Please send an email to:

Olivér Várhelyi
[email protected]

Subject: Urgent Need for Support: Addressing the Homeless Pet Crisis in Ukraine

Dear Olivér Várhelyi,

I am writing to draw your attention to a pressing animal welfare crisis in Ukraine that has arisen as a result of the ongoing conflict in the region. The Russian invasion has not only displaced millions of people but also forced over one million pets into homelessness. This situation is documented in the dog population growth chart available https://wartails.org/dog-growth/. Alarmingly, around 90% of these animals are currently unsterilized, leading to significant public health concerns, including the rapid spread of diseases such as rabies.

Local veterinarians in Ukraine are ready and willing to address this issue; however, they are in dire need of resources to carry out mass sterilization and vaccination programs. This is a humanitarian and animal welfare issue of immense scale and urgency.

The European Union has always been a global leader in animal welfare, and your leadership in the Animal Welfare Unit has been exemplary. As Ukraine looks towards the possibility of future EU membership, addressing this crisis promptly and humanely would not only alleviate current suffering but also align with the EU’s high standards for animal welfare. Failure to act now could result in the necessity of a massive culling in the future, which would be both tragic and contrary to the principles we uphold.

We urge you to consider providing the necessary support and resources to Ukrainian veterinarians. Your intervention could prevent a catastrophic public health crisis and demonstrate the EU’s commitment to humane solutions and international cooperation.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I am hopeful that, under your guidance, we can work together to address and resolve this crisis effectively and humanely.