May 2025

Animals were evacuated from:
– the Donetsk region: Druzhkivka, Bilytske, Starorais’ke, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Rubtsi, Kostiantynivka, Nykanorivka, Lyman, Dobropillia, Raihorodok, Chernihivka, Krasnopillia, Dovha Balka;
– the Dnipropetrovsk region: Vasylkivka, Mezhova, Zoriane, Havrylivka, Krasnohorivka, Mezhova, Kyslychuvate;
– the Sumy region: Bilopillia, Vorozhba, Voronivka, Hannivka-Vyrivska;
– the Kharkiv region: Serdobyne;
– the Zaporizhzhia region: Preobrazhenka;
Kherson.

In May, 33 animals were also transported to shelters and families. We had previously evacuated these animals from shelling, and after treatment and examination in clinics, they went to shelters or families.

We thank our volunteers who respond to our requests and evacuate and transport animals: Olena Mykhailenko, Save Animals Ukraine, Serhii Katsan and Volodymyr Golubiev, Petia Petrova, BASE UA, Viktoriia Linnyk, Vasyl Dumenko.

1. We paid UAH 595,992 (≈$14,224) as part of an urgent fundraiser for the treatment of sick dogs from a landfill in the Kyiv region. We spent this money on temporary shelters, spaying/neutering, and the treatment of dogs and puppies who were taken from the landfill in Boryspil together with volunteer Maryna Drabyk.

We also paid UAH 49,880 (≈$1,190) for medicines to treat puppies with enteritis — they were taken in by Gostomel shelter. However, many of them are still waiting for their shelters or families. If you want to adopt an animal, please feel free to contact us.

In total, we spent UAH 871,218 (≈$20,793) to rescue animals from the landfill near Boryspil.

2. We paid for the manufacture of quarantine boxes and the purchase of concentrators for three shelters:
– Animal House Rescue (Poltava region);
– Mini Shelter – Dobre Serce (Kirovohrad region);
– Give a Paw (Kirovohrad region).

We raised this money through donations to the fundraiser for quarantine boxes and oxygen concentrators for sick animals in shelters.

3. We purchased and delivered flea and tick treatments to seven shelters:
– Animal House Rescue (Poltava region);
– Give a Paw (Kirovohrad region);
– Zoohelp (Kirovohrad region);
– Druh (Dnipro);
– Novyi Svit (Mykolaiv region);
– Babinetsky Shelter (Kyiv region);
– Another Dimension (Dnipropetrovsk region).

We were able to help thanks to your donations.

4. We paid and delivered vaccines for the cats evacuated from Bilopillia in the Sumy region. Konotop Animal Protection Organization Animals’ Friends received our assistance.

We also paid for part of the treatment of the cat called Chernushka from the village of Preobrazhenka in the Zaporizhzhia region. The cat lived with soldiers. During the shelling, she suffered a concussion and a paw injury, which left her limb barely attached to her skin. We paid for her clinic stay, an X-ray, and a surgery to amputate her paw.

We were able to help with vaccines and treatment thanks to donations from people to fundraiser for the treatment of wounded and sick animals from the frontline regions.

5. We paid for the treatment of 18 animals cared for by soldiers, thanks to donations to this and that fundraisers.

6. We paid for spaying/neutering, vaccination, and microchipping of 41 animals whom we had previously evacuated. 33 animals are under the care of Zoofamily shelter in the Kirovohrad region, and 8 have found shelter in the Kharkiv region.

7. We paid for spaying/neutering, vaccination, and microchipping of 50 animals in Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region.

8. We went on a veterinary mission to the villages of Vvedenka and Novopokrovka in the Kharkiv region. We helped 333 animals. We treated them, vaccinated them against rabies, treated them for parasites, spayed/neutered and microchipped them, as well as distributed over 639 kilograms of food for cats and dogs.

9. We purchased and delivered combination vaccines, treatments, eye drops, and anti-vomiting drugs for ShchasSpasu shelter (charitable organization Gandhi Charitable Foundation). We spent UAH 50,196 (≈$1,198).

10. We helped KitBehemot shelter in Kherson. Their temporary shelter was destroyed by a russian rocket. We paid UAH 372,720 (≈$8,896) for surgeries, lab tests, treatment, and therapy for 8 animals, as well as for the transportation of 4 animals from Kherson to a clinic in Odesa. We also sent 800 kilograms of dog and cat food to these animals.

11. We paid for and delivered 30 combination vaccines for the evacuated puppies from the Donetsk region, who are under the care of Zoofamily shelter in the Kirovohrad region.

12. We paid for the treatment of varying complexity for 19 animals who we had previously evacuated from the frontline areas. The male and female cats called Sira, Chorna, Dixie, Lara, Nancy, Yarik, Leo, Lev, Frosia, Lysyi, Zhora, and the dogs called Barsik, Bim, Lapa, Businka, and Dana received our help. In addition, we paid for the treatment of two cats and one puppy who do not yet have their names.

More details about the help provided to these animals 👇

We paid for the following veterinary services:

1. Initial examination, clinic stay, parasite treatment, leukemia and immunodeficiency test, sedatives, vaccination, blood tests (complete blood count and biochemical blood test), and the suture treatment for the cat called Sira.

2. Initial examination, clinic stay, parasite treatment, leukemia and immunodeficiency test, eyelid and eye treatment, nasal irrigation, vaccination, blood tests (complete blood count and biochemical blood test), and neutering for the cat called Chornyi. We evacuated him from Druzhkivka. The animal was handed over to NGO Favorite Animal in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

3. Initial examination, clinic stay, leukemia and immunodeficiency tests, ectoparasite treatment, and the vaccination for the cats called Dixie and Lara, evacuated from Kostiantynivka.
Unfortunately, both animals were diagnosed with leukemia. After receiving treatment at a veterinary clinic, both cats were handed over to Pegasus shelter in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

4. Clinic stay, leukemia and immunodeficiency test, vaccination, blood test, wound treatment, injections, ultrasound, and spaying — for the cat called Nancy, as well as the clinic stay, vaccination, leukemia and immunodeficiency test, ectoparasite treatment, and neutering for the cat called Yarik. We evacuated all the animals from Shandryholove and Kostiantynivka. From the veterinary clinic, the cats went to Pegasus shelter in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

5. Clinic stay, initial examination, antiparasitic drugs, biochemical blood test, heartworm test, sedatives, neutering, suture treatment, and vaccination for the dog called Barsik, whom we took out from Kostiantynivka. The animal is currently at Forsaken Angel shelter in Khmelnytskyi.

6. Clinic stay, antimicrobial drugs for the treatment of intestinal infections, injections, neutering, suture treatment for the dog called Bim, evacuated from Bilytske. Bim is 13 years old, he is kind and obedient, but he has poor eyesight. After the treatment, the dog was taken in by Babinetsky shelter in the Kyiv region.

7. Initial examination, clinic stay, antiparasitic drugs, blood test, sedatives and anti-inflammatory drugs, neutering, suture treatment, vaccination for the cats called Leo and Lev. At the request of soldiers, we took these animals from Sydorove in the Donetsk region. Now the cats live with a soldier’s family.

8. The final part of the treatment of Businka the Alabai: clinic stay, gastroenterological, antidiarrheal, and antibacterial drugs, vitamins and supplements, treatments, otoscopy, ear swab examination, cytology, and vaccination. We handed Businka over to her human in the Rivne region.

9. The first part of the treatment of the dog called Lapa: clinic stay, X-ray, blood tests (complete blood count and biochemical blood test), babesiosis test, catheterization, osteosynthesis (repositioning and fixation of bone fragments), and suture treatment. We took Lapa from Sydorove in the Donetsk region. The dog was rescued from the gray zone by a soldier who asked us for help. After Lapa underwent surgery and had two plates inserted, she remained in the clinic for rehabilitation.

10. Wound treatment, X-ray, sedation, catheterization, spaying, leukemia and immunodeficiency test, injections, arthrodesis using intramedullary pins for the cat called Frosia. Volunteers who found Frosia with a broken paw asked us for help. The cat was diagnosed with a traumatic, infected dislocation of the left ankle joint. At the clinic, Frosia was diagnosed with an infection, her antibiotics were changed, and her limb was additionally reinforced with an external fixation device. After the treatment, we handed Frosia over to Mokri Nosy shelter in Poltava.

11. Second vaccination and microchipping for two cats of a soldier, who were evacuated by volunteer Petia Petrova at our request in March. Now the animals live with the soldier’s family.

12. The total bill for the treatment of puppies evacuated from the Donetsk region. Dana and her sister ended up in Zoofamily shelter. However, a few days later, the little one was diagnosed with enteritis at the shelter. Since Dana had previously undergone two surgeries, they were returned to the clinic. We paid for the clinic stay, blood tests, IVs, and antibiotics for the little one, as well as for the treatment of Dana’s sutures. Now the puppies are back in the shelter.

13. Clinic stay, eye and ear treatment, leukemia and immunodeficiency test, ectoparasite treatment, complete blood count, histological material sampling, histology, antibiotics, catheterization, and neutering for the cat called Lysyi. We evacuated the cat at the request of a soldier from the Donetsk region. After the veterinary clinic, Lysyi went to Zoohelp shelter in Oleksandriia, Kirovohrad region.

14. Clinic stay, examination, bathing, trimming, leukemia and immunodeficiency test, blood test, ectoparasite treatment, vaccination, and neutering for the cat called Zhora. He was taken from Kostiantynivka by volunteer Olena Mykhailenko and the Save Animals team. After temporarily staying in Kramatorsk and receiving treatment at a veterinary clinic in Dnipro, we transported Zhora to Zoohelp shelter in Oleksandriia, Kirovohrad region.

1. We paid for the manufacture and delivery of 8 enclosures and 12 kennels for Zoohelp shelter in Oleksandriia in the Kirovohrad region. We were able to support the shelter through donations to fundraiser to build new enclosures for evacuated animals.

2. We funded the construction of an adaptation enclosure for the preservation of the breeding colony of the spotted ground squirrel at the Kasova Hora Ecosystem Restoration and Preservation Center, contributing UAH 200,000 (≈$4,773). The spotted ground squirrel is an endangered species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. Currently, it has survived only in two or three colonies in the Lviv region. These colonies are constantly exposed to destructive human impacts. Thanks to the support of UAnimals, there is a chance to create a new colony of this rare animal species in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.

3. We funded the purchase of building materials needed to repair a wall at Give a Paw shelter. We spent UAH 45,000 (≈$1,074).

4. We paid for the purchase and delivery of a 1000-liter water barrel for the charity organization Charity Fund Hvostaty Dim in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The previous barrel was destroyed in a fire. We spent UAH 5,500 (≈$131).

5. We funded the expansion of Leroy shelter (Animal Rescue Shelter public organization) in the Dnipropetrovsk region, contributing UAH 600,000 (≈$14,319). With this money, new enclosures, fencing, and a cat house will be installed at the shelter.

We also paid UAH 51,400 (≈$1,226) to manufacture and deliver 13 kennels to Leroy so that the shelter could take more evacuated animals.

6. We paid for the manufacture and delivery of 10 insulated kennels for the Team of Zoovolunteers Lassie public organization, located in Balakliia in the Kharkiv region. This shelter was evacuated from Kostiantynivka (Donetsk region). We spent UAH 58,000 (≈$1,384) to help the shelter.

7. We paid UAH 256,490 (≈$6,121) for the manufacture and delivery of 17 kennels and 8 enclosures for Charitable Foundation Dream in the Palms. The new kennels and enclosures will house animals evacuated from frontline areas.

8. We paid UAH 23,483 (≈$560) to purchase and deliver building materials to repair the walking area for the animals cared for by Nikopol Animal Shelter Chance of Life.

1. We distributed 1,050 kilograms of pet food and 340 pieces of antiparasitic treatments for cats and dogs in frontline regions: Kharkiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, and Kherson. As a result, about 480 animals were fed and 340 animals were treated.

2. We shared important animal welfare information and fundraisers to rescue animals. 452 volunteers joined this activity.

3. We walked dogs in seven shelters in the Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Khmelnytskyi, and Volyn regions. 65 people volunteered to spend time with animals and socialize them.

4. We cleaned up three shelters in the Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions. 50 volunteers helped tidy up them.

5. We distributed food for stray animals in frontline areas. We sent 1,481 kilograms of food from the warehouse to curators of 5 public and charitable organizations from the Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Kherson regions.

6. We helped coordinate our charity brand Animalism, which presented its stand at Ukrainian Design Week.

1. LavGav, a manufacturer of pet waste bags, released the charitable series of clean-up packs “Put In. Sh*t Happens.” Five hryvnias from each package will be donated to UAnimals’ work.

2. Bark&Tail pet store has developed a digital product in the form of a coin “Barkcoin.” When ordering on the website, buyers can choose virtual coins worth UAH 10 (≈$0.24), UAH 50 (≈$1.19), UAH 100 (≈$2.39), UAH 500 (≈$11.93), UAH 1,000 (≈$23.87), UAH 10,000 (≈$238.7) or choose a comfortable donation amount. The money from the purchase will be donated to rescuing animals from war.

3. Minelly coffee production has developed charity paw-shaped drip bags of exclusive coffee. As part of the campaign, the partners plan to sell 2,000 drip bags. One bag costs UAH 34 (≈$0.81), half of which will be donated to rescuing animals.

4. DeLaMarka, a manufacturer of household chemicals and cosmetic care products, has joined in supporting the shelters with which UAnimals cooperates. The partner will supply the shelters with laundry detergents and powder.

1. In May, the UAnimals lawyers received 77 requests for legal assistance. 73 people have already been consulted. Most often, the requests concerned inadequate conditions for keeping pets in Kyiv, Poltava, and Kryvyi Rih.

2.81 police report templates were downloaded from our legal assistance page. Thanks to these templates, people can quickly respond to animal cruelty.

3. Our lawyers also filed five reports from the organization about criminal and administrative crimes against animals.
– On May 2, a police report was filed regarding an incident that occurred in Berezovo, Khust district, Zakarpattia region. A man abused a dog and then killed him with a metal stake. The police launched a pre-trial investigation, the man was detained and formally charged. According to Part 3 of Article 299 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the offender may be imprisoned for a term of five to eight years. We also filed a motion for a preventive measure. We are now monitoring the case and awaiting the results of the motion.

– On May 12, a UAnimals lawyer filed a report of an administrative offense in Dnipro. An unknown man beat a dog with a leash while walking him. We are awaiting updates on the case and will definitely share all the details.

– On May 13, our lawyer filed a report with the police regarding an incident that allegedly took place in Chornomorsk in the Odesa region. In a video posted on social media, an unknown person brutally tortures and kills cats. The perpetrator threatens to continue doing so and talks about his plans. In our report with the police, we demand that the offender be identified and proceedings be initiated under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: 1) under Article 299 — for animal cruelty; 2) under Article 300 — for the dissemination of works that promote a cult of violence and cruelty. We have also contacted the cyber police in connection with this case.

– On May 19, our lawyer appealed to the police and the Main Directorate of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection with a request to inspect PIGGI CAFÉ catering establishment. The café keeps mini pigs in allegedly inadequate conditions: the animals have no space for rest or privacy, are constantly exposed to noise and interaction with visitors. We ask the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection to check the establishment’s compliance with veterinary and sanitary standards and to determine whether the establishment has permits to keep animals and engage in activities involving such animals.

– On May 23, we filed a report with the Kharkiv Regional Police regarding the improper keeping of dogs. A woman contacted UAniamls and said that her neighbor, Vitalii Momot, does not provide his animals with sufficient amount of water and food and does not provide timely veterinary care. We asked the police to check the conditions in which the animals live and remove them until the court’s decision. We are awaiting the results of our appeal by June 23.

4. Our lawyers are monitoring the cases with open proceedings:
– On May 19, Alina Soroka, a UAnimals lawyer, participated in a court hearing on the case of dog abuse in Kyiv. As a reminder, in December 2025, a video went viral showing a man abusing a toy terrier, which was filmed by his daughter. The child was frightened and crying. UAnimals and volunteer Snizhana Buhrik filed a report with the police. Law enforcement officers entered the information into the Unified State Register of Pre-Trial Investigations. Thanks to the publicity, the animal was quickly removed from the man’s care. The case was subsequently referred to court. One of the hearings was supposed to take place on May 19, but the defendant did not appear in court. Therefore, the hearing was postponed to June 16.

– On May 22, our lawyer Alina Soroka participated in a court hearing on the case of dog abuse in Chabany, Kyiv region. The case concerned a man who beat the shepherd called Baron and dragged him by a chain. UAnimals’ lawyers contacted the police. A police officer arrived at the scene and drew up a report under Article 89 of the Code on Administrative Offences. The dog was immediately seized from his human pending the court’s decision. The first hearing was held on March 10, and on March 14, the court issued a ruling and ordered the dog’s human to pay a fine of 3,400 hryvnias (≈$81). Baron was not returned to his human and remained in a shelter. However, the dog’s human appealed the decision in the court of appeals, and on May 22, the court overturned the previous decision and ordered the animal to be returned. The appeal decision has not yet been published. So, it remains unclear what changed and prompted the court to return the dog. Unfortunately, it is impossible to appeal the court’s decision. We are shocked by this decision and are waiting for it to be published.

5. We continue to pursue the case on the operation of the Zviropolis petting zoo network. As a reminder, in April, the court requested evidence from the State Environmental Inspectorate regarding its inspection of Zviropolis, but the SEI failed to provide them. The court fined the environmental inspectorate UAH 4,542 (≈$108).

In May, we received a court order to the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources requesting a response to the State Environmental Inspectorate’s failure to fulfill its duties. The Environmental Inspectorate responded that it had previously provided all the evidence of the inspection of Zviropolis, thereby confirming that it did not actually have the evidence requested by the court.

At this stage of the proceedings, the court must complete the evidence-gathering stage and make a decision regarding Zviropolis.

6. Our lawyer Anastasiia Hevchuk continues to analyze the legislation of Ukraine and the European Union on the protection of wild animals. This is necessary to identify loopholes and problems in Ukrainian laws and regulations and eliminate them. Over the course of a month, the lawyer analyzed 19 different acts and documents, assessed the level of implementation of the European Union’s environmental legislation by Ukraine, and prepared and submitted 4 requests for public information to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine, the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, and the State Environmental Inspectorate of Ukraine. We also submitted conclusions describing the problems of Ukrainian legislation in the field of the protection of wild animals.

After that, we held a meeting with representatives of the animal protection organization Eurogroup for animals.

We are now awaiting responses to our requests to the authorities and preparing our conclusions based on the results of a comparative analysis and assessment of Ukrainian and European legislation. In the near future, we plan to present our findings to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources with proposals for changes that will make our legislation more humane towards animals.

Thank you for saving animals together with UAnimals!