Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/american-shelter-volunteer-ukraine/

Jeff Praul may live in Maryland, but that didn’t stop the young American man from flying thousands of miles to help out after war broke out in Ukraine.

“When Russia invaded Ukraine, that entire day my heart just felt heavy,” the 28-year-old told TODAY Parents. “I was just feeling like there was nothing I could do.”

But after watching Ukraine’s president invite volunteers to support the resistance, the Baltimore, Maryland, resident was inspired to help. “That flipped the switch in my mind,” said Praul. Three days later, he was on the next flight to Poland.

After crossing the border into Ukraine, the young American briefly visited a Ukrainian military base, looking for ways to help. But the young man left after declining to pick up a gun and join the fighting–-leaving just days before a Russian missile strike injured or killed almost 200 people.

After this lucky escape, the young American traveled to Lviv, where he began volunteering at a Ukrainian animal shelter caring for the country’s growing number of four-legged war victims.

Many shelter pets are strays; others are wild animals, or former pets who have been lost, displaced, or abandoned by their families. Two shelter dogs were found at the train station, tied to a pole, with their names and ages written on scraps of paper.

“They have all the dogs that just come from all over the place — there are some days where they just get a huge number of animals just dumped on them, and that’s when it’s really loud,” said the American volunteer. After the animals are rescued, shelter partners help them get adopted in Europe or the relative safety of Western Ukraine.

“There’s a partner organization from Germany who takes them up to Poland,” said Praul. “They stay there during a quarantine period, and then they bring them to Germany to get adopted, which is awesome.”

Meanwhile, this American volunteert is just doing his best to comfort the animals trapped in this war. Some shelter pets seem to be taking fighting in stride, but others are terrified by the violence.

“The dog I have the biggest attachment to right now, she can’t go out because she doesn’t trust anyone,” the American said. “Animals don’t have a choice in any of this — it’s human drama and the animals don’t have any say. It’s really upsetting.”

Praul will probably return to Maryland soon, but he’ll never forget this time in Ukraine, where he was recently out walking dogs while bombs and explosions sounded off in the distance.

“Some of the dogs got a little riled up for a bit, but two, three minutes after the hits I go back to the dogs and it’s just a loud noise to them,” said Praul, who found the dogs’ nonchalance reassuring.

“Their tails were wagging — they just wanted to get taken out and just wanted some love,” he said. “I had a view of the attacks, but those dogs are just trying to enjoy their day still. They’re still trying to live.”

The Animal Rescue Site has also teamed up with Greater Good Charities to help other people and pets who are affected by the war in Ukraine. Please make a donation to help support these life-saving efforts.

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog