Ukrainian War Kitties Need You

As the war in Ukraine moves into its fifth year, Homeward Trails continues to support the brave individuals and groups who rescue cats and dogs from the front lines. Each year, we try to help by evacuating out a group of cats to make space for more saved from starvation, injury, and often certain death. There are 11 cats patiently waiting for our amazing supporters and volunteers to step up once again and make their rescue possible by donating to their transportation costs. The cats will drive out of Central Ukraine, across Romania, and are loaded on to planes to the US. The average cost of sending the cats cargo is $700 per cat. As soon as we have raised the $7700, we can book the flights! Meet some of the amazing cats who need out of war zone and safely into homes in the US.

The 3 Musketeers were found on the frontlines by a soldier and brought to safety in Central Ukraine. With tears in his eyes, he handed them over to WOW Ukraine and returned to the front. Animals are a huge comfort to the soldiers in the red zones. When we help with one of their rescues, we give some peace and joy to those who risk and suffer so much.

The Star Wars Kittens were found in Southern Ukraine by a woman trying to help homeless and abandoned animals with spay/neuter and emergency care. When she found this sibling litter sick with horrible eye infections, she knew they needed care beyond what she could do alone. Thankfully WOW Ukraine agreed to take them in and get them the emergency care needed. Luke lost his eyes, and Obi-Wan Kenobi lost one eye. Princess Leia recovered with full sight.

Bonnie and Clyde where barely a month old when a veterinarian near the front lines in Southern Ukraine found them without a mother. While he was able to give them emergency care, they couldn’t stay at the clinic. Once again, WOW Ukraine was asked to help and agreed to take them in.

Maya was dumped in a kids play area off the side of the road in Southern Ukraine. Someone had put a box at the top of the kids’ slide for shelter and left her. Neighbors were feeding her and she was getting bigger and bigger. When the WOW Ukraine team stopped along the road they saw her. The neighbors told them that they had been giving her food but thought she might be pregnant. The team couldn’t leave her behind without a caretaker so agreed to take her to the shelter. Thankfully they did because she wasn’t pregnant, she was riddled with intestinal worms that would have killed her if left untreated!

Molly was found by one of the WOW Ukraine shelter staff. She had seen Molly on her way to work for over a week, leaving food each day, hoping that a care giver would be found. At the end of the week, it became clear that Molly had found herself abandoned on the streets during the coldest winter of her lifetime. Over the week while being fed, her condition declined, and it became urgent to take her in. Molly was frozen, matted, exhausted, and had the biggest tick the shelter staff have ever seen. Another day of waiting and she would have not survived.

Blackjack was an owned cat near the front lines. His humans took him to the vet when something was clearly off with him. Thankfully they did because Blackjack was suffering a urinary blockage due to struvite crystals. Once recovered he would need a prescription diet to keep healthy. Instead, they abandoned him at the vet clinic. Once again, WOW Ukraine was asked to take in one more. How could they say no to leaving a cat behind who if put out on the streets could block again and suffer an agonizing death.