In just one extraordinary week, our Ukrainian team and partners – made possible by the generous support of the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust – sterilised 414 dogs and cats in Izmail, preventing the birth of thousands of unwanted puppies and kittens that would otherwise have faced abandonment, hunger or worse.

Our dedicated vets from Доступна Стерилізація (Affordable Sterilization), alongside our fantastic Ukrainian volunteers, carried out our biggest sterilization campaign yet – transforming the lives of hundreds of animals and their communities

Over 6 intense days in Izmail, Ukraine, the team achieved incredible results:

🐶 285 female dogs spayed – preventing thousands of unwanted puppies from being born into hardship.  The majority werey owned yard dogs from low-income homes (widely recognised as being the main source of dumped litters of pups) plus around 20 strays from the city landfill dump, where living conditions are particularly harsh.

🐱129 cats spayed for free by British volunteer vet, Dr. Deborah Hope, who we organized to go out to Ukraine to join our mission – surgeries that would not have happened if we had not booked the vet team for our campaign and created the opportunity for her to work in Izmail, and make an even bigger impact.

💛 The veterinary team worked non-stop, supported by the amazing volunteers who registered dogs, collected animals from nearby villages, and even provided the premises for the vets to set up their temporary clinic space for the surgeries.

💙 Volunteers are already seeing the results with fewer abandoned puppies being found on the streets (this is the third large-scale sterilization event we have carried out in this city this year) – a clear sign that focusing on owned female dogs is key to breaking the cycle of suffering before it begins.

🎥 Watch the video highlights of this life-changing sterilization week in a city that’s often under fire as a key shipping port for Ukraine 👇

A city beginning to change

For years, Izmail’s volunteers had been battling a relentless cycle of abandonment – puppies and kittens born into poverty, left on the streets or drowned because their owners couldn’t afford to care for them. In Ukraine, where many families live on modest pensions or breadline incomes, and where spay/neuter costs are often out of reach, unwanted litters are the main source of the stray population.

By focusing our efforts on owned female dogs, we are finally tackling that problem at its source. For the first time, volunteers are seeing fewer puppies appearing on the streets, and communities are beginning to believe that change is truly possible.

Real impact, real hope

Local volunteer coordinator Lena shared her joy:

“Thank you to everyone involved in this project. I was afraid people would not bring their dogs, but contrary to my fears, people were happy to register their dogs and even some strays for sterilisation. Some did not bring their dogs in the end, but then we drove to the villages and collected them. Debra’s arrival and the sterilisation of 129 cats for free is just a super bonus. To be honest, I still can’t quite comprehend that such a mass sterilisation of animals is taking place in our city; for me, it’s like a dream come true!”

We’re so proud of our Ukrainian team, whose compassion, rock-solid organisation, and sheer determination are turning Izmail into a shining example of humane, sustainable population control. Their efforts are inspiring neighbouring communities and proving that prevention, not just rescue, is the real key to ending the stray crisis.

The impact was so big, it even made the Ukrainian news!

🎥 Watch the news coverage here: 👇

💙 A huge thank you to Affordable Sterilization for their professionalism and partnership, and to Dr. Deb for giving her time and expertise with such kindness.

💛 Made Possible by Marchig Animal Welfare Trust
This life-changing project was made possible with heartfelt thanks to the generous grant from the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust. Their support has enabled us to deliver real, lasting change for animals and real hope for a kinder future.

👉 Donate here to help the next sterilization campaign: