Ukraine

Right now, more than 150,000 animals are in need of assistance in Ukraine.

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VWB's Ukraine Program

Goal: The full-scale invasion of Ukraine has had a devastating impact on the lives of humans and animals alike. 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. 

Groups We Work With: Ukrainians and animals in Ukraine that have been affected by the full-scale invasion. 

Where: Our local partners operate across Ukraine, focusing on regions and facilities with the most urgent needs. These include areas that have experienced severe damage due to hostilities, (Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions), regions recently liberated from Russian occupation, (Kherson region), and those in close proximity to the frontline, (Donetsk, Luhansk, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhya, and Mykolaiv), and require the greatest assistance and provisions. 

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.

What We Are Doing

VWB/VSF is focused on several key priorities to address animal suffering resulting from the war in Ukraine. These include:

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.

One Health

This is contributing to VWB/VSF's overall goal of promoting One Health, by caring for animals in need, in several ways:

Disease prevention and control: Ensuring that animals in Ukrainian shelters and vulnerable households receive proper food and care can help prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases. It also aligns with the One Health approach by minimizing the risk of disease transmission and improving overall public health.

Collaboration and knowledge sharing: Facilitating experience exchange between Canadian and Ukrainian animal welfare professionals promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing, which are essential components of One Health . By working together and sharing expertise, these professionals can develop more effective strategies for addressing animal health and welfare issues, which in turn can benefit human and environmental health.

Strengthening local capacity: By providing support and resources to Ukrainian animal welfare professionals, VWB/VSF can help build local capacity for addressing animal health and welfare issues. This capacity-building effort is promoting sustainable, locally-led solutions that consider the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.

Raising awareness and fostering empathy: Addressing and promoting the needs of animals can raise awareness about the importance of animal welfare and the connections between animal and human health. This heightened awareness can lead to a more empathetic and compassionate response to the needs of all living beings, including health and welfare, along with the environment.

Alleviating animal suffering: The ongoing war has caused significant disruption to the lives of animals, leading to malnutrition, injury, and illness. By providing food, medicine, and veterinary care, we are helping to alleviate the suffering of these animals, improving their quality of life.

Strengthening the human-animal bond and supporting communities: The war in Ukraine has powerfully demonstrated the strength and importance of the human-animal bond. Animals play an essential role in the lives of many Ukrainians, being devoted companions and valuable, (and very vulnerable), family members. By prioritizing animal welfare in their response operations, VWB/VSF is contributing to the emotional well-being and stability of affected community members.

Our Current and Past Partners in Ukraine

A Special Thank You

The entire team at VWB extends a heartfelt thank you to the veterinary clinics, donors, and sponsors who have contributed to our swift emergency response. 

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