Hi All,
Sandy Sheerin here with Red Shed (kind of like Red Cross for animals).
With the war happening in Ukraine, there are many animal shelters, sanctuaries, and rescue centers that need our help.
We are running an urgent appeal to anyone interested in assisting these animals across Ukraine that need the following:
Evacuation from a dangerously high-risk area. (Thankfully, Romania, Poland, Hungary have opened their borders to not only humans but also to animals in need). Evacuating them safely will be a challenge, but we will look to support them in this.
Food and water. At the start of this ugly war, there was a message stating that pet food will be in short supply very soon. We are now at that point. We need to be able to get dry, wet, mixed food and clean water to animals.
Temporary shelters. Not all shelters at the borders will be equipped to take on so many rescued animals. We want to help create temporary shelters so that no animal is turned away and avoid overcrowding. Extra bedding, blankets, and relief space will be given.
Medical attention. A lot of animals from shelters and rescue centers still require medical attention, including those that have been harmed in this war. We need to help get supplies to vets, rescuers, and animal welfare experts to let them do their job of tending to the animals' needs.
More info: projectredshed.com
Animals are frightened, scared and do not understand what's happening, even the big ones at the Bear Sanctuary
Image credits: projectredshed
Image credits: projectredshed
This is urgent. Many animals are frightened, scared and unfortunately, we are unable to communicate to them what is happening.
The best thing we can do is offer our help to all humans on the ground trying to feed, shelter, evacuate, and give medical attention to these animals.
If you can, give.
If you cannot, please share with those who can.
I want to thank each and every one of you so far who has given so much. You are heroes and have made such a huge difference already!
Medical attention and supplies are desperately needed for vets and rescuers
Image credits: projectredshed
Evacuation won't be easy, but thankfully Poland, Hungary, and Romania have opened their borders to animals
Image credits: projectredshed
Red Shed's current biggest needs are to educate the public about the work carried out in animal rescue. It is not simply a case of rescuing an animal and giving it food, water and shelter (although that is primary). Animals, like humans, are unique. Some suffer long-term trauma from incidents, such as this war. Others are in need of immediate medical attention that cannot be seen by the rescuers whilst they are caring for so many other animals.
There will be the aftermath of this war which will disrupt many animals' lives, their habitats, and environments. Our goals are to ensure that:
- The public knows how much work is involved in animal rescue and aftercare
- The pressure that these care workers are under to ensure each animal is taken care of in the right manner for survival
- Both immediate aid can be given and then that long-term solutions can be found to help rehabilitate the thousands of displaced animals
We want to allow the public to help in whatever means they can.
We will try to leave no animal behind, even the puppies who were recently born into this
Image credits: projectredshed
Red Shed's other function is to educate, inform and raise awareness of the operations and logistics of emergency animal rescue work.
Its aim is to show how each animal has their own individual requirements when being rescued and how stressful it can be for both humans and animals (as well as the positive sides of being able to successfully evacuate and rehabilitate animals to new environments).
We will try to make sure pets stay with their owners as much as possible. If something happens to the humans, we will help those animals
Image credits: projectredshed
There are many challenges in running animal welfare shelters, rescue centers, and sanctuaries. One of the key ones will be resources (manpower, funding, space, proper facilities to administer proper veterinary medical care).
Other challenges involve having the right safety procedures in place to identify each animal's individual needs and meeting them.
For those who carry out adoptions, challenges will be in rehoming the right animals to the right owners.
For those working in sanctuaries, the issues can arise around not being able to provide the right natural environment for the animal to adapt to and the mental, emotional effects of being moved.
For example, in this case, where animals from Ukraine Zoo are being evacuated to new surroundings, that can have a negative effect on their behavior because they are used to a routine and environment from one place that is now not there anymore.
This man is Andreas Cisternino. He refuses to leave his 400 animals at his shelter. He is one of many we will help
Image credits: projectredshed
Farm animals are in danger (the picture shows another brave Ukrainian who refuses to leave them behind)
Image credits: projectredshed
Animal rescue workers are simply incredible human beings. They work tirelessly for the good of the animals they care for. They usually work long hours until they know the animals are alright. They have a strong sense of duty towards the welfare and care of every single animal they are dealing with.
Right now, animal carers across Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Germany and other border countries are going above and beyond to make sure all the animals they rescue, rehouse, rehabilitate are well minded.
Most are working around the clock due to the daily influx of new arrivals to the border.
Another picture of Andreas Cisternino with one of the cows from his shelter (he has lots of them)
Image credits: projectredshed
It's a struggle for both human and animal evacuation
Image credits: projectredshed
It is very possible that the pandemic is hindering the help to animals coming through the border.
I think we are all aware that most rescue shelters are stretched as it is with resources in regular times, so this will be an extra strain for them.
We have read that bordering countries are now waiving their pet/animal visas and other documents for arriving animals. During the pandemic, this was a major concern and would not have been allowed. This is great news because it means that we can swiftly evacuate animals in need of immediate care without red tape.
Had this been 50 years ago, it would not have been possible.
Image credits: Unknown
Image credits: Lesia Smykovska
I think we owe it to those animal rescue workers doing their best right now, in extremely difficult circumstances, to support them as much as we can.
That's what Red Shed is about - helping those on the ground.
We do daily drops of funds to them so they can pay for the necessary emergency items they need such as food, water, shelter, bedding and medical treatments.
All in all, I want to personally thank everyone who has supported this effort so far.
I have realised just how many kind people there are out there, who might feel a bit helpless in this situation, but still want to give and support our animal care workers out there doing trojan work.
Rambo - an orphaned dog who 'protects' Ukrainian soldiers (there's many more like him)
Image credits: FreedomNewsTV
Image credits: FreedomNewsTV
Image credits: FreedomNewsTV
Borders are open to taking in animals that we were not allowed before
Image credits: projectredshed
Zoos across Europe are scrambling to take in larger animals from sanctuaries and zoos, however, it has not been easy to evacuate all of them safely
Image credits: projectredshed
Image credits: projectredshed
None of them know what is going on - adapting will be difficult for most of them because it's new surroundings for all of these animals
Image credits: projectredshed
Image credits: projectredshed
They try to be very brave for the humans taking care of them but basic shelter and accommodation needs to be found quickly
Image credits: projectredshed
Image credits: projectredshed
Vets are in need of urgent supplies to carry out procedures as more and more animals are welcomed at the border
Image credits: projectredshed
Image credits: projectredshed
With all of that being said, we will work extremely hard to make sure ALL animals are rescued
Image credits: projectredshed