Like millions across the world THE PACK have been watching events unfold in Ukraine with horror and heartbreak. Our hearts go out to the people and animals whose homes are being destroyed and whose lives have been turned upside down. It’s easy to feel hopeless, but there are things we can do. Our charity partner Underdog International are working around the clock to bring much needed animal supplies to refugee animals and their pawrents. We have donated 200 cans of our vegan dog food to Ukrainian dogs in need, and we know that many of you want to help.

Here are just a few of the ways you can support pawrents and their beloved pups in this unthinkably traumatic time.

• Brave people like Andrea Cisternino, a photographer who runs a farm animal sanctuary in Ukraine, are staying in the country to keep their sanctuaries and animal shelters running and their animals safe. Again, you can donate via Facebook or other social media. Others include Shelter Ugolyok, Happy Paw, Sirius, and Shelter Friend.
• PETA is also directly assisting people and animals in Ukraine, providing on-the-ground assistance and delivering supplies including 40,000 pounds of pet food to shelters in Ukraine. 
• The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is providing emergency aid to Shelter Pif, home to more than 800 dogs, and Holivka Shelter, housing 300 dogs.
• It’s not just dogs who need our help: Save the Wild’s White Rock Bear Shelter is supporting to fellow rescue centres as well as protecting its own bears, helping transport lions and tigers, an African wild dog, caracals and a monkey from Wild Animal Rescue to a zoo in Poland for temporary shelter.
• Ukrainian organisation UAnimals is providing support to shelters across Ukraine.
• Other organisations working on the ground in Ukraine are Deutscher Tierschutzbund - Shelter Tierschutzzentrum Odessa, Four Paws, Open Cages, OIPA, Lucky strand, UAAA (Ukrainian association of animal advocates).
• Forgotten Animals is a UK-registered charity helping animals in former Soviet countries, working tirelessly to support sanctuaries and shelters in Ukraine.

Thankfully, a number of EU Member States have temporarily lifted restrictions on the movements of pets, allowing refugees to bring their pets with them as they flee to safety.

• Our charity partner Underdog International have launched an appeal to help Ukrainian refugees fleeing to Romania with their pets. Via their Romanian partners Sanctuarul Dog Rose, your donation will provide food and other support to those arriving from Ukraine, two and four-legged.
• Sava’s Safe Haven, a family-run animal shelter based in Romania, is another organisation providing practical help to Ukrainian refugees with pets. You can donate via their Facebook page.
• You can also donate to Fundacja Viva! Polska, Gyvunu Geroves Iniciatyvos, Save the Dogs and other Animals, and Rifugio Italia Kiev.
• The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries has shared a list of Romanian Animal Shelters who are accepting refugee animals from Ukraine, and you can donate to them to help farm animals as well as pets.

We know how important animals are to pawrents and other animal carers, many people refusing to leave them behind despite the threat to their own safety. Every small donation helps prevent this from happening - and might even save a life.