Animals are traumatised too: Pet rescuers under fire in Ukraine

A Drone Strike at the Shelter

February morning brought a harrowing incident to the heart of Zaporizhzhia, a frontline city in Ukraine. As animal shelter staff prepared for their shift, a Russian drone struck the compound. A steel door at the entrance likely spared their lives, but over a dozen animals at “Give a Paw, Friend” suffered greatly. “It was terrifying, to put it mildly,” says Iryna Didur, the shelter’s head. Residents scrambled to salvage what they could, rescuing terrified pets from the chaos.

Rescue Efforts in Zaporizhzhia

The local energy company, targeted by Russian attacks, installed a new steel door to reinforce the shelter. Didur emphasizes the dedication of volunteers in Zaporizhzhia, noting that “we cleared almost all the rubble in three days” with their help. Her group is part of a broader network supporting animals, providing food, veterinary care, and safe evacuation routes.

Evacuation and Care

Countless pets were abandoned as owners fled near the front line, fearing Russian bombardment. Some were left behind due to owner casualties. Lala Tarapakina, head of the 12 Guardians charity, was moved to action by the sight of homeless dogs. “That was the first time I witnessed the catastrophe affecting animals,” she said. Her organization has since rescued over 40,000 animals, often from perilous zones under artillery fire.

Human and Animal Sacrifice

Travelling with pets is a challenge, especially in war-torn areas. Alla, a resident of Donetsk, stayed behind to care for her cats and dogs. “I love them all! How could I abandon them?” she told Ukrainian TV. “My heart would just break.” Similarly, a Sumy farmer was aided by a special police unit to escape with his 11 goats. Many Ukrainians choose to remain near the front, citing the cost and complexity of moving animals, as well as the scarcity of pet-friendly housing in safer regions.

Risks of Wartime Rescue

Helping animals during conflict is fraught with danger. Nate Mook, who leads the Hachiko Foundation, explains that “we’ve had to arm our teams with drone detectors now. We’re driving along highways with [anti-drone] netting.” His organization, which operates 150 feeding stations for homeless animals, has relocated in response to escalating risks. “Some areas we started in 2022 are now no-go zones,” he says.

Animals as Companions in War

Stray animals have become a common sight on the front lines, leading Ukrainian soldiers to joke that cats and dogs are standard issue. A drone unit near Kupyansk has been accompanied by a maltipoo dog, while the 831st Myrhorod tactical aviation brigade keeps a ginger cat that appears during air raids. “He just sits near an air defence artillery gun, silent and motionless, as if he’s also on duty,” the brigade says.

Why Save Animals in Crisis

Despite immense human suffering, many choose to help pets. “Saving one animal is the same as saving several people because it gives them hope,” says Lala Tarapakina. She adds that rescuing a dog “makes an average of about 10 people happy.” Nate Mook, who previously ran World Central Kitchen, notes that animals “have no choice about what’s happening around them.” He highlights their shared trauma: “They are equally traumatised and shell-shocked, just like humans.”