Ukraine pets and their people reunited

One year on from the invasion of Ukraine, Blue Cross has news from owners of pets fleeing the country and making incredible journeys to reach safety in the UK. Pets arriving from Ukraine all needed a spell in quarantine, several stayed at the charity’s Hertfordshire animal rehoming centre, and have since been reunited with their owners and are settling into their new lives in the UK.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 also led the charity to launch an urgent appeal to fund and provide support to pets left in Ukraine and for pet owners fleeing the country with their animals. The ‘Blue Cross Ukraine Pet Welfare Fund’ has since raised over £350k, 100% of which has been used to support four charities partners in Ukraine and over the border. Funds have so provided for:

• Over 500 tons of pet food (enough to fill more than 20 trucks) to prevent homeless cats and dogs from starving
• More than 450 dog houses have been sent over
• Thousands of dog jackets and blankets to help cats and dogs survive the brutal Ukrainian winter

Anna Wade, Blue Cross Public Affairs Manager said: “The war is having such a devastating effect across Ukraine and of course our thoughts are with all those suffering and struggling at this terrible time. As a pet charity, we immediately stepped in to help wherever we could. Both in providing quarantine for those who managed to flee with their pets and for those who have stayed with their pets and rely on support from charities. We are also helping the charity partners to care for hundreds of pets without owners fending for themselves in sub-zero temperatures.” 

Katerina Leshchenko left her home in Rudka on 5 March in thick snow. Travelling by car with her son, parents, cat Mouse and her neighbour with her retriever dog. They drove for hundreds of kilometres, at times facing dangerous situations and heavy queues of traffic to finally reach the UK on 23 May where Mouse was placed in quarantine with Blue Cross. *

Betty’s previous owners were forced to leave her behind when they fled Ukraine at the outbreak of war. Adopted by Viktoriia and her two children at just two-months old. Betty gave some joy to pupils at the school where Viktoriia worked, some light relief to the anxious and terrified children who had waved goodbye to their fathers conscripted to the army. Soon it became too dangerous for Viktoriia to stay and a kind sponsor stepped in to offer them all a home in the UK.** 

Owner of two cats, Sonya and Marsh, Alina Fadeeva was fleeing Ukraine with her pets when she met Liam Stratton. Liam is a British man who was studying at university in the city of Dnipro. Liam had adopted rescue dog Lucy from a local centre, sadly she had already had a terrible start to life when she was blinded during an acid attack when she was very young. For Liam it was love at first sight and he was determined to bring her back to Britain with him for the life she deserved. Alina fostered Lucy while he was away getting the necessary documents and vaccinations for Lucy and a visa and paperwork for Alina and her cats. They travelled out of the country and across to the UK together and all three pets were quarantined at the Blue Cross in Hertfordshire.

Dmytro Kubov and his wife Iryna are from the Donetsk region of Ukraine, the city of Mariupol. They fled with their two cats, Mars and Tor, and dog Bulochka after spending over a month sheltering from the raids. When their home was destroyed, they were forced to find shelter in the streets, taking just their pets and essential documents with them. Finally, with their car also gone, they left on foot with their cats and dog to walk the 70 miles to another town. After weeks travelling with their terrified animals they got the visas they need and space for the cats for quarantine at Blue Cross, their dog was sent elsewhere.

Dmytro said: “Our cats Tor and Mars were so well cared for. We were constantly sent reports on their condition, mood, photos and videos. We saw that they have a lot of toys, beds and very good care.  We are very grateful to Blue Cross for such a good attitude towards our animals. When we came for them they recognized us. They are a part of our life and we can’t imagine our life without them”. 

Anna continued: “It is such a happy ever after for those pets reunited with their loving owners in the UK but there is still so much work to do overseas. The compassion and dedication of the charity partners on the ground, heading into Ukraine to rescue pets and care for them day to day is overwhelming. We are so grateful to anyone who can donate to our Fund which really is helping so many vulnerable pets in need.”

Blue Cross has a long history of helping animals during wartime. ‘The Blue Cross Fund’ began in 1912 (when the charity was known as ‘Our Dumb Friends League’) to help animals during the Balkan War. The Fund was resurrected again in both World Wars to help horses and other animals on front lines, and dogs who were befriended by soldiers who to quarantine and reunite them back home.

With the increasing demand for Blue Cross pet welfare services, the charity needs the support of animal lovers to continue its work helping pets and their people, in any way they can. Whether that’s by donating to keep rehoming and veterinary services going through these tough times, fundraising for Blue Cross, providing foster care for pets while loving new homes are found, volunteering at pet food banks, or signing up to support Blue Cross campaigns for better pet welfare. www.bluecross.org.uk

Notes to Editors

• Images, video and spokespeople available for comment, contact the media team
• *MOUSE: Katerina Leshchenko left her home in Berezovaya Rudka in March last year.  She left with her cat ‘Mouse’, her son, parents and a neighbour with her large retriever dog. They took only a few belongings, sleeping bags, groceries and Mouse’s plastic carrier with toilet tray and bowls for food and water. Katerina said “The cat behaves calmly, as if she understands that now is a difficult time for everyone. Her basket is on the floor of the car, just in the place where the warm air from the heater blows on the legs of the rear passengers. The cat is warm and cozy. She has been sleeping for hours now. Or is she pretending to be asleep?”

After driving hundreds of kilometres and various overnight rests where Mouse to stay, they were finally able to collect visas and documents for Mouse and head over to the UK where Mouse was taken into quarantine at Blue Cross.

• **BETTY: Viktoriia Lahodynska had only just taken on two-month old Betty after her previous family fled when the war began. Betty had been helping out in the local school where her owner was working in Kviv. Children were understandably anxious after the invasion began and they had to say goodbye to fathers conscipted to the army, Betty was a welcome distraction and helped children forget their fears for a while. Viktoriia managed to secure a sponsor in the UK for herself and her two children Elizabeth, eight, Bohnan 10 and Betty.

Viktoriia couldn’t be more grateful to the team, who provided regular updates, photos and videos. She says: “I just imagined, like in Ukraine, that my dog would be sitting in a cage. And when I saw the picture, she was in a lovely room and they’ve got her lovely toys. In the video she was happy, jumping and playing. I don’t feel sad that my dog was here.”

“They didn’t just walk her. They spent a lot of time with my dog and gave a lot of love. I am really very happy to have an organisation like this who can take care of pets, the most important things in the world.” Bettyand her family were reunited (VIDEO AVAILIBLE)

• Blue Cross is a national charity that has been helping sick, injured and homeless pets since 1897. Every month we help thousands of pets and their people by providing veterinary care, expert behaviour advice and find homeless pets loving families. We also offer education for future generations plus pet bereavement support for those who have lost their beloved pet companion. We love the ways that pets can make such an amazing difference to the people they live with and we offer lifelong support and advice to help that unique relationship thrive. With your support we can give back to more pets and their families who need our help. Pets change lives. We change theirs.
• For more information visit www.bluecross.org.uk

Media contact

• Louise Lee, Senior Media Officer 07880 781637 / [email protected] 
• Blue Cross media team: 0300 777 1950/ [email protected]