Always happy despite ordeal

The shelter he called home was bombed and then he endured a torturous 15-hour journey to safety.

But still, Rem arrived at Save the Dogs in Cernavodă, Romania with a wagging tail and plenty of hope.

Such was his sunny disposition, that it soon inspired the team to name the young dog after the band R.E.M, as they felt its iconic hit Shiny, Happy People epitomised his sweet soul.

Roberta Mantoni, one of Rem’s main carers, says: “He’s a very peaceful, calm and relaxed dog. Since day one, he was very sociable. He showed us that he really loves cuddles.

“It's really lovely to be around him, because he's always happy, always trying to brighten your day.”

Even when a positive heartworm result meant that Rem had to enter isolation when it was clear he loved the company of other dogs, he remained upbeat.

Roberta continues: “He was allowed short walks and that was really a fun part of the day for him. It was still the highlight of his day to meet people.”

It took Rem six months of treatment before he tested negative for heartworm but, as soon as he did, he was paired with another dog while he waited to find a new home in Europe.

He was one of 30 dogs saved by Save the Dogs from the shelter in Odessa, Ukraine, that was trying to help the many pets of war when it was shelled by invading Russian forces.

Unlike Rem, most of the dogs were left shutdown and traumatised.

Like Tymon, who spent a month curled up in a ball of fear – too afraid to walk. For weeks, he had to be physically carried to the garden for time outdoors before realising he was safe.

Adriana Susma, who was working at the Romanian border with Ukraine to support refugees and their pets at the time of Rem and Tymon’s rescue in March last year, saw the dogs part-way through their journey to safety.

She says: “The feeling I received when I saw them in that van was heartbreaking. They were not in a bad position physically, but they were definitely traumatised.

“I’m extremely grateful they were able to come here [to Save the Dogs].”

Sadly, they are the lucky few.

Thousands more are fighting to survive on the war-torn streets or at shelters at breaking point as demand deepens. Right now, many are struggling to make it through winter, which has made conditions unsurvivable without help.

But, with support from Blue Cross, Save the Dogs volunteers have been risking their own lives to distribute vital food and supplies like wooden shelters to shield cats and dogs from the cold and stop them freezing to death.

They can only help so many, though. More funds are urgently needed to continue this life-saving work.

Donate to make a difference to the innocent pets of war in Ukraine.