War dogs: the turmoil in Ukraine is displacing both pets and people.
Jakub Kotowicz is so passionate about animals that he has decided to devote his life to helping them.
But the Polish veterinarian never expected to be flooded by animals rescued from a nearby battle.
Kotowicz works for the ADA foundation, a no-kill animal sanctuary in Przemysl, Poland, which is only 30 minutes from the Ukrainian border.
He and the other veterinarians and employees haven't gotten much sleep since the bombs started dropping in Ukraine since the urgency to find sanctuary for displaced animals hasn't subsided.
Staff members of the ADA foundation are risking their lives by travelling into Ukraine to assist with the emptying of shelters, as well as providing space and veterinary services for the animals that refugees are unable to retain with them or transport across the border. As the conflict rages around them, the shelter animals are in risk of being abandoned and starving to death.
Dr. Kotowicz hoists a huge German shepherd onto the table on a recent day. Her life was saved when she was kidnapped in Ukraine. Her collar tag says 'number 2,' but the staff has given her the moniker Moon.
She's in poor shape, Kotowicz adds as he attempts to take blood from her.
Moon is dehydrated, so finding a vein is difficult.
She, on the other hand, is dealing with considerably more serious issues. She is an older dog with a tumor on one of her mammary glands.
Dr. Kotowicz is able to take blood from her parched body with the help of another veterinarian. Then he moves on to her ears, removing a considerable amount of wax and mite-infested dirt.
Moon is silent and docile throughout. Moon, on the other hand, whimpers a little when the vet takes her temperature. She calms and nuzzles her caregivers after he removes the thermometer.
As he rubs Moon's head, Dr. Kotowicz explains, "We have to remove this tumor, therefore she'll need surgery." "It breaks my heart to watch them in such pain."
Down the hall, there are a slew of dogs and cats, the most of them were brought in from a massive truck that had just returned from Ukraine's war-torn regions.
ADA Foundation cares for any wounded or abandoned animal, not just cats and dogs, at normal hours. The shelter not only provides medical care for the animals, but also assists in their socialization in order for the pets in their care to be adopted and the wild animals to be released.
More animal war stories can be discovered in another room within the foundation. On a beautiful warm bed built for him, a small girl is holding a baby goat named Sasha. Sasha had a major limb condition that the ADA veterinarians were able to resolve. Gauze tape is used to bind Sasha's small front legs. He is, however, rowdy.
He was brought with her by a lady from Ukraine. Dr. Radosaw Fedaczysky stated, She wanted to save him. If he had been left in Ukraine without milk, he would have died."
Dr. Fedaczysk claimed that the lady dropped him off because she had escaped the Ukraine war. Before she departed, she cradled Sasha and said that she didn't have a place to take him since she needed to find a place to stay for herself first. She did, however, leave with one instruction. She'll return for Sasha.
This lady said, 'I adore this animal, and it is a member of the family. When the conflict is over, we want him back, says the group. Fedaczysky, Dr.
Officials with the ADA Foundation say they don't need food since they have plenty, but they do need almost everything else to help the hordes of animals they're rescuing. This includes medical supplies, medications, and monies to cover transportation costs.
The Network for Animals, a charity with headquarters in London and Oldsmar, Florida, is one of the organizations attempting to assist the ADA foundation and other shelters in raising finances, but the quantity of animals and their needs are enormous. The veterinarians are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and get very little sleep.
They are adamant that the animals who have been displaced by war be cared for.
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