Polish charity worker goes to Ukraine to rescue abandoned pets

A Polish charity worker is making regular runs into war-torn Ukraine to rescue dozens of abandoned pets.

Konrad is among a handful of staff from an animal shelter close to the Polish-Ukrainian border which has been flooded with calls from desperate Ukrainians asking for help.

Since the outbreak of hostilities last week Konrad and his colleagues from the animal charity Dioz have rescued more than 100 cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters and even a chameleon….

Konrad said: ‘There has been a lot of fake news and uncorroborated stories that Ukrainians are killing abandoned animals, that is just not correct.

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‘We have been involved in many rescue missions over there, rescuing animals that we have been told about or who have been taken to shelters.

‘A lot of them are in bad shape, they are sick, hungry or suffering from broken limbs. We collect every animal we find and bring them back to our shelter to be looked after.’

The shelter has been working overtime the last week with the team making a crossing every day.

‘We have received hundreds of calls to help people with their pets – some people do bring them across but others can’t and they don’t want to abandon their pets so contact us.

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‘We are sent drastic photos of people’s pets or animals that have been found abandoned and we try and help as much as we can but sometimes, we just can’t get to them all.

Some of the animals we get are so weak and undernourished there is nothing we can do for them it’s very distressing.’

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The animals that are successfully treated are put up for adoption but others have asked for their pets to be kept safe until the war is over.

Authorities in Poland have made it possible for refugees fleeing with their pets to enter the country without vaccinations, microchip and blood test.

RELATED: Poland offers safe-havens and free vet care for Ukrainian pets

WAYS TO HELP

These are some of the things they need most urgently to take care of the cats in their care:

Carriers
Blankets (different sizes)
FIV and FELV tests for cats
Food bowls

Contact number and email:
+48 733 300 021 centrum.adopcyjne@gmail.com