As sirens rang out amid Russia’s assault on Ukrainian cities Thursday, scores were forced to flee their homes. Some held their children in their arms, while others clutched their beloved pets — the cats and dogs they could not leave behind amid the barrage of attacks coming from Russia.
Countries around the world swiftly condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “brutal act of war,” with President Biden vowing “consequences” and other leaders announcing harsh sanctions.
For those fleeing the capital of Kyiv by car, roads were congested with traffic that stretched for miles. Those on foot rushed to local subway stations and bus routes, holding their pets in carriers.
On social media, Romanian animal rescue charity Casa lui Patrocle, which is based in the city of Suceava — around 25 miles from the Ukraine border — vowed to help families fleeing with their pets, writing in a Facebook post that it would provide veterinary assistance to anyone who entered the country. The organization said it would help treat “any type of animal.”
How to help the pets of Ukraine
