WARMINGTON: Dogs of war need to be rescued as conflict rages in Ukraine

Article content

These war in Ukraine have four legs, no food and little hope for survival prisoners.

Article content

“There are hundreds of dogs that have already died and there are many more in need of rescue,” said GTA veterinarian Cliff Redford, who recently returned from Poland and Ukraine where he fed and treated animals in need.

The world is responding to the humanitarian crisis as refugees flee to neighboring countries, but “there is also an ‘animalitarian’ crisis,” said Redford.

Calling it an urgent situation, Redford said immediate intervention is needed.

The Markham veterinarian, of the Wellington Veterinarian Hospital, is trying to muster all hands on deck to try to save as many animals as he can by bringing them to Canada for adoption.

“We desperately need to get Air Canada, or any other carrier, to fly us to Poland ASAP,” said Redford, adding to cover the costs “we have raised some money, and we can raise some more.”

Article content

But something needs to be done now.

“There is a shelter in kyiv that lost 200-plus dogs a few weeks ago due to starvation.”

These are dogs and cats that have been left behind by families who fled Ukrainian cities, towns and villages as Russian troops invaded their country.

Redford and his daughter, Emily, got a first-hand look at what was happening during their recent mission to Ukraine and Poland.

“The trip was very rewarding and will have a lifelong and profound effect on me,” said Redford. “But it was also very heartbreaking.”

The pictures from the war zone of dogs in the rubble of shelled buildings is difficult to look at.

As this war continues, food is in short supply and diseases are ravaging the animal population. The fighting is also having a psychological and emotional impact on them.

Article content

“Many dogs are suffering from PTSD,” he said. “Some were very close to a missile strike that hit the oil storage facility near Lviv. We could smell the smoke in the air.”

It’s brutal!

The goal is to get these suffering animals to safety.

Redford is hoping for a rescue flight that could take at least 150 dogs and cats out of harm’s way for adoption in Canada.

“We cared for Ukrainian dogs and cats, helped get them vaccinated, but then Poland stopped allowing animals in from Ukraine due to a rabies fear which is a legitimate concern as rabies has been recently detected,” he said, adding the result was “countless street animals, or those displaced by the war, those injured and unable to travel with the owners were dropped off at shelters.”

Article content

They brought in food and medicine and lots of love. But it was not enough.

“The vets in Ukraine receive most of their drugs from Russia, so obviously now they are in dire need,” said Redford.

As of Sunday night, a GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $72,000 for their cause.

“The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association is reaching out to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to request assistance with the paperwork needed to safely and properly transfer the animals to Canada,” he said. “They all have been vaccinated against rabies, quarantined for three weeks and all have been micro-chipped.”

This is a very large rescue operation, but the lives of helpless animals are dependent upon it.

Abandoned dogs and cats are the collateral damage in a horrible war.

While the dogs and cats may not be able to talk, one look into their eyes says plenty. Redford said what they are saying is “without a place to go, they will surely die.”

Many already have.