During times of war, dogs, cats, donkeys and horses are often the helpless, voiceless victims, discarded as people flee and injured as bombs fall. Network for Animals exists to be a lifeline to animals during these crises, delivering life-saving aid and evacuating as many four-legged souls as we can. Here is how your support is enabling us to reach animals in war zones around the world.
Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah-Lebanon Conflict 🇮🇱 🇵🇸 🇱🇧
In October 2023, violent conflict broke out after Hamas attacked Israel, and animals were abandoned as rockets struck and people fled for their lives. We knew that countless injured, terrified and forgotten animals would need our immediate help. We teamed up with fearless organizations on the ground – Let The Animals Live (LTAL) and our long-term partner Starting Over Sanctuary (SOS) in Israel, and Sulala Animal Rescue (SAR) and Animal Environment Association (AEA) in Palestine – to rush critical aid to animal war victims.
Dogs, cats, donkeys and other animals had been left without food, shelter or anyone to care for them. Working with emergency rescue teams and brave volunteers, we were able to rush food and supplies to animals trapped in war zones, evacuating as many as we could. As the brutal war wears on, our efforts to feed, shelter and evacuate thousands of animals continues, funded entirely by the compassion and generosity of Network for Animals supporters.
In a heartwarming example of what we can achieve when we work together, we were able to rehome 10 abused dogs from Palestine to their forever homes in the United States, helping to fund their relocation so they could live out the rest of their lives in safety.
We are continuing to support our partners throughout the conflict. In May 2024, we rushed emergency funds for crucial food and to support emergency evacuations from the war zones.
We knew that countless injured, terrified and forgotten animals would need our immediate help. Credit: UNRWA Unicef/Mahmoud Ajjour
Ukraine War 🇺🇦 🇷🇺
In 2022, Russia initiated a brutal military invasion of Ukraine, sparking a devastating conflict that continues to affect countless people and animals in the region. Network for Animals was one of the first animal welfare organizations on the ground, and we remain dedicated to providing emergency aid to innocent, four-legged victims amid this ongoing crisis.
Your donations are used to provide critically needed food, shelter, medications and vital veterinary care for the vulnerable dogs and cats of Ukraine. At the time of writing, we are actively working with four partners on the ground in Ukraine to reach animal war victims in desperate need.
Animal Rescue Kharkiv (ARK)
ARK rescues animals from the frontline. Most of the animals they save are dogs and cats, but at time of writing, they have also rescued 70 goats, 40 sheep, 10 horses, some rabbits, chickens, ducks and a pregnant donkey.
It has a cat haven in Kharkiv where volunteers care for 236 cats rescued from the war zone, with only one vet to care for them.
When all five of ARK's vehicles were rendered inoparable because of the war, NFA provided funds for a new animal ambulance.
Pluriton
Our longest-term partner in Ukraine is Pluriton, which started as a pet food manufacturer in Khmelnytskyi. Now, they rescue animals from the frontline using a vehicle we purchased for them, while distributing crucial pet food in extremely dangerous areas that have been hit hardest.
Pluriton is now building a shelter with capacity for about 100 animals near Dnipro, because there are so many displaced animals – both domestic and wild – who have nowhere to go. They would also like to complete an on-site clinic.
It is renting land for the shelter, but like so many other animal welfare organizations in Ukraine, it is struggling because donations are dropping.
Pluriton receives between 100-200 animals every month, providing them with food, medicines, veterinary care and supplies.
The shelter presently has two horses, 25 dogs, 11 pigs, six donkeys, a llama, a goat and a duck.
We are continuing to support Pluriton as they work to expand their facilities to enable them to rescue even more animal victims.
Pavlina Harasym
Dr Pavlina Harasym, a veterinarian based in Lviv, risks her life to rescue animals from the war zone, saving lives while bullets fly and bombs explode around her. A Russian sniper even tried to kill her while she was operating on a cat rescued from a bombed-out building. She kept working and saved the cat. To support her incredible work, we purchased an animal ambulance to help her save even more lives, and provide funds to feed the animals she rescues.
War veterinarian Dr Pavlina Harasym at work in the frontlines of the war at Donetsk.