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Emergency Aid for Animals in Ukraine

Emergency Aid for Animals Affected by the War in Ukraine

Since the war began in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, House of Animals has been providing emergency aid. Through this work, we are saving tens of thousands of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs—as well as horses, goats, sheep, and even a camel—from starvation. We also fund the renovation of animal shelters damaged by gunfire and cover the costs of spaying, neutering, and surgeries for injured animals. Additional housing for displaced animals in the overcrowded shelters is funded by our donors. House of Animals provides the largest amount of emergency aid for pets from Europe. That is why we will continue our support without pause. We can use all the help we can get and are grateful for every financial contribution!

Rescuing and Caring for Stray Animals

Thousands of animals fell victim to the bombings and ended up on the streets. They suffer severe trauma and will starve to death if help does not come. Local volunteers and animal shelters are taking care of these animals. To prevent their numbers from increasing exponentially, spaying and neutering are of great importance. House of Animals helps by feeding, sheltering, and caring for stray animals and those in shelters. We fund food, medicine, and veterinary care, including spaying and neutering.

Many animal shelters and veterinary clinics were so badly damaged that they now also need help restoring electricity and water supplies, as well as renovating their buildings. Furthermore, due to the increased number of stray animals, additional emergency shelters need to be built. Because local donors are themselves victims of the war, their financial support has dried up. Our help is therefore urgently needed.

You can help, too! Click the button below: Save animals in need!

You can help, too!

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Gostomel Animal Shelter

The emotional story of Maria from the Gostomel animal shelter in Ukraine earlier this year touched us deeply. There was no electricity, and communication was no longer possible because the Russians had seized the phones.

House of Animals reached out to Maria and, thanks to donors, was able to purchase a generator at the start of the war. It was therefore especially meaningful and moving that the House of Animals team was able to visit the Gostomel animal shelter and Maria six months later, during a trip to several war-affected shelters. In this video, we meet the people and animals of Gostomel.

Best Friends Animal Shelter

House of Animals visits the Best Friends animal shelter in Ukraine, which was bombed by the Russians. Hundreds of cats were burned alive. The dogs’ kennels were shot to pieces, and the animals at the shelter are traumatized to the core.

Despite the tears and the intense sense of injustice, the people at Best Friends continue to build kennels and take in animals from the war zone, because their perseverance is inexhaustible. House of Animals supports Best Friends in this effort with funds raised from donations by people who care about the plight of animals affected by the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine Annual Report 2024

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, thousands of animals have ended up on the streets. Many were left behind as people fled the country, were seriously injured, and were starving.

Karen Soeters, founder of the House of Animals Foundation, immediately contacted Sirius—the largest animal shelter near bombed-out Kyiv. She had visited the shelter before and had stayed in touch with its founder ever since. Sirius turned out to be in urgent need of help, just like other shelters. Karen put together a crisis team that has since been working tirelessly to deliver emergency aid to various regions of Ukraine.

Thanks to our loyal donors, the emergency relief effort is still in full swing.
Download the annual report