As an Animal Disaster Service Worker, I’m honored to know several teammates who deployed earlier this spring with the International Fund for Animal Welfare, (IFAW), at the Poland-Ukraine border.
I talked with John Maretti, founder and Executive Director of North Valley Animal Disaster Group and a longtime member of IFAW’s Disaster Response Team, about his experience. Here are some excerpts from our conversation:
Q: John, how would you describe your deployment to help Ukraine animal refugees?
A: It was HARD. I’ve deployed all over the world, to fires, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes, but never a war. I was stunned by the people: their calmness and determination, their sheer strength and stamina, and love for their pets. They had to work so hard to take them and keep them safe.
Q: What are some of your most poignant and lasting images?
A: The way people arrived at the border, carrying pets any way they could. In their arms, in boxes, in ice chests with holes punched in them. In bags. Anything they could grab as they were leaving, many during Russian attacks. We were awestruck by the calmness of the people, their stoicism. And they wanted help for their animals first, that was their priority.
Q: What condition are the pets in when they arrive?
A: Most are dehydrated. Most had fleas. We saw a couple with shrapnel wounds, paw injuries.
Q: What services and care does the IFAW team provide?
A: The IFAW tent was staffed 24/7, including veterinarians. The animals are treated for dehydration, parasites, injuries. The people are given food, water, carriers, harnesses, leashes, muzzles, whatever’s necessary to get them through the next stage of their journey.
Q: Where are the veterinarians from?
A: All over: they are IFAW vets from Australia, the UK, America, Europe. We were really lucky to have a local vet with us during my deployment.
Q: We’re hearing a lot about the animal shelters. Were you able to assist any?
A: We loaded truckloads of supplies that went to shelters inside Ukraine, but our team was required to remain stationed at the border, on the Polish side.
Q: Would you go back?
A: Absolutely.
During my recent deployment to the Sentinel Response Disaster Simulation Exercise, I talked with an Air Force medic who had just returned from service in Ukraine. He’s also a North Bay volunteer Animal Disaster Service worker, and spent his spare time helping people assisting the animals left behind.
He observed that “the street animals who have formed packs are generally well fed and watered, and many get some care”. He helped unload supplies for shelter and street animals being cared for by residents who have stayed, many, just to take care of the animals.
IFAW is working with the EU to improve evacuation channels and develop policy for vaccination restrictions and other factors that impact refugee ability to evacuate with their pets.
Veterinary professionals interested in assisting Ukraine animals should refer to the AVMA CDC, CalAnimals, or the entity in their country providing guidance.
