Themes by tag: animals

Psychologist Oksana Sliepova works with families of veterans, fallen soldiers and internally displaced persons using dog-assisted therapy: a method of positive psychosocial influence on people with the assistance of trained therapy dogs. According to Oksana, the list of problems that children are currently facing includes  panic attacks, depression, night terrors, fear of the dark or of being alone.

Oksana Sliepova has been working as a psychologist for more than 19 years at the Kyiv-Sviatoshyn Center for Social and Psychological Rehabilitation of the Population, which was founded to help people affected in Chornobyl tragedy.

• animals
• children
• psychological support
• Kyiv

This spring, more than 19 new animal pairs were created in Kyiv Zoo. (Zoo officials explain that couples and families are created for different reasons: in order to breed or just for a company, according to the zoo’s strategic collection planning). Recall that the zoo has sheltered almost 400 animals from the affected areas of the country. 

Among other things, the employees are currently arranging a whole family ranch for the newly created raccoon family, as the family is quite large: these are 16 animals, including nine rescued from the war.

• animals
• Kyiv

russia’s full-scale invasion had a negative impact on the lives of pets. In particular, many animal shelters are overcrowded in Odesa. People who are forced to leave abroad often leave their pets behind, and these can be adult animals that are used to living inside instead of being kept in enclosures. In addition, volunteers care for and treat animals that have become homeless due to the war. In addition, the military bring many animals from the combat zone to animal rights activists.

Activists can show and tell journalists how the war changes the lives of pets.

• animals
• Odesa

Volunteers in Kyiv region make special bulletproof vests for dogs. They are handed over to the canines of the National Guard, the State Emergency Service and “Antares” canine search and rescue team. Protective equipment is necessary for dogs that take part in demining and search and rescue operations. So far, volunteers have already produced and handed over two dozen of these bulletproof vests to the special services.

• animals
• Kyiv

“Riding into the Future” project holds therapeutic horse riding classes for military personnel who have musculoskeletal disorders and amputated limbs after participating in combat.

The project was founded by a married couple of Oleksandra and Vasyl. Now Vasyl himself is at the front, so Oleksandra, together with Natalka, the founder of “DoloniDotyk” (a Touch of a Hand) NGO holds horse riding classes for wounded soldiers every week.

• animals
• casualties
• military
• volunteers
• Lviv

A lion has recently been evacuated to the Wild Animal Rescue Center in the Kyiv region from the Sumy region — the animal was in territory shelled by russians. Also, a lemur from Kherson city lives in the Center. He survived the occupation and a russian missile hit on the petting zoo where he was cared for. Now they and many other wild animals are recovering, the Center takes care of and treats them.

In general, since the beginning of full-scale invasion of the russian federation in Ukraine, the Wild Animal Rescue Center has hosted more than 600 animals of various species (lions, bears, tigers, wolves, leopards, wild birds, raccoons, etc.). The volunteers evacuated animals, in particular, from front-line zones and other dangerous territories.

• animals
• occupation
• volunteers
• Kyiv

Anna from Kharkiv is the owner of an equestrian school for children. Due to russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the horses began to run out of food, as hay remained in the occupied territory. In addition, there was enemy shelling, and one shell even hit the territory of the stable, but did not explode. The woman, together with her family, decided to evacuate the animals. (Her husband also rescued other people’s horses, sometimes the evacuation took place under fire. Today he continues to take animals out of hot spots).

They had to take their horses to Dnipropetrovsk region and Poltava region. Due to difficulties with caring for them, some animals were given to students and sold abroad. Later, the couple found a stable near Zhytomyr, where they decided to start anew.

• animals
• casualties
• Zhytomyr

Dogs of “Antares” canine search and rescue team are looking for people under the rubble of a multi-story building in Dnipro, which was destroyed by a russian missile on January 14. “Antares” is a working dog team based in Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk region. Dogs are trained to search for alive and dead people in any conditions, even in areas of active hostilities. This is the only such unit that is sent to search and rescue operations by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Therefore, the team worked in almost all hot spots of Ukraine.

• animals
• dead
• Dnipro

Odesa Zoo functions despite frequent power outages due to rocket attacks by the occupiers on the country’s infrastructure. The institution has insulated enclosures for animals as well as potbelly stoves. The zoo also experienced a long-term power outage and lack of water (employees had made supplies in advance). In addition, the zoo has generators, coal and lots of firewood.

For reference: in September, Odesa Zoo celebrated its 100th anniversary.

• animals
• blackout
• Odesa

Ukrainian cat blogger Stepan, who, together with his owner, went abroad from his native Kharkiv due to the all-out war, has finally returned home. Cat Stepan collected money for Ukrainian shelters and zoos while staying abroad. Photos from the shelled city appeared on Stepan’s Instagram, where he has more than a million followers. The apartment where Stepan lives is located in Pivnichna Saltivka district, the area that has suffered the most from the russian attacks.

• animals
• volunteers
• Kharkiv