Andrii is holding the dog close to his chest.
We are calling him Andrii to protect his privacy. We do not know if the dog belonged to him, a neighbor, or a family forced to run. But we can see what happened in this moment.
Smoke is rising behind them. A car is flipped on its side. The street is covered in broken glass, branches, and debris. Firefighters are working near the damaged building while people stand in shock.
Andrii does not look away from the destruction.
But he does not let go of the dog either.
The dog’s body is pressed against him. His eyes are wide. His leash is wrapped across his chest. He has survived the blast, but survival is only the first step.
Now he needs food. Water. Medical care. A safe place to sleep. Someone to check his wounds. Someone to calm his fear.
He needs more than rescue.
On June 2, Russia launched one of its large missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, firing 656 drones and 73 missiles overnight, according to Ukraine’s air force. Kyiv, Dnipro, Poltava, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia were among the main targets. At least 22 people were reported killed and many more were wounded.
When people talk about attacks like this, they often count the dead, the wounded, the buildings, the missiles, the drones.
Those numbers matter.
But behind them are moments like this one. A man walking through smoke with a frightened dog in his arms. A pet pulled from a place that no longer feels like home. A living creature shaking in the middle of rubble, unable to understand why the world has become so loud.
War leaves pets behind.
When families are forced to flee, they may have only minutes. Some leave with children in their arms. Some leave with medicine, documents, and one bag. Some are elderly and cannot carry an animal down the stairs. Some are injured. Some never return.
Then dogs and cats wait.
They wait near apartment doors. They hide in courtyards. They search through damaged streets for food. Some are wounded by glass and debris. Some are too scared to come near people. Some keep returning to buildings that are burned, broken, or empty.
This is why Hope For Ukraine created the Hope Pets Program.
Hope Pets helps abandoned animals in Ukraine receive rescue, food, shelter, medical care, and a second chance at life. Through local teams, trusted partners, and volunteers, we help reach pets left behind in frontline communities and damaged neighborhoods.
Some animals can be evacuated from danger and brought to trusted shelters. Others cannot be moved right away, so food deliveries become their lifeline until rescue is possible.
A rescue does not end when an animal is picked up.
That is where recovery begins.
A dog like the one in Andrii’s arms may need a veterinary exam. He may need wound care. He may need vaccinations. He may need clean water and steady meals after days without food. He may need time in a shelter before he can trust people again.
That care takes people who are willing to go back into dangerous places.
It takes fuel. Crates. Pet food. Medicine. Shelter space. Veterinary support. Volunteers who refuse to look away.
Through Hope Pets, a $15 gift can help provide a veterinary exam, vaccinations, and critical wound care for a rescued pet. A $50 gift can help evacuate a pet from a conflict zone and bring that animal toward safety.
For the dog in this photo, Andrii’s arms meant he was not alone.
For another abandoned pet in Ukraine, your gift can mean the same thing.
It can mean a bowl of food in a street where animals are still waiting. It can mean transport out of a frontline town. It can mean medical care after injury. It can mean a shelter bed instead of another night in the cold. It can mean that one more animal left behind by war is seen, reached, and cared for.
Please help rescue abandoned pets in Ukraine today.
When you give to Hope For Ukraine, you help make sure these animals are not forgotten in the smoke, the rubble, or the silence after families flee.
You help turn rescue into recovery.
You help give one more frightened dog or cat a second chance at life.
Short FAQ section
What is the Hope Pets Program?
Hope Pets is Hope For Ukraine’s program that helps rescue abandoned pets in Ukraine and provide food, shelter, medical care, and recovery support.
Why are pets being abandoned in Ukraine?
Many families are forced to flee quickly because of attacks, evacuations, injury, or unsafe homes. In that chaos, some pets are left behind and must survive alone.
What does a donation provide?
A gift can help provide pet food, rescue transport, shelter care, veterinary exams, vaccinations, and wound care.
How much does it cost to help?
A $15 donation can help provide medical care for a rescued pet. A $50 donation can help evacuate a pet from a conflict zone and bring them toward safety.
How can I help abandoned pets in Ukraine?
You can donate to Hope For Ukraine’s Hope Pets Program here:
https://donate.hfu.org/campaign/781204/donate