THE PET RESCUER
BRAVE Nick Tadd is driving his pick-up into wartorn Ukraine to save the country’s pets.
The Brit originally set out on a mercy mission to get supplies to people fleeing Putin’s bombs but witnessed another crisis unfolding for the animals.
Now he has vowed to get as many out as possible and deliver life-saving aid to those still there.
Nick, 55, said: “I’ll stay here as long as I can do good. If the war continues, there are going to be more and more animals needing our help.”
Last week, Nick packed his Ford Ranger and trailer with nappies, baby food, bottles of water and sanitary products and drove to the border of Poland and Ukraine.
Shelters
He planned to head home but was called by his wife Vanessa who had received a message from the Network for Animals charity appealing for supplies to help the pet refugees.
Desperate Ukrainians were handing them in to overflowing animal shelters while many refused to flee if it meant leaving their furry friends behind.
Polish volunteers drive daily into Ukraine to deliver pet food and veterinary items to shelters and to bring animals to safety over the border.
So property developer Nick, from Guildford, Surrey, headed 300 miles to the nearest big pet store in order to load up with supplies. Now he’s in Przemysl, a Polish city near the border with Ukraine where Network for Animals coordinates its work from the Foundation ADA rescue shelter.
More than 1,000 pets have already arrived, including a dog which Nick said had been “shot in the back”.
Many animals are rigid with shock. Others scream in fear. Those with broken bones and open wounds get emergency medical help. Pets that are fit enough are taken to other Polish rescue shelters to be fostered.
Nick said: “Sixty cats arrived in one convoy. They looked absolutely petrified. Then there’s Sasha, the week-old pygmy goat. All she wants is cuddles and food.”
Today Nick is driving into Ukraine to save more dogs and cats and he wants Daily Star readers to dig deep to help.
He said: “We desperately need more vans to get more pets out. I’ve organised a fundraiser to buy another van and any money Daily Star readers can spare would make a huge difference.”