Animal welfare charity raises £35,000 to help pets of Ukrainian refugees
Nadine Kayser, the chief executive of Underdog International, said she received 700 parcels in one day.
An animal welfare charity has thanked the British public after raising £35,000 to support Ukrainian refugees’ pets arriving in Romania.
Dogs, cats and even snakes have featured in images and reports from war-torn Ukraine, with many people fleeing the conflict by heading to Poland or Romania – where they can stay with their pets.
Underdog International launched a fundraiser on February 26 – two days after Russia invades its neighbour – to support non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Romania working with Ukrainian refugees and their pets.
It created an online wishlist which included “pet food, medical kits for animals and for humans and baby nappies” and was inundated with packages within hours.
Elmtree Pet Hotel in north London allowed Underdog International to use its daycare building to sort the parcels.
The first arrived at the Iasi border last Friday to help Way of Freedom, a dog NGO, and the second arrived on Wednesday to assist Saved by the Vet Romania, which rescues, rehabilitates and rehouses abandoned dogs and cats.
Underdog International has also raised £35,000 to send to its Romanian partners – including a Romanian shelter, Save our Paws – and to buy supplies.
The founder of Save our Paws, and a vet, Emma, has been going into refugee camps to hand out leaflets written in English and Ukrainian, which say: “Don’t give up your pet, we’re here to help.”
As the refugee camps are busy, it is not ideal for dogs and cats to be “running about everywhere”, so Underdog International sent Emma £3,000 to buy some crates to minimise the risk of animals being separated from their owners.
Ms Kayser said Emma has also been issuing pet passports at Iasi.
“There are thousands and thousands of people streaming through” as people use the border to travel to other parts of Europe, Ms Kayser said.
“Emma is able to issue pet passports immediately.
“She microchips; she does all the legal and medical things required to get the animal a European pet passport, which means that they can actually travel,” she added.
The wishlist has since been reopened, with a particular need for medical equipment and baby care items. Underdog International is also accepting donations on its website.
