Leopolis, 70 kilometers away, has long hosted a committed animal advocacy group. Since its beginnings, the ADA association has focused on helping animals caught in conflict zones. During a recent surge of violence in Ukraine, volunteers moved quickly to distribute supplies at border shelters. Veterinarian Pablo Brome, who works at Privet Veterinary Hospital, coordinated a mission to deliver 2,000 kilograms of ERA bait and bring additional aid from border shelters housing homeless animals.
Asked why this mission was organized, Brome explains that when people are struggling to feed themselves, animals suffer even more. The effort was supported by a range of teams and media networks reporting on the crisis, underscoring the sentiment that food scarcity hits animals as hard as people. Although Europe has seen widespread donations of food, clothing, and fodder, Ukrainian relief organizations and the Red Cross note that needs remain urgent and ongoing.
Brome recalls that upon arrival, the group initially felt their contribution seemed small in the face of so much need. Yet every effort mattered, and a collective commitment would ensure continued support for animals and people alike. The journey began at the end of March, requiring a week of travel across Europe to assist animals whose owners had been displaced by bombardments.
The veterinarian’s journey
From the outset, the mission aimed to deliver humanitarian aid and transport animals from border shelters toward safer locations in Romania, Slovakia, and Poland. Vehicles were packed with cages and carriers to move animals that could not stay behind at crowded shelters. As the team traversed Europe, challenges emerged. Polish regulations changed, requiring a three-month quarantine for animals from Ukraine housed on European soil to verify rabies status. That created a setback, and the veterinary convoy faced the reality that some animal transfers could not proceed as planned.
Ukrainian bunkers
Local animal protection groups emphasized that aid was needed for everything from small pets to cattle. Shelters coordinated by Privet Hospital and the ADA reported distributions of 2,000 kilograms of feed and additional donations of 1,000 kilograms of other essentials. When it became clear that it would be difficult to move animals out of shelters, the team adapted by shifting focus to humanitarian assistance and seeking Ukrainian refugees who wished to leave the country and could join the convoy, turning the mission toward saving both people and pets where possible.
Poland border
Along the border with Ukraine, many nations established aid points to feed, assist, and relocate people. The flow of displaced Ukrainians was immense, and volunteers worked to create a network able to help those crossing the line. The group eventually split up to assist different individuals who sought a way out, and seven Ukrainians later joined the mission to continue their journey toward safety in Spain, traveling in a minibus with the volunteers. The experience highlighted the stark realities at train stations and refugee centers, where families arrived with little and, in some cases, their pets. Small dogs and cats were commonly seen among the travelers, often leading to questions about who stayed behind during the upheaval.
Animals that can’t escape
Widespread footage captured the horrors of the conflict, including the heavy toll on animals left behind or unable to escape. Though many pets faced daunting fates, some stories stood out, such as the tragedy in Borodyanka where a large number of companion animals perished due to a lack of food and water. The toll of the invasion extended beyond human casualties, underscoring the urgent need to address animal welfare amidst ongoing disruption.
In Bucha, a poignant image showed a dog guarding the corpse of another, a stark reminder of the chaos surrounding them. Other shelters and bunkers were abandoned, and cattle roamed seeking sustenance in an environment where food was scarce, eventually succumbing to hunger and thirst.
Across the journey, volunteers witnessed both resilience and heartbreak, with the effort to balance urgent human needs against the welfare of animals remaining a constant challenge. The mission illustrated how coordinated aid can support vulnerable populations and their animal companions even in the most difficult circumstances.