Rescue, Don’t Buy: The Story of Vika Horchuk, Owner of the Bark Camp Dog Hotel, and Her Perspective on Mixed-Breed Dogs and Their Caretakers

Vika Horchuk, a Kyiv resident, had no connection to dogs until 2011 when she got her first dog—a Yorkshire Terrier named Dream. Why a Yorkie? Vika traveled extensively and was looking for a small dog that could accompany her in the airplane cabin. However, Dream grew larger than expected, exceeding all permissible limits for carry-on baggage.

Initially, Vika searched for places to leave the sizable Dream while she traveled. Later, she added a Bobtail named Summer and a small mixed-breed dog named Blue Moon to her family. The question of where to leave her pets took on three dimensions. So, in 2019, Vika opened her own dog hotel, with Blue Moon as the symbol on its logo and business cards.

The hotel founder had rescued Blue Moon from negligent owners. But let Vika tell the story herself.

— I took Moon on my birthday.

I didn’t get Moon from a shelter but from very poor conditions. I came across an online ad selling a puppy. When I saw the little one and the background of where she was sitting… It was a dreadful floor, like in a barn, with concrete everywhere. I thought to myself: I must take her away from there, no matter what. I had been considering whether I could care for another dog and how Dream would feel about it. But when I saw that puppy, I immediately decided she was mine.

When I arrived to meet her, they didn’t even let me inside to see where the dog lived. I took her and brought her to a clinic: she was covered in fleas, bitten, with no vaccinations. She had to go into quarantine for inpatient treatment. There, they bathed her, treated her, vaccinated her, and sterilized her.

In English, there’s a phrase “once in a blue moon”—something that happens very rarely. That’s why I named her Blue Moon. She’s unique! Every mixed-breed dog is unique by nature.

— In your experience, are mixed-breeds smart dogs, or are they hard to train?

— Oh, they’re very smart! But it’s important to understand that all dogs are different—much depends on their life experiences and the conditions they have experienced. Dream is smart, Summer is smart, but Moon is a super trickster! She learns very quickly and often invents her own games.

She knows that when I bring home a grocery bag, she’s not supposed to get into it. But Moon tries to outsmart me: she tosses a ball into the bag and then peeks inside. I say, “Moon! No.” And she looks at me like, “But my toy’s in there!”

The mixed-breed dogs that have stayed at our hotel are all super cool too. Sometimes they’re more fearful than purebred dogs. However, once they realize they’re safe, they turn out to be very inventive and friendly animals. I adore them.

— What challenges can arise if someone adopts a dog from a shelter or the streets? Can you tell me about your experience?

— When we got home with Moon, all hell broke loose… Moon peed on the bed. I changed the sheets three times a day. Over time, I trained Moon to use a pee pad: she got treats as positive reinforcement. Moon figured out that when she went on the pad, she got a treat, so she started peeing there just a little at a time. Now, she goes for walks.

Moon is still afraid of feet. I lie in bed with my legs under the blanket. If Moon notices my foot move, she runs to another part of the apartment or to her bed. I never hit her. Maybe she was beaten where I got her from.

She is also wary of strangers. If someone is coming to visit, they must first meet Moon outside. The person plays with her a bit, and then they come in. The rule is: don’t touch Moon, and don’t pay her any attention until she approaches you on her own.

— What else should you prepare for when adopting a shelter dog?

— You need to be financially prepared.

Firstly, you will have to spend money on dog food. For my three dogs, the monthly cost of food is about 10,000 UAH. How much you will spend depends on the dog’s weight and the quality of the food. And this quality directly impacts the dog’s health.

Secondly, you will also need to budget for flea, tick, and deworming treatments, which are necessary year-round. Your dog will need basic vaccinations, and there are additional ones to consider, like the kennel cough vaccine. Puppies and dogs with weak immune systems are particularly vulnerable, so vaccination is essential.

Sessions with a dog trainer and veterinary services can be quite costly. I take my dogs for a check-up at the clinic every six months. I also get their teeth cleaned. There are also expenses for leashes, toys, bowls, and potentially replacing items that might get damaged at home.

Be prepared for the fact that your dog may not be able to stay alone at first. They need to be gradually accustomed to being by themselves. It’s important not to create a situation where the dog is used to always having you around and then suddenly being left alone in a house or apartment.

Dogs adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic or at the start of the full-scale war were constantly with their owners. Then, when people returned to work at some point, these dogs couldn’t handle being home alone. They develop what is referred to as separation anxiety. Such dogs begin to spoil furniture or howl, which is their way of releasing stress. 

Regardless of whether you’re considering a mixed-breed or a purebred dog, you need to ask yourself: am I prepared, no matter what happens, to be there for this dog?

We all want healthy pets, just as we want healthy children, for example. However, in life, anything can happen. Accidents and traumas may occur. You’ll need patience, time, and the willingness to care for the animal. However, all these challenges are outweighed by the emotions—the loyal eyes, the moments when you come home, and the dogs jump around to greet you… Or when you open your eyes in the morning, and the dogs are right there, “Hey, human, scratch me!” These emotions are 100% worth all the effort. But it’s crucial to be honest with yourself about whether you’re ready for the difficulties.

— Do people bring mixed-breed dogs to your hotel?

— Yes, many do. And it’s encouraging to see that more people are adopting shelter dogs and getting non-purebred pets. Currently, we have Hovy (short for Hoverla), Mila, Motya, and Lando—all mixed breeds. Each dog is unique; there’s no other like them in the world. By the way, mixed-breed dogs are incredibly charming. We have a white mixed-breed named Teddy who visits from time to time. We’ve often been asked what breed this amazing dog is!

— Please, tell us about the caretakers. What motivates them to adopt dogs from shelters? 

— The people I know through my work are very responsible and involved.

Sometimes people adopt a purebred dog because it’s “cute and adorable.” They aren’t always as involved. For example, one purebred dog at home ate a plastic bag. We noticed this during a walk when cleaning up after the dog and informed its caretakers. They said, “That’s normal; it’s a Beagle!” Yes, Beagles are active, but that behavior isn’t normal.

Before caretakers leave a dog with us, we have a conversation, and they fill out a questionnaire. From the caretakers of mixed-breed dogs, we often receive much more information about the dog’s likes, dislikes, fears, and triggers than from the owners of purebreds.

People who adopt shelter dogs follow the principle of “don’t buy, rescue.” However, rescuing must also be done responsibly.

— Do you think the situation has changed after 2022?

— If we compare the number of mixed-breed dogs in our hotel before the full-scale war and now, there are definitely more now. Before the war, most of the mixed-breed dogs we saw belonged to foreigners or were brought in by IT professionals or people for whom rescuing animals is a core value. There are still many dogs in shelters, but it’s heartening to see that more of them are being adopted.

— Have you ever come across cases when people abandoned their dogs?

— Throughout my time working with dogs, I have encountered three instances of dogs being abandoned. Twice, dogs were simply left with us, and incidentally, they were purebred. On one occasion, we discovered through their caretakers’ social media that they had abandoned a mixed-breed dog. We found new homes for these dogs.

After the Kakhovka Reservoir dam was destroyed, we assisted a shelter in the Kyiv region. At that time, people approached us with requests like, “We want to adopt a dog, but it has to be from Kherson.” When we suggested other dogs available at the shelter, they insisted, “No, we want that one.” This isn’t a very considerate approach. Why do you want a dog? To say you’re a hero because you saved a dog from that specific place? 

You would be just as much of a hero if you adopted any dog that has been in a shelter for three, five, or even seven years…

— The war has also displaced many people. Having animals complicates the process, so UAnimals rescuers often have to rehome abandoned dogs in shelters. 

— How can anyone abandon a family member, whether it’s a mixed-breed or a purebred dog? Sometimes people say, “We’re leaving and can’t take the dog; it’s too difficult.” Yes, it’s difficult! But it’s possible. I’ve traveled abroad and returned with my three dogs. You’re not moving to Mars! It’s good when people at least reach out to volunteers rather than just tying the dog to a tree in the woods (unfortunately, that happens too).

We still have many people who believe it’s normal for a dog to live in a kennel on a meter-long chain. Absolutely not! Or that it’s okay to feed dogs table scraps because “that’s what they do in the village, and the dogs are fine.” No, it’s not fine! They don’t have a choice.

I don’t have any issues with dogs; my issues are always with people. Yes, a dog can destroy things or be aggressive; they can be challenging. But you can work on a dog’s behavior, and if the caretaker is fully committed to training the dog, it’s likely to be successful.

— Taking care of a dog is quite an undertaking. What is the point of so much effort? 

— It’s what keeps you from completely going crazy, even when you’re at your limit. No matter how I feel, the dog needs to be walked. Sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like if I hadn’t adopted Moon. There are times when I’m in a terrible mood, everyone has gotten on my nerves… But then the dog licks me, kisses me, or Moon throws her little crocodile toy onto my laptop… These are just genuine emotions that keep you going.

I know of a case where a woman gave up her dog because she got a new boyfriend, and they didn’t get along. It’s sad because the dog was already part of the family.

As for me, I have it written right on my Tinder profile, “If you’re not ready to sleep in bed with dogs, swipe left.”