Left Behind: The hidden underbelly crisis of strays in Ukraine and Romania

On a quiet road in Ukraine, a dog lay trembling in the dirt. Her leg was bent at an unnatural angle. She had likely been hit by a car. No collar, no identification, and no one nearby to help. Her name is Hanna, and her story is heartbreakingly common across Eastern Europe right now.

When we found Hanna, her femur was fractured. But thanks to emergency surgery and care funded by compassionate donors, she is now in a safe foster home. Hanna’s recovery is a small victory in comparison to the ongoing crisis of strays.

The sheer number of stray dogs and cats is unimaginable in Ukraine and next door in Romania. Economic hardship, limited access to affordable veterinary services and Russia’s war on Ukraine all contribute to the cycle of neglect and abandonment.

Many dogs are now born on the streets to mothers who have never known a home themselves. Other dogs were abandoned by owners who could no longer care for them or were forced to flee because of the war. At no fault of their own, highly domesticated dogs and cats across Ukraine and Romania have been left helpless to defend themselves.

With no one to look after them, these animals face unimaginable hardships. Intense injury and illness without veterinary care mean hundreds of animals lose their lives unnecessarily. Starvation and dehydration, especially during winter, add even more stress to their survival. Despite these silent killers, the stray population continues to grow due to unchecked breeding and a deficit of spay and neuter programs.

This is why stray neutering charities and active animal shelters are so essential right now. With the horrific conditions of the Ukrainian and Romanian stray populations, immediate action needs to be taken to help these animals. ROLDA and others like us are able to provide medical treatment and rehabilitation for animals in every situation. From abandoned house cats to dogs trapped in war zones, we know that every animal deserves a second chance at life. We help these animals off the streets to shelter, foster care and eventually adoption, where they can recover, physically and mentally, from all they have fought against.

Hanna’s journey from the streets of Ukraine to the safety of a foster home is just one small story in a much larger movement—a movement of hope, compassion, and action. The fight for animal welfare in Eastern Europe is far from over, but with every rescued dog, every successful adoption, every life saved, we move closer to a future where no animal is left behind.