Vienna/Ukraine, 7 June 2023 – After the major flooding catastrophe in Ukraine, animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS is working tirelessly to determine the most effective ways to deliver immediate help to thousands of animals in need.

This first aid consists of five tonnes of pet food, both for dogs and cats, which is currently on the way to Kherson region. Additionally, the provision of 30 cages to facilitate the rescue and evacuation of animals in need in the Mykolaiv region has been arranged, as well as two boats that have been organised to pull animals out of the water.

FOUR PAWS has been working in different projects in various Ukrainian cities and municipalities since 2012.

Ukraine faces another devastating blow due to the breach of the Kakhovka dam in Kherson region, which puts thousands of lives – humans and animals alike – at risk. FOUR PAWS is on site to deliver emergency help as well as to foster existing programmes such as running a clinic in Mykolaiv that treats injured animals for free. A designated vet team of the Kishka project is also alerted and on standby to treat evacuated animals in their clinics.

Manuela Rowlings, Head of Stray Animal Care (SAC) in Europe at FOUR PAWS, says: “Ukraine has already endured so much due to the ongoing war, and now it faces another devastating blow. Thousands of innocent lives, both human and animals, are at risk due to the floods and they need our help now more than ever before.

“Since day one of the war, we have given all our support to the precious lives of thousands of Ukrainian animals. Today, we reaffirm our commitment and are rushing pet food and medicines to the affected areas in and near Kherson region. Also, our USAVA partnership clinic is engaged in providing assistance, trying to rescue as many innocent lives as possible.

Background

FOUR PAWS in Ukraine

The FOUR PAWS SAC teams have been working in various cities in Ukraine since 2012. In total over 33,000 stray dogs and cats were successfully sterilised and vaccinated and, if needed, received additional medical treatment. The roaming animals are caught, neutered, vaccinated and returned (CNVR method) to the communities: the only humane and sustainable way to reduce stray animal populations. According to estimations from the WHO, there are 200 million stray dogs worldwide with many of them living in Eastern Europe. 

After a short hiatus due to the outbreak of the war, FOUR PAWS picked up its activities again in April 2022 and since then delivers much-needed support for stray animals, including those that were already living in the streets as well as pets and shelter animals that were forced to be left behind when their owners fled the country or fell victim to the attacks.