Charity appeals for donations for Ukraine vets
Andrii Malyshko and his team outside the destroyed veterinary clinic in Dnipro.
A global charity has urgently appealed to the UK veterinary community for medicines, equipment and funds to support veterinary professionals working in Ukraine.
The ProSalus Foundation, which is dedicated to improving animal welfare in regions of great need, has launched its campaign in partnership with the Ukrainian Veterinary Medical Foundation (UVMF).
The UVMF supports veterinary teams in Ukraine, where veterinary professionals are being killed in battle, equipment is being diverted, and animal shelters are overwhelmed. It seeks to advance the veterinary profession, as well as improving animal welfare in such regions.
The campaign comes after the ProSalus vice-president, Dr G Mark Johnston, attended the charity’s annual congress in Kyiv. While there, he delivered the first batch of donated supplies, and also learned first-hand about conditions on the ground.
UK veterinary organisations are being encouraged to donate veterinary medicines, equipment and supplies, including medications and surgical instruments, to support veterinary teams in the region.
Alternatively, supporters can make a cash donation to the charity online. The ProSalus Foundation is also hosting a silent auction of Ukrainian art, with artist Ann Khomchyk donating her ‘Different Together’ collection.
Among the donors to The ProSalus Foundation’s last appeal was independently-owned Stowe Animal Health in Suffolk. Its donations were delivered to the Four Paws Clinic in Irpin, which is near Kyiv.
The charity is also working with Ukrainian veterinary teams to ensure they receive vital vaccinations, as they do not currently receive pre-exposure rabies protection.
Dr Johnston said: “The veterinary profession is a global family. After almost four years of war, our Ukrainian colleagues are exhausted and working in very difficult conditions to care for the millions of animals caught up in the conflict. And, with the incidence of rabies increasing, they risk their own safety every day.
“The ProSalus Foundation is committed to supporting veterinarians wherever the need is greatest so we’re asking UK vets to stand with their Ukrainian colleagues – to show them they are not forgotten and to help support their vital work.”
More details about the appeal can be found on The ProSalus Foundation website.
Image © The ProSalus Foundation
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