Naturewatch Foundation
Naturewatch Foundation - Advancing Animal Welfare
In the midst of ongoing conflict, the dedicated team at Animal Rescue Kharkiv (ARK) continues to make a profound impact on the lives of animals in Ukraine.
This resilient non-governmental organisation (NGO) has been on the front lines for years, rescuing and rehoming cats, dogs, and other animals from regions heavily affected by war. Even before the full-scale invasion, ARK was venturing into the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, rescuing abandoned animals and bringing them back to Kharkiv for a chance at a new life.
However, the challenges they face are immense.
With the war escalating in 2022, ARK quickly realised that the costs of treating rescued animals in private veterinary clinics were unsustainable. In response, they took a bold step and opened their own clinic. It became clear that hiring a vet was more cost-effective than paying for services at private clinics, allowing ARK to provide more comprehensive care for the animals they rescue.
The war has also taken a toll on their shelter. In 2022, a Russian missile strike destroyed their original facility, forcing them to find new land and rebuild from scratch. Despite these setbacks, ARK has managed to construct enclosures for dogs and has opened a state-of-the-art rehabilitation centre for cats.
This centre serves a dual purpose:
- It helps rescued cats acclimate to new environments, and
- It provides a space where people affected by the war – especially military personnel and civilians – can find comfort and solace through interaction with the animals. This unique approach has led to many heartwarming connections, with both cats and people finding healing through their interactions.
One of the critical tools ARK needed was dog-catching poles, which are essential for safely capturing frightened or injured dogs, particularly in high-risk, frontline areas.
Thanks to your generous support, we were able to provide ARK with the most humane catching poles available.
These poles are designed with a soft plastic covering on the hoop to prevent any injury to the dogs during the capture process. The poles are used only for the initial capture, after which the dogs are carefully transferred to cages and then transported to safety.
The poles have already made a significant difference in ARK’s rescue operations. With evacuations taking place every couple of days, ARK’s team often has mere seconds to capture animals in dangerous situations. On each mission, they typically rescue around 10 animals, and many of these are eventually reunited with their families, who were forced to leave their pets behind during mandatory evacuations. In other cases, ARK provides shelter and care for animals whose owners have either abandoned them or tragically passed away, working tirelessly to find them new, loving homes.
In addition to dog rescues, ARK’s rehabilitation centre for cats is a beacon of hope for both the animals and the people of Kharkiv. Many of these cats were left homeless by the war, but now, thanks to ARK and your support, they are receiving the care they need.
We recently provided ARK with vaccines to protect these cats from common feline viruses, ensuring their health and well-being while they await adoption.
At Animal Rescue Kharkiv, the work is never done. As the war continues, so does the need for support. But with your help, we can continue to fund these life-saving efforts and ensure that animals in Ukraine have a chance at a better life.
Thank you for standing with us and supporting organisations like ARK that are making a real difference on the ground.
Together, we can keep hope alive for these animals and the people who care for them.
For more information on our work please visit our website.
The post Supporting Animal Rescue in Kharkiv: How Your Contributions are Saving Lives first appeared on Naturewatch Foundation and is written by Morwenna.