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Supporting Ukrainian Animal Rescues

Sochi Dogs is continuing to provide life-changing support for dogs and cats abandoned during the war in Ukraine.

In June, we partnered with an animal shelter in Malchivtsi, a small Ukrainian village. Shelter volunteer Svitlana reached out to us, asking for our help with caring for their 29 dogs and 54 cats. The animals urgently needed wet and dry food and various types of medicine.

Sochi Dogs worked with Svitlana to figure out a plan. We decided to prioritize spaying and neutering the animals in her care, in addition to providing much-needed food and medical materials.

Over the next 1.5 months, we got the project off the ground. We found a local vet clinic that could send someone out to the shelter and coordinated with the clinic's director every step of the way.

Sochi Dogs funded food, vaccinations, and deworming medications for all 83 animals at the shelter. So far, we have also provided sterilization, microchipping, and passports for 13 dogs and 6 cats.

Volunteers in Malchivtsi are continuing to work tirelessly to care for the animals at the shelter, as well as local stray dogs and cats. If you would like to support their efforts and similar spay/neuter projects, please consider making a donation to Sochi Dogs here.

 
 
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Anna Umansky

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Mitya finds his Forever Home!

After losing his family in Ukraine, struggling at the shelter, and undergoing extensive veterinary care, Mitya is now thriving in his wonderful forever home!

Last winter, eight-year-old Mitya's life was turned upside down when his home in Ukraine was destroyed and his family was killed in the shelling. Mitya was found alone on the street and taken to a dog shelter in Cherkasy. In the shelter, Mitya was upset and disoriented. Unlike the barking and jumping dogs around him, he sat in the corner, head down, as he struggled to adjust to his new surroundings.

 
 

Sochi Dogs heard about Mitya's story and knew we had to get him out of the shelter. With all of your help, we did!

Mitya flew to the US and moved to a temporary foster home in New Jersey, where he started to undergo extensive treatment for heartworm. As he spent more time with his foster family, he started to relax and settle into his new routines -- daily walks, soaking up the sun, and sleeping on a soft, comfortable bed. He even started to play with toys!

In June, after months of treatment, Mitya found his perfect forever home in Pennsylvania. Now, he loves to explore his new backyard, play with fuzzy squeaky toys, take naps in his favorite spots around the house, and relax with his new adoptive sister, Plusha. In photos, he always has a big smile on his face.

Mitya's new family says, "We are so thankful to have him here with us. We are also very grateful for the work that Sochi Dogs does for everyone, finding homes, finding just the right people, and caring for all of the dogs."

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Anna Umansky

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Behind the scenes with #CBS3 and @stahlcbs3 . Our awesome adopters Nicole and Dan, their dogs Luna and Solei are joining us to speak out against the new CDC legislation that will ostensibly ban rescue dogs from Ukraine!

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Anna Umansky

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CDC Proposes New Rules for Importing Dogs from "High-Risk" Countries

On July 10, 2023, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proposed new rules for importing dogs from countries -- including Ukraine and Russia -- that are considered to have a high risk for dog rabies. These rules would be much more strict than the current regulations, creating significant hurdles for the dog rescue community.

The new rules would require "repetitive vaccinations, testing, and other costly mandates that will put Americans overseas at risk of losing their animals, and terribly complicate the work of US-based charities conducting international dog rescue," according to Animal Wellness Action, a US-based organization focused on preventing cruelty to animals. Their full response to the CDC's proposed regulations is available at this link.

Sochi Dogs is partnering with Animal Wellness Action and a coalition of US-based dog rescues to speak out against the proposed changes. As an alternative to the new rules, we are proposing that the CDC keep its current permit system in place. This system allows individuals to apply for a permit to import a specific dog if they can produce a positive titer test – a blood test that confirms that the dog has been vaccinated against rabies and has enough antibodies to prevent infection – from a CDC-approved lab. A CDC officer reviews all documentation before the dog’s arrival and, to guarantee public safety, the permit holder is required to re-vaccinate the dog within 10 days of the dog’s entry into the country. 

We also recommend 1) updating the permit system to allow rescue organizations registered as 50(c)3 nonprofits in the US to apply for permits and 2) eliminating the current two-dog limit for importers, which would enable permit holders to bring in more than two dogs during their lifetime. 

With these changes we can prevent the spread of rabies in the US while allowing rescue organizations to continue saving dogs like Lacey, a dog from Ukraine who survived the Battle of Irpin by hiding under a bridge. She is now living in Philadelphia where she loves to sleep in her comfy bed, go out on walks with her new family Erica and Kyle, and say hello to everyone she meets.  

The CDC is inviting public comments and feedback on the proposed rules until September 8, 2023. Stay tuned for more details about how you can help! 

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Anna Umansky