Throughout April, the UAnimals legal team received 41 inquiries through the “Help for Animals” chatbot. The most frequent requests were from witnesses of animal cruelty seeking legal support.
Dogs were the focus of 8 cases, 2 involved the killing of a dog. Other 3 involved poisoning; 5 cases reported improper keeping of dogs.
There was also a report from a witness of cat abuse and two complaints about improper cat care. In each instance, the legal team provided clear instructions and action plans for reporting and responding to these situations.
One case involved a collective complaint from employees of a state-owned enterprise in the Kyiv region. Stray dogs living on the premises were banned from being fed by management. The legal team advised the employees to:
- Collect signatures from coworkers;
- Formally request management to lift the feeding ban;
- If that fails, suggest humane alternatives — such as arranging shelter space, placing feeders outside company grounds, or organizing sterilization.
Other complaints included a mobile animal exhibit at the Karavan Mall in Kyiv and photo services using animals. It’s important to remember: photo services with wild animals and mobile exhibits featuring them are prohibited in Ukraine under Article 25 of the Law on the Protection of Animals from Cruelty.
If you witness a crime against an animal — take action. The chatbot’s “Legal Assistance” section offers:
- Step-by-step guides for different situations;
- Answers to common legal questions;
- Templates for necessary documents (in Ukrainian).
If your issue isn’t resolved there, you can also request a free personal legal consultation through the chatbot.
