Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column
MANY readers will have met Michelle at the recent Ealing Animals Fair where she gave a talk about the charity she founded, Dogs On The Streets (DOTS).
If you think you’re busy, try being Michelle for a few days. Since the Fair, not only has she been on call 24/7 for DOTS but also she has been working alongside the Naturewatch Foundation (NWF) preparing the DOTS vet vehicle (which is also a mobile clinic) for a trip to the Ukraine border. This has involved hours of custom logging, packing, getting the vehicle weighed and tyres checked etc.
One of the advantages of this DOTS/NWF collaboration is that NWF have been working with animals in the Ukraine since 1994. They have contacts. For nearly thirty years, they have seen the kindness of the Ukrainian people. Some of this, we have seen on our screens with pictures of people fleeing the country carrying their pets long distances rather than leaving them behind. As well as supplies for animals and a vet, this joint mission will also be taking supplies for people including hats, socks, gloves and children’s activities.
In times of active warfare, joint ventures are important. Besides the collaboration with DOTS, NWF is also working with others. For example, they are working with Tailed Hostages of War to create a database of the needs of animal shelters in Ukraine. This will inform where supplies are taken.
Of course, other animal charities are also at work in Ukraine. And, they are much needed. There are heartbreaking stories of animals in shelters where food is scarce, abandoned animals looking for their owners and dogs too shell-shocked to move. One charity moving mountains to help these animals is People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
So far they’ve rescued over 500 animals from inside Ukraine. Some were found tied to railings or in abandoned carriers. Others were brought to the PETA van by brave locals who weren’t leaving the country themselves, but wanted their animals taken to safety. Twelve year old Josef came from Donetsk. He’s now receiving treatment for his leg. PETA will either reunite these animals with their owners or find them good homes.
PETA is also sending in food supplies. Today they sent three lorries with 60 tonnes of animal food to places where it’s needed. You can see the daily diary of PETA’s work at peta.org.uk and you can keep up-to-date with the DOTS/ NWF mission at dogsonthestreets.org and naturewatch.org or on Twitter at #ukrainepaws.