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

Her name is Matilda, and thanks to extraordinary veterinary skill, her leg has been saved. But her recovery is still ongoing – and the cost of keeping her safe continues to grow.

Matilda lives with a wild dog pack who often come to a feeding point cared for by one of our long-standing volunteers. She is completely feral – she does not allow handling, cannot be easily fostered, and has no safety net beyond the people who quietly look out for her.

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 has now undergone surgery, and her leg has been stabilised. For a feral street dog in a war zone, this is nothing short of a miracle.

Why Matilda Is Still in the Clinic

Surgery, however, was only the beginning.

Matilda is so feral that she cannot yet be handled safely by a foster carer. For the past two weeks, she has had to remain at the veterinary clinic so her wound can be cleaned and treated daily. Even now, the veterinarian must sedate her in order to remove bandages and provide care.

Each day in the clinic costs 600 UAH (around £11 / $14). While modest by veterinary standards, these costs add up quickly – especially on top of surgery, medication, and upcoming follow-up X-rays to ensure the bone is healing correctly.

Tomorrow, Matilda’s stitches are due to be removed. If all goes well, she will finally be able to move to a quiet foster space for a couple of weeks; a critical next step in her recovery.

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

Why We Need Your Help

So far, the veterinary bill for Matilda’s care is at 24,000 UAH (around £420 / $565), and the total continues to rise with each additional day in the clinic.

Without clearing the outstanding veterinary bill, Matilda’s follow-up care – including X-rays to confirm that the repair is holding – is at risk. For a dog whose leg was almost amputated, this aftercare is not optional.

Matilda is not a pedigree dog. She is truly wild and cannot be adopted.

But she is alive.
And her life was worth saving.

Help Us Finish What We Started

Choosing to save Matilda’s leg came with a responsibility; to see her through recovery, not just surgery.

Your support will help us:

• pay for her surgery
• cover her extended clinic stay and medication
• secure her follow-up X-rays
• allow her to move safely into foster care once her stitches are removed

If you’re able to donate, or even share Matilda’s story, you’ll be helping ensure that this brave, untamed dog doesn’t lose her second chance after coming so far.

👉 Donate here to help us give Matilda the second chance she so deserves:

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