The war in Ukraine continues into its eighth day today. Over 800,000 civilians have fled the country, according to the United Nations, while the European Union estimates up to four million people may try to leave because of the Russian invasion.
Amidst the turmoil, it is easy to forget animals, too, are affected by the goings-on as explosions take place in the streets, and entire families are forced to shelter in basements or underground metro stations, or are displaced entirely.
For many, the prospect of abandoning their pets is unimaginable. One cat café in Lviv, 70km from the Polish border, remained open on the second day of the conflict, its owners telling CNN they needed to feed the 20 felines in its premises and had to remain in business.
“This is our life. If we go, no one will feed our cats,” one of them said.
In photos, fleeing Ukranians demonstrated loyalty to their animal companions, continuing to care for them amid fear of being caught in weapons assault, power outages and dwindling reserves of food, water and other supplies.
Evacuees in Lviv were even seen ditching their suitcases in favour of carrying their dogs and cats to safety, according to the “Daily Mail”.
And the “Times of India” reported on a 23-year-old computer-engineering student at Kharkiv National University in eastern Ukraine, who reportedly refused the chance to fly home to India because the airline wouldn’t clear him to bring his dog, Maliboo, on board.
“I decided then that if my dog can’t leave, I won’t either,” Rishabh Kaushik said. “I know there is a risk in staying on, but I can’t just abandon him. Who will take care of him if I go?”
Sadly, battles near the Gostomel animal shelter, located close to an airfield outside the capital Kyiv, left several animals dead from heart attacks. And according to the Happy Paw Foundation, a non-profit that provides financial assistance to shelters throughout Ukraine, other animals were injured by bullets.
Thankfully there is good news for those fleeing with their non-human family members to neighbouring Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia – they can expect a warm welcome as animal rescue organisations and volunteers step up their efforts to help evacuate pets.
Groups such as Casa lui Patrocle, a Romanian non-profit, are at the Ukrainian border to ensure families entering the country don’t leave their pets behind.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal’s (Peta) Global Compassion fund has sent teams to the Polish border to provide onsite aid including shepherding animals to safety; while Peta in Germany has been coordinating deliveries of animal food to Ukraine.
In the meantime, don’t expect animal rescuers and activists in Ukraine itself to give up the fight – they continue to demonstrate the defiance and resilience of the country’s lionhearted residents.
“We are not going to run! We must believe in our country and our defenders!” the Kyiv-based shelter Sirius wrote on its Instagram page recently.
And Andrea Cisternino, an Italian photographer who runs an animal rescue in the capital, has been making waves in social and mainstream media for refusing to leave the shelter where he houses over 400 animals, including dogs, cats, sheep, and goats.
“I have to think about saving a refuge and its 400 guests who deserve to be protected at any cost,” he wrote on Facebook recently.
“I will die here for my animals.”