VWB works with local partners to deliver emergency veterinary support while helping families rebuild livelihoods and resilience amid ongoing conflict.
VWB Ukraine Program
Goal: To support animals and the people who care for them during the ongoing war in Ukraine by delivering emergency veterinary assistance while helping households rebuild livelihoods and resilience through integrated, community-led recovery initiatives.
Target Groups: War-affected households, including internally displaced families, animal guardians, small-scale and aspiring farmers, local veterinarians, and community-based partners.
Where: Conflict-affected and frontline regions, including Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Kherson, and Luhansk.
Duration: 2022–ongoing
The Situation
Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the war has had devastating and prolonged impacts on both people and animals. Millions of families have been displaced, infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, and access to food, income, and basic services has been severely disrupted.
Animals have been deeply affected by the conflict. Companion animals have been injured, abandoned, or left without access to veterinary care, while farmers have lost livestock, income, and the means to sustain their families. As the war continues, the needs have shifted from short-term emergency response to longer-term support that helps households stabilize and rebuild amid ongoing uncertainty.
In response, Veterinarians Without Borders (VWB) has established long-term partnerships with Ukrainian animal welfare organizations, veterinary teams, farmer groups, and community-based partners. Together, we are addressing urgent animal health needs while supporting families to protect livelihoods, restore food security, and regain a sense of stability in the face of a protracted crisis.
What We Are Doing
VWB’s Ukraine program combines emergency veterinary support with livelihood recovery initiatives, recognizing that families cannot wait for the war to end to begin rebuilding their lives. Our work focuses on the following interconnected areas:
1. Emergency veterinary care and essential supplies: We provide pet food, medicines, vaccines, and veterinary supplies to animal shelters, volunteer initiatives, and vulnerable households. This includes preventative care such as spay/neuter services, vaccinations, and parasite treatment to reduce disease risks in shelters and communities.
2. Support for animal shelters and animal welfare organizations: Working with local partners, we support shelters affected by the war through facility repairs and upgrades, equipment provision, and operational support. Where possible, we assist with shelter assessments and rebuilding efforts to ensure animals can be cared for safely and humanely.
3. Livelihood recovery through small-scale farming: As the conflict continues, VWB supports households to rebuild livelihoods through poultry and livestock initiatives. Farmers receive animals, feed, veterinary support, and training in sustainable production and basic business skills. These initiatives help families restore food security, generate income, and reduce reliance on humanitarian aid.
4. Capacity strengthening and knowledge exchange: We work alongside Ukrainian veterinarians, animal welfare professionals, and farmer organizations to strengthen local capacity through collaboration, resource-sharing, and online learning opportunities. This includes free webinars and technical exchanges between Ukrainian and Canadian professionals to support ongoing service delivery during the crisis.
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Why This Approach Matters
In a protracted crisis like Ukraine, caring for animals is inseparable from caring for people. Preventing disease in shelters and households helps protect public health, while supporting veterinarians, animal welfare groups, and farming families strengthens local capacity during a time of extreme strain. Animals also play a vital role in family life and emotional well-being, and protecting their health helps communities maintain stability, dignity, and hope amid ongoing conflict.
Special thanks to the many veterinary clinics that have provided urgent medical supplies:
Heartfelt gratitude for our donors and sponsors whose financial contributions have made our Ukraine response possible:
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