Homeward Trails Rescuers Travel to Ukraine to Work with Shelters, Rescue Animals

Homeward Trails Animal Rescue in Fairfax is on a pretty exclusive mission in war-torn Ukraine. Sue Bell, the group’s founder and executive director, and Shana Aufenkamp, who has been volunteering with Homeward Trails for 16 years, took a two-week vacation to Ukraine earlier this thirty day period.

The duo is volunteering in a non permanent Ukrainian shelter concentrating on 3 factors: caring for the pet dogs and cats in the shelter, figuring out and flying 30 cats back to the U.S., and boosting consciousness and resources to supply pet food items that will be dispersed to shelters, animal homeowners, and caretakers in the war zone.

“Due to the U.S. ban on bringing dogs from much more than 100 countries we are only equipped to convey cats back,” says Bell.

When a metropolis or village gets bombed or becomes occupied, pet homeowners, caretakers, and shelter workers are compelled to flee. Lots of animals are left without shelter or a meals or drinking water supply. As wintertime approaches, this will most likely consequence in the demise of a lot of pets.

The short term shelter Bell and Aukenkamp are at requires in animals to maintain for entrepreneurs or gets them to rescues in other nations.

“Donating to Homeward Trails to protect the prices of transporting the animals is vital,” Bell says. “We basically simply cannot because of this without having the resources.”

Fostering and adopting is also crucial. “These are incredible animals who deserve a probability at a tranquil daily life,” Bell provides.

As much as her individual personalized experience, Bell has uncovered that it reinforces how animals are typically unrecognized victims of war. We never normally see the plight of animals who are caught in the war zone in media protection.

“Their suffering is genuine and heartbreaking, and helping these animals is also instantly helping the people who love and treatment for them — with all there is on the minds of Ukrainians, knowing the animals they love and treatment for are safe and sound goes a long, very long way,” Bell suggests.

Some of the cats Bell and Aufenkamp are assisting contain Ukraine Mist, who was observed in a smoky village crying for enable. There’s also Zelda and Mipha, a mom-daughter duo. Then there’s minimal Suki, who just about didn’t endure a damaged leg.

Homeward Trails also shared the story of Johnny, a pet dog who experienced been shot by Russian troopers, which left his back legs paralyzed. He dragged himself a mile to the security of neighborhood rescuers who took him in. He is the initially doggy Bell, Aufenkamp, and other volunteers see in the morning and the previous at night at the shelter. Walkin’ Pets by HandicappedPets.com donated established of wheels so Johnny can get all around more effortlessly.

Mishel, yet another cat at the shelter, was introduced to the shelter by her proprietor, Irina, together with numerous canines. Irina’s home experienced been bombed, which consequently killed many canines and farm animals. Mishel was burned and hurt by fireplace and shrapnel but her owner was in a position to get her to the short-term shelter just before she was pressured to leave Ukraine. Luckily, Mishel was not too long ago reunited with Irina, and was equipped to go again with her to a new household.

Extra facts on Homeward Trails’ efforts can be located in this article.

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