Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/tim-visits-ukraine-shelters/
For the past two years, GreaterGood and The Animal Rescue Site have been working closely with partner organizations all over Ukraine to deliver aid where it is needed. We continue to send help thanks to your generous donations.
GreaterGood’s CEO, Tim Kunin, is traveling to hard-hit areas in Ukraine alongside Nina Yevtushenko, GreaterGood employee in Ukraine, handing out much-needed supplies to animal shelters and providing food and supplies to the people.
These items were donated thanks to your continued support. Times are tough in Ukraine as the war continues. The people and pets are forever grateful for your donations.
Thankfully, there are heroes who are risking their lives to help those in need. Tim was able to visit and help shelters who are caring for dozens of animals. Thanks to you, he was able to bring warm wool blankets and large bags of pet food. Nina captured photos and videos of their visit to share with you. See how the pets responded to your kind gifts below.
Cat Shelter
Tim and Nina arrived at Only One Heart is Vigilant, a cat shelter in Odessa, started in 2008 by a woman named Elena with several bags of cat food and blankets. Elena is currently caring for 54 cats, many with health issues, that she rescued from the war-torn streets.
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Several were abandoned by their owners and forced to fend for themselves on the streets, like Bagheera. This sweet feline is finally safe.
Tim enjoyed his time with the friendly cats and their therapeutic purrs. The cats are so thankful for the nutritious food and for a warm place to nap.
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Dog Shelter
The team headed to a city shelter next called “Animals of Odessa”. There they met Elena and Oksana, representatives of the shelter, at the dog adoption center. They shared with us that the center is not only a home for over 40 homeless dogs, but a place where locals can come and interact with the dogs and hopefully fall in love with one.
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Over a dozen of the dogs were rescued from Kherson when it was heavily bombed. They have been helping homeless animals since 2020 and take pride in caring for the animals until they find homes. Numerous large dogs barked with excitement as Tim and Nina walked with shelter staff around the kennels.
These dogs will have full bellies thanks to the donated pet food and warm shelter thanks to the dog kennels you helped provide.
Disabled Dogs
Oksana also brought the team over to the shelter for injured and disabled dogs who were each given their own warm blanket. Tim spent some time with the sweet dogs after hearing their heartbreaking stories. He also thanked all the devoted staff and volunteers for their work and compassion towards these animals.
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Patron Pet Center
Patron Pet Center opened just eight months ago in Kyiv and has already managed to find homes for 800 pets. The visionary behind this center is a veterinarian and an architect who created a space that is calming for homeless pets and gives them the best care possible.
Tim arrived with warm blankets and toured the facility that left him in awe. He told us, “It is an amazing facility. Radiant heated floors in all kennel rooms, lots of toys and enrichment devices, dogs walked twice daily, 24-hour staffing, cameras in the kennels posted to the internet so people can follow and support animals needing adoption, and much more.”
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The center plans on expanding to the second floor of the building for a cat space, which we are helping raise funds for.
Just days after Tim’s visit, one of the largest attacks on Ukraine’s capital occurred and the center opened its doors to homeless and abandoned animals. Brave volunteers are risking their lives by heading into the dangerous areas to save dogs and cats left behind. They are being brought back to the Patron Pet Center and GreaterGood and The Animal Rescue Site are providing medical care and support for these pets, thanks to your support.
Check out the devastating video below and join us in helping those in need.
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Pizza Party
While traveling through areas devastated by the war, the team stopped to host a pizza party for locals to provide good food and fun. Adults and children formed a line as Tim and the team cooked pizzas and played upbeat music for all to enjoy.
People were smiling and enjoying themselves and forgetting for a brief time about the war. We have been supporting Siobahn’s Trust who has been hosting pizza parties in devastated areas since the war began.
Tourniquet Donation
The brave people fighting for their country need medical supplies. Tim met up with some military members at a charity exhibition of Ukrainian artists and delivered 50 tourniquets to help save lives.
This isn’t the first or the last donation of medical supplies needed for troops. The Ministry of Health of Ukraine lists bandages and tourniquets as key medical supplies needed on the frontlines. Help us to continue to send these life-saving supplies to the brave men and women in Ukraine by donating here.
Your donations are changing the lives of pets and people in Ukraine. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support for Ukraine. Together we CAN make a difference.
Check out more photos of the trip to Ukraine below.
Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog