For a feral street dog, living under constant air-raid sirens and drone attacks in war-torn Odesa, survival is never guaranteed.

Her name is Matilda, and thanks to you – and to extraordinary veterinary skill – her infected broken leg was saved.

Matilda lived with a wild dog pack who regularly visit a feeding point cared for by one of our long-standing volunteers. Completely feral, she does not allow handling, could not be easily fostered, and has no safety net beyond the people who quietly look out for her from a distance.

When Matilda broke her leg, the fracture went untreated for weeks. By the time she was spotted limping at the feeding station, and then finally caught – after 2 days of dangerous searching through ravines and dense thorn bushes under the threat of drones, the injury was old, inflamed, and severe.

The prognosis was grim. Veterinarians warned that amputation was likely.

But then something extraordinary happened.

Instead of taking the easier option, the veterinary team chose to try to save her leg, and against the odds, they succeeded. Matilda underwent surgery, and her leg was stabilised. For a feral street dog in a war zone, this was nothing short of a miracle.

The Long Road to Recovery

Surgery, however, was only the beginning.

Matilda was so feral that she could not be safely handled by a foster carer. She had to remain at the veterinary clinic for weeks so her wound could be cleaned and treated daily. Even routine bandage changes required her to be sedated.

Each day in the clinic added to her growing medical bill.  Surgery, medication, follow-up X-rays – it all mounted up quickly…

🎥 Watch the video of Matilda’s tenacious capture and journey to safety 👇

Your Help Matters

Because of your support, we were able to clear her veterinary costs and ensure her aftercare was never in doubt.

Her stitches were removed. Her bone repair was monitored. Her recovery was completed properly – not halfway.

And then came the moment that truly mattered.

Returning to Her World

Matilda was never meant for sofas.

She is truly feral – born into survival, not domestic life. Rehoming can be deeply stressful for dogs like her, and often it is kinder to return them to the environment they know, once they are healthy and stable.

Today, Matilda has been released back to her pack.

She is running again.
She is strong again.
She is free again.

She continues to visit the volunteers’ feeding station, where she is quietly monitored to ensure she continues to thrive.

Matilda is terrified of humans.
She cannot be adopted.
She will never understand fundraising appeals written in her name.

But she is alive.

And her life was worth saving.

Because of you, this brave, untamed dog did not lose her leg.
She did not lose her chance.
She did not get forgotten.

Thank you for standing with her – and with us – all the way through 💛💙🐾

👉 Donate here to help us give other dogs like Matilda the second chance they all deserve:

💙💛 Thank you to all who helps us reach the forgotten animals of Ukraine.