As every member of our Op. Kramatorsk team has said so far, in not so many words – sometimes, a single dog or cat stays with you long after you turn away from the noise and chaos, and head back to safety again.

Last week, during an emergency evacuation run, a very scared and abandoned, nameless dog caught the attention of our team member, Angela. Amid the sound of explosions, this sweet but clearly traumatised little dog, cowering at every loud boom, made an instant impression - straining at the very extent of her chain, just for a little bit of fuss or some food. Though she wasn't on the initial evacuation list, Angela vowed to return for her on the very next run in.

True to form, Angela went back to retrieve this little girl from Kramatorsk at the end of last week. Now named ‘Hope’ thanks to the fabulous Peter Egan, she was safely loaded up for the tough, two-day, 1,400-kilometer drive away from the frontline.

And it was really just in time. Kramatorsk was hit by yet more missiles and heavy strikes a couple of days ago. When the weather conditions aren’t “good enough” to fly drones, just like in Kramatorsk over the past few days, that’s when the bigger hits tend to happen.

Thankfully for her sake, Hope escaped and has now arrived safely in Lviv, where she is staying with an experienced foster carer and her friendly dog (Jesse). Jesse is already helping Hope settle in, and realise she is off a chain and finally out of danger.

This is the vital work your support makes possible. Operation Kramatorsk continues to be demanding and unpredictable, but every journey means another life saved from the conflict zone, just like Hope.

Please help us keep Angela and our other rescue team members on the ground and moving.

Support Operation Kramatorsk and our Ukraine work today: https://www.nowzad.com/support-us