By Isabel Pancake
They drive to the Ukraine in a hired van to help dogs and cats.
The need of the people in Ukraine is great. But animals also suffer in war…
Many refugees had to leave their dogs and cats behind. They were starving, roaming around among the ruins, some were waiting for their masters or mistresses in the abandoned apartments.
The people of Pankow in Kyiv helped this little Struppi Photo: Private
ITheir suffering has affected three friends from Pankow so much that they have been going to the war zone on their own since March to help the animals.
“It’s crazy when there’s an air alarm and we’re unloading right next to it,” says Mario Schlöricke (59). Pet rescuers have been to Ukraine five times. In the Bucha massacre site, in Kharkiv, Kyiv, Irpin, Borodyanka. They have already brought more than 40 dogs and cats from animal shelters across the border – and helped those who have to stay there with food donations.
With the Red Cross on the van, animal rescuers can cross the Polish-Ukrainian border more easily Photo: Private
“Unfortunately, most small animals such as rabbits or hamsters did not survive,” says Michaela Lawrenz (43). “That’s why we especially need food for dogs and cats and boxes for the journey.”
For their rescue operations, the Pankower use a small transporter that only has three seats in the front. It’s borrowed, they’re financing the fuel themselves. Things get tight on the way back. Lawrenz: “The animals are at the back – and we also have to take people from the Ukraine with us.”
This is what Michaela Lawrenz’s farm looks like when enough food donations have been collected. There is still a lot missing for the next trip to the Ukraine Photo: Private
Because: Germans are not allowed to bring dogs and cats across the border alone. Five are allowed per Ukrainian.
“The animals that we rescue get a new owner in Germany,” says vet assistant Sabrina Jörns (32). They are also chipped and vaccinated. Because that could otherwise be an obstacle.
The cat looks like it’s sitting comfortably, but it’s a quadriplegic. She was found like this in a ruin Photo: Private
The animal rescuers’ biggest concern: not getting across the border. “We can’t just say that we’ll stay in the car longer. The animals can’t take it. And we don’t have enough fuel to drive back to the pick-up location either,” says Schlöricke.
The next trip will take place at the end of October. Until then, the warehouse in Michaela Lawrenz’s apartment still has to fill up – because the team doesn’t set off with a half-empty van.
Here the animal rescuers load the food donations in Kyiv into another transporter. He goes straight to the front with it Photo: Private
Food donations can be handed in at Augenoptik Lawrenz (Berliner Strasse 6, Pankow) or at the Markus Hofmann veterinary practice (Berliner Strasse 11, Pankow), or you can order them directly by post. Also will Donate via Paypal assumed. The Pankowers also show photos of their actions on Instagram: tierhilfe_ukraine