(Commonwealth Union)_Over 1,650 dogs and cats have been rescued by PETA Germany and a network of dedicated volunteers and organizations since the days immediately following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. These rescues come on top of the more than 616 tonnes of food and supplies that have already been sent to aid animals stranded in conflict zones, including donkeys, horses, dogs, and cats. These deliveries will keep coming as long as they are required.
PETA Germany and other animal rights activists on the ground realized they had to act immediately when the Russian attack in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro stepped up. They had become professionals at getting animals out of harm’s way after organizing successful rescue operations to remove animals from the cities of Lysychansk and Severodonetsk, and they now had to do it once more.
200 dogs and cats in need of rescue were discovered by the crew while they scoured Dnipro; however, they were unable to acquire gasoline for the trucks needed to transport the animals out of the city, and the driver they had hired was called away. Refusing to give up, PETA Germany and its associate Animal Rescue Kharkiv pooled their resources and organized a network of dedicated activists who could provide the trucks and fuel to transport the animals across the nation to an animal refuge on the Hungarian border, one link at a time. The bridge the caravan had just used to flee Dnipro was destroyed shortly after it left, preventing anyone from entering the city. Just in time, the animals were saved!
As they prepared the new arrivals for the next step of their journey—transport to a safe haven in Hungary—volunteers at the shelter sobbed as they gave them hugs. While completing their statutory quarantine, they are receiving treatment, food, and lots of love at this serene outdoor haven. All the animals will soon be prepared to leave the horrors of war behind and go to live with their new family in neighbouring nations.
Every day brings new difficulties for PETA Germany and its Ukrainian partners, but also fresh victories.
