Our Mission
Changing the lives of abandoned dogs
one dog at a time
K9 Rescue works with rescuers and animal shelters in Eastern Europe and Ukraine, assisting with food, medical aid and emergency care, as well as advice and support on the rescue, care and rehoming of abandoned animals. The Animal Rescue community in these countries, is generally made up of young people caring for the stray dogs and cats on the streets in their own area as a community project, often working several jobs to help buy feed, just to try to make a difference to the lives of these innocent forgotten animals.
Through our partnerships and collaborations with these local communities, we support initiatives that promote sustainable development – this includes projects such as reducing stray populations in urban and rural areas, through rescuing and rehoming, together with spaying and neutering to reduce the number of unwanted litters and help control the stray animal population, contributing to a healthier environment.
K9 Rescue are actively advocating for improved animal welfare in Eastern Europe, with an emphasis on bio-security in animal shelters to eradicate disease in the shelter environment, thereby reducing the potential spread of diseases and parasites into the ecosystem and wider community.
2022 saw us move into Emergency Aid and Disaster Relief assistance to the grass roots rescues in Ukraine, supplying food, medical supplies and veterinary aid to the affected communities, both people and animals, as well as emergency evacuations of animals caught up in the conflict. With our planned Biodiverse Eco-Shelter in Ukraine we aim to build an Environmentally Sustainable EU Traces compliant, state-of-the-art, animal shelter, called Freedom Shelters, which we hope to then roll out to other countries in Eastern Europe.
With your support, we can create a sustainable future for the unwanted and forgotten animals of Eastern Europe and Ukraine.
The forgotten dogs of Eastern Europe
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are more than 200 million stray dogs worldwide with 50 million of those street dogs estimated in Central and Eastern Europe.
For these forgotten dogs, life on the streets is brutal; dogs are seen as vermin, and with no, or only basic, animal protection laws, anyone can mistreat them without risk of penalty or imprisonment, so dogs are routinely faced with poisoning, beatings and torture as well as struggling to survive in a hostile environment with starvation and disease a reality or freezing to death or falling victim to being run over by a tram or car and sustain horrific injuries. Those that survive, suffer the most devastating post traumatic stress.
Animal Welfare
In many countries with street dog populations, the Governments grant extermination licences to vigilante hunters to cull the dogs, who are paid per dog killed, with the method of culling left to the choice of the individual – our partners have found dogs tortured, poisoned, deliberately starved, hung, shot, axed, stabbed, beaten, raped, set on fire, purposely run over, dragged behind cars, bludgeoned to death, mouths and limbs tied up, mutilated and left to die a slow, agonising death.
This inhumane method of population control is both cruel and ineffective, and divides the community, where animal lovers live in abject horror with what they are powerless to prevent, whilst others just want to see the streets cleared of strays, no matter the cost. Yet studies have shown, that children and young people subjected to witnessing such cruelty as part of daily life, lose their compassion and empathy for others as the cruel scenes they experience negatively impact their senses and they become detached as a result. These children often grow up to develop mental health issues that can have a direct impact on the community. Foreign NGO’s such as K9 Rescue, working towards a more humane approach to stray population control, not only improves the living conditions of the dogs in these countries, it also creates a healthier environmentally sustainable solution for the communities concerned.
Our Current Campaigns
We run projects with local communities in Eastern Europe and Ukraine that promote sustainable development for lasting change. Our projects range from spay/neuter programs, as well as advocating for improved animal welfare promoting bio-security in animal shelters to eradicate disease and supporting rescuers and grass roots animal shelters assisting with food, medical aid and emergency care, as well as advice and support on the rescue, care and rehoming of abandoned animals.
These projects are created with the input of the local communities, often coming to us asking for assistance to improve the welfare of the stray populations in their community as well as the community’s own environmental health.
Sterilization Project
Transforming Lives through Sterilization: Join our Trap Neuter Return (TNR) projects in Ukraine, dedicated to sterilizing and caring for stray dogs and cats. Help us reduce overpopulation and improve the lives of these animals. Support our efforts to create a healthier and more sustainable environment for all.
Freedom Shelter
The very first of our Cage Free Natural Shelter projects is in Ukraine, as with no Traces Compliance system in place for homeless animals, the EU borders are currently closed to homeless Ukrainian dogs and cats. Our Shelter Project will change this and enable the abandoned animals of War to be prepared for onward rehoming in Western Europe.
A Meal a Day for a Stray
K9 Rescue International works with independent rescuers in Northern Macedonia, helping to fund the street feeding stations for the feral dog and cat populations. Funds for food for winter in Macedonia are desperately needed - please help us provide the feed needed to keep this vital program going to feed the strays through winter
Our Dogs for Adoption
K9 Rescue charity run a no-kill, kennel-free sanctuary, rehabilitating abused street dogs originally from Eastern Europe for adoption in West Wales – these are some of our dogs ready for their forever families.
There are many other wonderful semi-feral dogs that are nearing the end of their rehabilitation at our sanctuary that could be fostered by families willing to put the time in to help them take the next step towards integration into family life.
Adopt or Foster Maggie & Kaya
Bonded pair Maggie & Kaya are looking for a Forever Foster to love and cherish them through their senior years
Adopt Eric
Eric is looking for his very own safe haven with a loving family where he can feel secure and cherished.
Adopt Ariel
Ariel is looking for an active owner who is looking for a loving companion dog to spend time with.
LATEST NEWS FROM OUR JOURNAL
See the latest news of our initiatives working with local communities in Eastern Europe and Ukraine with your support that promote environmental sustainability for lasting change. See the impact of your donations – together we make all the difference.
Shining a Light on Compassion
Shining a Light on Compassion: Join Us for the 'War Tails' Documentary Screening in London We are excited to announce we will be hosting the private screening of "War Tails" in London
Maria, a Vet from Bucha, Ukraine
She stayed to help those that remain Whilst delivering aid in Ukraine,
Kyiv Animal Shelter Bombed 5 Times
Heartbreak at the bombed shelter In May we visited a shelter on
Macedonia’s Forgotten Dogs Aid Appeal
Mimi Mishevska runs the Macedonia's Forgotten Dogs Sanctuary in Northern Macedonia, saving the injured, sick
Ukraine Animal Crisis Appeal
As the increasingly desperate humanitarian situation in Ukraine deepens, the animal crisis in Ukraine continues
