Across Ukraine, your donations are an absolute life-force for rescue squads, shelters, sanctuaries and volunteers caring for animals. More than two years after Russia first invaded Ukraine, Harmony Fund’s mission to help the animals is going strong. This is work that each and every one of you can be proud of.
All year long, we deliver aid to animals and rescuers on your behalf. Whether its a truckload of food or sponsorship of emergency veterinary care, we light a flame of renewed hope. Through the Harmony Fund, you are standing in for all the pet guardians who died or fled for their lives. While you can’t be there physically, you can still help. Dangerous fighting demands large-scale emergency rescues. Please have a look at a few of the ways that you are helping. You can see a full list of our planned projects in Ukraine for the rest of this year here.
Evacuations and a Mobile Veterinary Unit
UA Animals is one of our newest partners in Ukraine. Their mobile veterinary unit reaches regions close to the frontlines, providing veterinary care to sick and injured animals. They are continuously engaged in evacuations. Currently, most requests for help come from the Kharkiv, Kherson, and Donetsk regions of Ukraine where fighting is heavy. UA Animals has turned to Harmony Fund for help to sponsor their work so that emergency evacuations can go on without delay. Delays are a death sentence in a war zone.
Survivors Who Devote Themselves to the Animals
Across Ukraine, so many people who have suffered catastrophic personal loss are pouring themselves into rescue work. It gives them purpose, a reason to get out of bed in the morning and tender souls with whom they can share their love. Lyudmila Matviychuk is one such survivor. Here you see her with a delivery of food from Harmony Fund. Lyudmila lost her son Yulian in battle at the age of 33-years-old while trying to protect his country from invading forces that have punched holes in Ukraine. Mother and son shared a love of animals, and now she carries the torch alone, pushing through her grief to feed more than 40 homeless cats each day.
Dangerous Mission to Deliver Food to Homeless Animals
Lionel de Lange is the Director of Warriors of Wildlife in South Africa. He’s on an extended mission in Ukraine. He makes a dangerous drive daily to reach volunteers who need food for the animals they are rescuing. He enters high-risk regions where residents are warned to evacuate. He’s asking for our help with more food. Lionel said, “We desperately need dog and cat food both wet and dry. Cats are unfortunately being overlooked with mostly dry dog food available when we can get donated food.”
Kyiv Shelter is Counting on Us
At the SOS Kyiv Shelter, housing is in short supply as many of the dog houses are slowly being destroyed by the effects of weather and time. We’re working with our partners at the Happy Paw rescue center who are putting their carpentry skills to work to build 130 new dog houses for the shelter in Kyiv. It’s important to complete the construction of the insulated dog houses long before the cold weather arrives in late fall. We’re trying our best to find grants to help sponsor the costs of this project and our work throughout Ukraine. The war relief project is a very large expense that is expected to continue for the forseeable future.
A Father Helping Dogs from the Front Lines
Sergei Shand operates a makeshift dog shelter for former pets and stray dogs rescued from areas under heavy attack by Russian artillery. Sergei is greiving the loss of his son who died in battle. Today, this father turns his attention to some of Ukraine’s most vulnerable souls. He often takes in the larger and more aggressive dogs that no one else will take. The dogs live on his property and have modest shelter and ample food and water. We continue to help provide food and kennels for the dogs here. Helping individual heroes like Sergei is such a special part of the fabric of Harmony Fund.
Ever Wonder Who Will Help the Farm Animals?
Harmony Fund began its relationship with the enchanting Ugolyok Shelter long before the war began. This rescue organization actually hosts three separate sanctuary locations for thousands of cows, horses, pigs, ponies, dogs and cats. We send monthly donations to Ugolyok and they could really use our help right now with aid for emergency evacuations. Its hard to imagine what it feels like to walk in their shoes for a day. Each morning, they must provide a massive amount of food for all of the souls who count on them. When they get a call to take in more animals who are in zones of heavy fighting, they are gripped with worry about how to feed them. But how can they turn away knowing what will happen if they don’t send the rescue vehicles? It’s an impossible choice. Traumatized animals find peace and understanding with the gentle staff at Ugolyok and we will do everything in our power to help.
Thank You Monthly Donors!
We’re sending out a huge note of gratitude to our monthly donors. Your contributions are the lifeblood of Harmony Fund. Throughout the year, you touch the lives of animals across the planet and deliver care to those who would otherwise suffer a terrible fate. You are a formidable force of love in this world. Thank you for all that you do to support our mission in Ukraine and across the planet. (The fawn shown above was rescued from a wildfire in Ukraine)
