On October 2, the Center for Civil Liberties and UAnimals held a peaceful protest on Khreshchatyk called “Accessible Shelters—Safety for Life.” Activists urged officials to make shelters accessible and safe for both people and animals.
Over the past three months, UAnimals and the Center for Civil Liberties volunteers have been inspecting the accessibility and basic quality of shelters in 10 cities. According to their estimates, only 36% of shelters allow animals, even though this has been a legal right since the beginning of the year.
In December, UAnimals’ lawyers reached out to the Ministry of Internal Affairs with a proposal to update the 2018 directive and allow people to bring animals into shelters. The ministry fulfilled this request, and starting January 10, 2024, people have the right to take shelter from shelling with their animals.
The volunteers who inspected Kyiv’s shelters claim they are far from ideal. More than 70% of the city’s shelters lack ramps and gentle slopes, drinking water supplies, and toilets. In half of the shelters, there are no seating arrangements or ventilation systems installed. Additionally, 37% of Kyiv’s shelters are completely closed.
UAnimals and the Center for Civil Liberties are calling on those responsible to address the situation.
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Photo: https://www.facebook.com/bella.elisichenko
