Polish Charity Workers Are Risking Their Lives to Rescue Animals Across the Ukraine Border
As the crisis in Ukraine continues to devastate the country, lives are being torn apart by the violence. Many people have made significant sacrifices to bring their beloved pets with them as they flee to safer lands.
Others, however, have not been so fortunate. As a result, some animals have been left stranded amid the chaos.
Despite the dire circumstances, brave volunteers and veterinarians are risking their lives to ensure the well-being of these animals. Many Polish charity workers have dedicated their lives to rescuing these helpless animals from unsafe conditions on the Ukrainian side of the border.
They are also searching for pets who have been separated from their owners until they can be reunited with them in a safe area. “It hurts me so much to see these animals suffering, and people sometimes forget about pets in times of war, which I suppose is a natural consequence,” says Konrad Kuzminski, CEO of the Polish animal rescue service Dioz.
Kuzminski and his Dioz teammates have saved over 100 animals since the conflict erupted a few weeks ago, including dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits, and even a few reptiles. The refuge, located near the Ukrainian border, has been inundated with frantic calls for assistance from Ukrainians fleeing the country.
Dioz, an animal rescue organization from Poland, is helping animals from Ukraine
Polish charity workers have dedicated themselves to rescuing vulnerable animals from dangerous conditions across the Ukraine border.
“Last weekend, I received a call from a man who was in Ukraine. He said he was living alone but had a dog and wanted us to look after it because he was going to fight the Russians,” Kuzminski shares. “We arranged to meet just over the border, and he was in tears as he handed his dog over to me. I assured him we would look after the dog and that he could collect it when all this was over.”
They’re also taking care of pets who’ve had to be left behind
“Last weekend, I received a call from a man who was in Ukraine. He said he was living alone but had a dog and wanted us to look after it because he was going to fight the Russians,” one of the veterinarians shares.
Kuzminski and his colleagues have been working around the clock to ensure the protection of animals left to face the dangers of war. After his efforts kept him out past the statutory curfew, he was forced to spend some nights in his rescue van.
“It hurts me so much to see these animals suffering,” says Konrad Kuzminski, CEO of the Polish animal rescue service Dioz
"People sometimes forget about pets in times of war, which I suppose is a natural consequence," he adds.
Dr. Radoslaw Fedaczynski, a veterinarian from the ADA Animal Clinic, is working closely with Kuzminski
Dr. Radoslaw Fedaczynski, a veterinarian at the ADA Animal Clinic who specializes in canine and feline disorders, is one of Kuzminski's closest associates. Fedaczynski and other brave veterinarians are on hand to care for the animals' health and help them recover from any injuries they may have sustained prior to their rescue.
Despite Kuzminski and his team's best efforts, some of the animals are beyond help by the time they are rescued.
“It’s very distressing for all of us working with the animals—we want to help them, but in some cases, we have no choice,” Fedaczynski explains. “Some of the dogs and animals we receive are so weak and undernourished that there is nothing we can do for them. It’s very distressing.”
He specializes in dog and cat illnesses.
Fedaczynski and other brave veterinarians are there to care for the animals’ health.
They also assist in their recovery from injuries sustained before their rescues.
But sometimes it is not enough
“It’s very distressing for all of us working with the animals,” Fedaczynski says.
“Some of the dogs and animals we receive are so weak and undernourished that there is nothing we can do for them,” he explains.
Animals that recover from effective treatment are placed for adoption, and pets that have been relinquished by their owners are cared for until they can be safely reunited. Many have suffered significant trauma, and due to the high number of animals in the organization's care, the majority spend much of their time confined to crates and cages.
However, thanks to Kuzminski's efforts, as well as those of his rescue crew and the veterinarians working alongside Fedaczynski, these creatures will be able to heal and recuperate in a safe environment. The ADA Foundation and the Dioz animal charity are collaborating closely to protect the health and safety of these animals, and they are seeking donations to help fund their life-saving efforts.
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