By: Robin Dorman
A Russian airstrike set off a conflagration in the upper floor of a home, in Kherson, Ukraine, across from Russian-occupied territory, belonging to a wonderful, caring man who had started to take in abandoned, starving, and desperate cats with nowhere to go. As the invasion became more dire, and escaping families were not able to take their animal companions with them, the man helped more and more of the wandering and bewildered cats until the number reached over 60. While the conditions in the house were not perfect, at least they now had shelter and food, as there was no actual shelter in the area with the capacity to bring in additional cats.
Tragically, the fire that engulfed the top floor killed nearly all the cats, with three surviving, among them a very fortunate ginger cat called Natasha, who had a dream ending, assuaging some of the terrible anguish and piercing sorrow of the deaths.
Through our extraordinarily generous donors, Arukah helps such long-term Ukrainian partners as Anna Kurkurina with veterinary treatment, pet food, and spay/neuter surgeries. It was Anna who rescued the severely burned and traumatized Natasha. Once fully recovered, the beautiful kitty landed in a perfect home fit for the lucky girl, rich with an assortment of toys, divine beds, and endlessly pleasurable cuddling.
These are indeed bleak times for human and more-than-human animals in the heart of war-shattered Ukraine. But such a story of a miraculous survivor amid the ruins is something to celebrate and appreciate, which is only made possible through the steadfast support of donors like you on behalf of hundreds of Ukrainian volunteers.
Zhanna, another one of our long-term partners, found a little puppy whom she called Zinka, abandoned in a squalid kennel without food or water. When she noticed that the little dog had a severe infection, she rushed her to a vet clinic, and our donors didn’t hesitate to provide the emergency medical care. Without treatment, veterinarians said Zinka wouldn’t have survived. After spending time in foster care, the now healthy pup was spotted by a young family on social media and was immediately besotted and welcomed her home, where Zinka’s new adored best friend is a delightful kitty.
The unwavering commitment of Arukah and our network of Ukraine partners has led to countless stories of perseverance, even in the darkest of times. Arukah team members Gregg Tully and Liliana Alba Pacheco were recently in Ukraine, along with the volunteers, providing food to more than 9,000 dogs and cats, many of whom were left homeless because of the war. Gregg and Liliana worked actively with local volunteers to build dog and cat houses for animals left on the streets, helping them to survive the cold winters and providing much needed safety against the bombings raining down upon the region. Donors made it possible to spay and neuter more than 1,000 animals, and to provide emergency vet treatment to dozens of others.
Thanks to the constancy of Arukah donors, thousands of dogs and cats caught in a country convulsed with chaos and violence have experienced many astonishing miracles. Let them continue. Together, we can create a future where every animal, no matter where they come from, can find safety, love, and a joyful forever home.
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