Just days after Russia invaded Ukraine, PETA Germany began doing all it could to rescue dogs and cats and has not stopped since. The volunteers and partner organizations teaming up with the group are working hard, delivering over 175,000 pounds of food and provisions each month to help dogs, cats, donkeys, and horses still trapped in war zones. These deliveries will continue for as long as necessary.

A dog named Bari found himself surrounded by loud noises and unsettling scents. The blind dog’s old bones ached as he scrambled to find a safe place to rest and enough food to keep going. Then one day, someone gently scooped him up and took him to a nearby animal shelter. But the air raid sirens and bombs were so jarring that all the animals there lived in a state of panic. Then, PETA Germany arrived to help and took the animals out of the war zone and into a shelter near the Hungarian border. There, Bari found loving humans who provided constant affection and regular meals. Thanks to PETA Germany and its partners, he was provided with a passport, a microchip, and vaccinations and was sent to Düsseldorf, Germany, where he’s now part of a loving family, along with two other rescued dogs, ducks, and geese. Bari is finally home.

Another dog, named Atya, was struggling to survive on Kharkiv’s battle-scarred streets without any help, scavenging through garbage and debris to find anything to eat. She was always on high alert—without any hope of getting actual restful sleep. When PETA Germany and its partner Animal Rescue Kharkiv met Atya, she was cowering in pain in a puddle of her own blood. The team scooped her up and rushed her to a nearby clinic. Her shoulder had been blown to bits, so the veterinarian quickly got her into surgery. The procedure was a success, but she needs emotional care to overcome the trauma she has endured. Today, Atya is at a partner trauma center in Budapest that has been helping animals recover from the mental scars they carry. She is part of a pack now and is starting to regain her confidence. Thanks to PETA Germany and its partners, Atya is now well on her way to a better life.

Teams have pulled more than 1,800 animals from crisis areas in Ukraine and brought them to safety. They ensure that animals receive veterinary care, vaccinations, and affection as they wait out the quarantine period in shelters approved by PETA Germany. Once all the necessary paperwork and blood tests are completed, the animals have a chance of finding a loving home through partner shelters in Germany—or they’re reunited with their guardians.

This work is made possible because of the generous supporters of PETA’s Global Compassion Fund.