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Helping Ukraine’s Dogs Get Ready for a New Life

Vaccines and preventive care aren’t “fun,” but they’re absolutely essential.
In Dnipro, Ukraine, our partners take in many animals coming from the front lines. Before any dog can be adopted, moved to the shelter, or transferred to a rescue in western Ukraine, they must be vet-checked and vaccinated. This protects the dogs themselves, keeps other animals safe, and meets travel/adoption requirements.

That’s where Sochi Dogs steps in — thanks to our Ukraine Fund donors. Your support covers exams and core vaccinations so these dogs can move forward safely. Every shot is recorded in a pet passport that stays with the dog as they travel, creating a clear medical history for their next chapter.

This is the first and most important step toward a healthy, happy life in a loving home.

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Anna Umansky

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From Survival to Hope: Zhanna’s Story

Every dog needs a human, and it’s likely that Zhanna had one, but when soldiers from the Ukrainian military found her, she was trapped in an abandoned apartment building all alone, without any food or water in the not-occupied city of Toretsk. 

From Torestk, she was transported north to a holding center for abandoned animals in Druzhkivka, where she won the hearts of volunteers who chose her over hundreds of other dogs to be one of the lucky few to make it to Sochi Dogs partner rescue in Dnipro.  

Every day at the shelter, Zhanna continues to open up and show her fun, gentle, and playful side. She remembers the kindness of a human touch and the taste of a treat in her belly. It’s clear Zhanna is longing for the home she may have once had. 

This summer, Zhanna lucked out once again —  when the rare opportunity presented itself to send two dogs from Ukraine to the US, the Dnipro team put her at the top of the list. 

 

When found

At the shelter a few months later

 
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Anna Umansky

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Tubik’s Journey: From War Zone to Hope for a Home

Most dogs get rescued, but Tubik took matters into his own paws.

A member of the Ukrainian military found Tubik hungry, alone, and exhausted by the Druzhkivka-Kramatorsk checkpoint in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. To get there, Tubik had to have crossed minefields, abandoned villages – there isn’t a single house or settlement for miles.

Tubik remembers what it’s like to have a family and a human who loves him, so he did everything in his power to find someone who could save him from the horrific war. 

The soldiers who took him in and saw what a loving dog Tubik was, so on their way to their next assignment, they went out of their way to bring Tubik to the Dnipro Shelter. 

Once there, Tubik did not stop campaigning to find his forever human. He won the hearts of the shelter team, who quickly decided he needed the best possible home and asked Sochi Dogs to find a very special family for him in the US. 

 

When found

A few months later

 
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Anna Umansky

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The Work Never Stops in Dnipro

Last night, our partners in Dnipro welcomed two transports of animals from the Eastern Dnipro and Donetsk regions: 15 adult dogs and 27 tiny puppies. Some were community dogs left behind on the streets, while others were family pets whose owners were forced to flee their homes. Right now, some are in quarantine at the Dnipro shelter, while others are at the vet receiving immediate care. All of them will be examined, dewormed, vaccinated, and given the treatment they desperately need.

With your help, Sochi Dogs will be supplying vaccinations, food, deworming medication, and emergency medical treatment to get them on the road to recovery. Once they’re healthy and cleared, the Dnipro team will work to find them homes locally or send them to the rescue partners further west in Ukraine. But this first step is absolutely vital to give them a chance at a happy, healthy life with people who will love them, even in the midst of a horrific war.

Thank you for being there for them. Together, we are giving them hope. Donate to Help the Dogs of Ukraine

 
 
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Anna Umansky