Amid so much turmoil caused by the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, there are so many shining stories of hope. Incredible acts of humanity and kindness go on every day all around the world helping bring some happiness to those impacted by the conflict.
This helping hand is being extended to animals as well as humans. Polish veterinarian Jakub Kotowicz recently crossed the border from Poland into Ukraine to save as many animals as possible from war zones. Volunteers from all around the world have arrived in Poland to help care for the rescued creatures, some as far away as Denmark, Canada, and the U.S.
Around 200 cats, 60 dogs, and other animals were rescued from this mission. Among these are a two-month-old pygmy goat, a Sphinx cat, and a Chihuahua mother and puppy pair. “All the cats are very stressed, the journey from Lviv is one day and we crossed the border with a diplomatic pass but the queue from Ukraine was very long,” explained Kotowicz to The Independent.
Kotowicz impressively founded the animal rescue charity the ADA Foundation at 17. It is at this organization where Ukrainian animals are being cared for by trained vets. “Sometimes the animals which are in very poor condition will be with us for two or three months,” said Kotowicz.
After recovering, the animals will then be prepared for adoption in new homes across Europe. One of these is Vira, a seven-year-old dog that had a bullet lodged in her spine. The charity has removed the bullet and organized a wheelchair for this paralyzed pup so she can still have the freedom to roam around as she pleases.
Kotowicz has been planning further convoys to rescue more animals from Ukraine, however, these trips are not for the weak-hearted. The previous mission meant the team had to last five days with no sleep before checking all the animals in for four to six hours, only then to have two hours of sleep before starting up again!
The ADA Foundation hopes to buy another ambulance for transportation and convert a pizza shop into a safe place for the rescued animals to live. This non-profit is solely reliant on donations, so if you can donate to this wonderful organization their bank account details are located on the Centrum Adopcyjne “Ada” Facebook page.
