Animal Welfare

The problem of stray animals in the community was already significant before the war, as none of the government programmes aimed at the humane control of the stray animal population had been implemented here.

With the outbreak of the full-scale war, the situation became even more complicated. In addition to the existing problem, hundreds of animals were lost or deliberately abandoned by their owners during the fighting and the evacuation of the population.

Today, the number of such animals continues to increase because people are evacuating animals from the Vovchansk community, where active hostilities are ongoing. Many leave them in Staryi Saltiv because it is relatively safer here, although the community remains on the frontline. A documentary about Saltiv's animal welfare volunteers: [https://dobri-dii.com.ua/mediatek/videoteka/#videos-5](https://dobri-dii.com.ua/mediatek/videoteka/#videos-5)

In 2023, with the support of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, 87 animals were sterilised.
In 2024, with the support of the Happy Paw Charitable Foundation, 339 animals were sterilised.

The NGO **Dobri Dii** provided electricity and a site for the placement of the mobile veterinary operating unit for the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, and premises for surgeries and temporary post-operative care for the Happy Paw Charitable Foundation.

However, the scale of the problem is so great that these efforts are only a drop in the ocean, and we continue to need every possible form of assistance and support.

In 2025, local animal welfare volunteers became members of the NGO **Dobri Dii**, giving new momentum to this area of work. Efforts to secure food for stray animals intensified, as did the sterilisation of both stray and owned animals.

During 2025, 109 animals were sterilised. All sterilised animals were also vaccinated against rabies. In addition, more than 150 residents of Staryi Saltiv requested sterilisation services for their animals.

As of March 2026, applications had been submitted by 30 animal caregivers for the sterilisation of 77 animals. This demonstrates that our efforts to persuade local residents of the importance of sterilising at least owned animals have achieved measurable results. We continue this work.

Animal Welfare page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578978185821