing veterinary services and essential animal care to animals and animal guardians that have been significantly impacted by the war.
1. Providing essential support: Ensuring basic necessities, such as food and medicine, are supplied to animal shelters, volunteer initiatives, and vulnerable households.
2. Focusing on preventative veterinary care: Offering services such as spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, and parasite treatments to mitigate potential health issues.
3. Facilitating access to webinars: Delivering free webinars that cover a range of topics related to animal health and welfare in Ukraine.
4. Developing local capacity: Strengthening the capabilities of local partners and Ukrainian animal welfare groups through collaboration and resource-sharing.
5. Support for small-scale farming. Offering programs and training initiatives aimed at helping smallholder and aspiring farmers impacted by the war by providing essential livestock, farming resources, and training.
6. Rebuilding animal shelters. Partnering with local animal shelters that have been impacted by the war to ensure damaged shelters can be assessed and rebuilt, when possible, and upgrade facilities.
By focusing on immediate needs and long-term efforts within Ukraine, VWB/VSF is continuing to make a significant and lasting impact on the lives of animals and those who care for them. Through this program, we’re providing food, medicine, and veterinary care to companion animals in war-torn Ukraine, as well as promoting experience exchange between Canadian and Ukrainian animal welfare professionals.