As the sun sets over Ukraine this evening, our teams are finishing another hard-going, but vital, day on the ground. Today the mission split into two paths...
Team One: The Kramatorsk Run
Our first team (Pen and Dan) headed back into the high-risk zone of Kramatorsk for a second evacuation run. They are on the move right now, bringing dogs out of the direct line of fire and transporting them to the relative safety of Kyiv (take a look at some of Pen’s photos taken as they zoom along the net-covered highways). These animals have known nothing but the sound of sirens and shelling — tonight, we hope they get their first peaceful sleep in a very long time.
Team Two: Zaporizhzhia
Meanwhile, our second team branched off to Zaporizhzhia. Historically known as the land of the Cossacks and home to the great Dnipro River, this city has now become a critical humanitarian hub.
David, Dr. Lach and Angela have been busy today delivering supplies of the food and medicines (YOU all donated from Amazon!) to local volunteers who are stretched to their absolute limit. They’ve also been working in their own pop-up clinic, carrying out urgent surgery for some poorly animals and some sterilisation/neutering procedures. Plus the ever-important rabies vaccinations! These three are providing the clinical care today that is simply unavailable elsewhere.
Amongst the chaos, we also want you to meet Amanda (the white dog in our footage). This sweet girl has a heartbreaking back story though — her owner in the military was tragically killed in action so she was left on the streets before being taken in by this incredible shelter. She is a reminder of why we do this. Every animal we reach is a soul that would otherwise be forgotten in the fog of war.
It’s been a long day, but we’re not stopping! Thank you for standing with Nowzad and the animals of Ukraine.
Please help us keep these vans moving and these clinics running. Every donation, share and conversation really does make a difference.