Help for pets from Ukraine refugees in Zurich
The Zürcher Tierschutz has set up a network of nine animal shelters and animal boarding houses so that animals from Ukraine refugees receive protection and care.
It is to be expected that other pets will come to Switzerland from the Ukraine with the refugees. Due to the urgency, the Zurich Animal Welfare Initiative has made efforts to network the regional animal shelters and animal boarding houses.
In close coordination with the Pfötli animal shelter, those animals are safely housed that cannot stay with their owners for reasons of space, pet bans or epidemic hygiene reasons.
Tierschutz Zürich is now able to use its network to quickly and unbureaucratically provide around 100 foster homes for dogs, cats and small animals such as rodents and birds.
The trigger for this initiative was the first refugee cat that was brought to the animal shelter of the Zurich animal welfare.
Zurich animal protection as a cantonal contact point and hub
Another important goal of this network is to support the social welfare offices of the city and canton of Zurich as well as the federal asylum center in Zurich with the temporary placement of pets.
The Zürcher Tierschutz is the first point of contact in the canton and coordinates the placement of the animals in close cooperation with the animal shelter Pfötli in Winkel.
This belongs to the animal rescue service foundation, which can guarantee the transport of the animals. Thanks to this cooperation, the effort for the other organizations in the network remains low.
Minimize risk of rabies
The placement of pets WILL be complicated by the fact that rabies has not been eradicated in Ukraine. Normally, there are strict import regulations for animals from such countries. The federal government has now issued simplified entry regulations due to the emergency.
But afterwards it has to be checked for each pet whether it has the necessary vaccination protection. If in doubt, it must be quarantined – either with the owners or in an animal shelter.
Because rabies is deadly for humans and animals, suspected animals may only be cared for by vaccinated staff. Apart from the veterinary office, only the Zurich Animal Welfare and the animal shelter Pfötli can guarantee this throughout the canton.
The central coordination by the Zurich animal protection is all the more important, emphasizes manager Rommy Los: “For each animal, we clarify the best course of action in close cooperation with the Zurich veterinary office.”
Urgent emergency situation for humans and animals
The Ukrainian refugees depend on quick and unbureaucratic help. The animals mean great emotional support for people in need and give them strength to process the traumatic experiences.
It is therefore a great relief if you know that your animals are optimally cared for until a definitive place to stay for humans and animals is found. “Spontaneous, free help is a matter of course for us,” says Rommy Los. “We are glad that we can also make a contribution.”
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