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A Miracle for Disabled Dogs

Winter will never be the same for Kuzy, Ullie, Shanty, Baboolia, and Pixel. They are a few of the disabled and senior dogs at the Dnipro Shelter. Over the summer Anya, the director of the shelter, came to Sochi Dogs with a concern – how are they going to make it through the winter? They couldn’t stay in the regular outdoor kennels, it would be much too cold. So together we started looking for a solution…

We spent weeks hunting online for different options. Then a used construction shed that could be outfitted into a perfect refuge turned up for sale… a Sochi Dogs donor stepped up to help fund the project.

Quickly volunteers cleaned and flattened some unoccupied space, then the shed was delivered. A construction crew set to work installing a roof,  enclosing the area with a fence, and extending a powerline to allow for heat. Sochi Dogs ordered special soft tiles to make it easier for disabled dogs to move around and grass outside grass was installed. A special door was added to the shed to allow the dogs to come and go as they pleased.

And just in time for winter the project was completed!

Needless to say Kuzy who was the first to check out his new quarters was thrilled! He is so grateful to everyone who made this project possible.

And Anya and her team couldn’t be happier! They were so worried about these dogs making it through another cold winter but that’s one thing they can cross off their list.

 
 
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Anna Umansky

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Mama Dog

You might remember, a couple of weeks ago, this brave mama dog arrived at the Dnipro shelter on the final transport out of Toretsk. She waited until she felt safe before giving birth to her puppies at the shelter.

Watch her greet the rescue team, asking them to pick her up and give her a second chance. Then, see her proudly showing off her puppies and safely snuggling up next to them.

A huge thank you to our generous Emergency Vet Fund donors, the dedicated rescue team, and everyone at the Dnipro Shelter for making this happy ending possible.

 
 
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Anna Umansky

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We can only imagine what Ukkie and Sammy must be thinking right now...

Their story began when a group of expats from Russia and Ukraine, living in Batumi, Georgia, started feeding and rescuing homeless dogs along a busy road. Among the dogs who crossed their path were Ukkie and Sammy. With limited resources in Georgia, they arranged for them to be sent to a rescue in Moscow, hoping to give them a second chance at life.

The two became roomates and best friends... Fast forward a few months and Ukkie and Sammy found their forever homes through Sochi Dogs in New York City — within blocks of each other!

This is their first reunion. It's amazing what we can do when we work together.

 
 
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Anna Umansky

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Shocked and devastated.

Yesterday 4 dogs (including one very hungry pregnant momma dog) and 12 cats arrived in Dnipro from Toretsk. This was the last animal evacuation from the city. Toretsk was once a beautiful city in Eastern Ukraine. It has been completely destroyed, no residents remain, the curfew is only lifted for 3 hours every day.

The dogs and cats spent 3 days in the van. First, they traveled to neighboring Pokrovsk where a small shelter had agreed to house them, when the driver arrived they found the person who was running the shelter there had been killed just hours before.

A call went out to nearby rescues and our Dnipro partners jumped in to help. We'll be partnering with them to make sure their veterinary expenses and rehabilitation are taken care of. Everyone has already been taken to the vet for an initial evaluation and several of the cats have been treated for glass and shrapnel wounds. These cats and dogs have been through so much and we cannot let them down.

If you can, please consider donating to our Emergency Vet Fund and keep Ukraine and the brave animal rescuers in your thoughts.

sochidogs.org/vetfund

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Anna Umansky