About a hundred animals - former pets who lost their owners and survived the horrors of war - live in a shelter on the territory of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. Dogs and cats are waiting for their owners here or hoping to find a new home.
Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine brought suffering not only to people, but also to animals. As a result of enemy aggression, many Ukrainians left their homes. Most of the people were not ready for the invasion of the rashists. So, due to urgent evacuation, many of them, unfortunately, simply left their pets alone in apartments and houses.
A few months ago, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute became involved in the rescue of such animals from the Kyiv region, primarily from Bucha and Irpin - the cities that suffered the most from the war. The organizer of the shelter for dogs and cats, Sofya Danylova, appealed to the university administration with a request to allocate premises in which it would be possible to create more or less suitable conditions for their housing. The initiative to save animals from the settlements of Kyiv oblast that survived the occupation was supported by the Department of Property and Social Affairs of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and student volunteers.
A week after the application, the room was allocated and put on to the water mains, and the students made cages with their own hands. The first residents were immediately settled into those cages. At the same time, fodder and appropriate medicines were purchased. Polytechnicians are on duty here day and night: they feed, clean, and walk the animals. Employees of the shelter, which has the name "Hatul Madan" (translated from Ivrit as "Cat the Scientist ''), also work for free. Its founders swiped the name of the shelter from a fable that was once popular in social networks.
"We have to look for an individual approach to each paws, - the students say - because everyone's character is different, they experienced stress, were injured, starved." An administrator, a nurse, and a person who walks and treats dogs are constantly working in the shelter. At the same time cleaning the cats, and feeding them is the area of volunteers’ responsibility. Hygiene rules are abided here. Cards are attached to the crates, indicating the name, place of origin, peculiarities of the animal's behavior (for example, "is afraid of loud noises' '). There was even a cat, next to which was hanging a fragment of a shell that was taken from it. She was cured, new owners were found for her. Even in such a difficult time, people visit the shelter to adopt a cat or dog.
"We do not take money for keeping animals in the shelter. Even for animals that have owners. There is a war going on in our country. Many people have had to flee. Many have destroyed homes and have nowhere to return. And there is nowhere to take the animals. We feed, we treat and keep animals at our own expense and thanks to the help of volunteers and do-gooders," said Sofya Danylova, one of the founders of the shelter. "Sometimes the owners of sick animals can help their pets with money for food and doctors. More often, no. But this does not mean that the paws will remain without treatment. We do our best to ensure that dogs or cats wait for their owners in comfort and warmth."
It is worth noting that the shelter does not immediately start looking for a new family for charges. First, as it is required by law, they search for the old owners within two months. Only after that do they start looking for a new settlement. On the page you can find a lot of photos of paws and touching stories. Information about the shelter is distributed on social networks. Hanna, a graduate of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, says: "I went to the Khatul Madan shelter, cleaned and petted cats and dogs. I feel sorry for them and want to take them all home. I hope that those who are lost will find their owners, but there are enough animals that are abandoned (how is that possible?!), and those whose owners got killed."
Sofya Danylova, who organized the shelter, gave it the name - "Khatul Madan". Why exactly? "That was the first thing that came to mind," she replies. "It's a story about how ineradicable fairy tales are in our lives, and how marvelously well educated our people are, and even cats. I really love this story. The title is very appropriate for many reasons, in particular, as tipping hats to the university that gave us the premises." The story about "khatul madan" - "cat the scientist" - has been circulating social networks for a long time. Its author is Victoria Reicher (the original story (in Russian) can be found at page).
They say a nation is defined by its attitude towards those who cannot take care of themselves. In our case, everything seems to be going well for the paws at the shelter. But recently there are fewer volunteers. And all animals want attention. It is very sad to see how they stretch their paws towards the visitors hopefully, but there are not enough hands for everyone. "Fluffy children", as they are called here, have not lost the ability and desire to give love despite the tragedies experienced and despite the loss of home and family. For us and you.
At the "Khatul Madan" shelter, which is open at the address: Kyiv, st. Poliova, 32, you can find a friend or help its residents with food, medicine, and money. You can also become a volunteer and just work at the shelter. Big and small, old and young cats, dogs, gnawing animals and birds - different animals live here. There are many of them, and they all need attention and care.
So, if you have a desire to help the shelter, you can find out about its urgent needs and the number of the Nova Poshta office for parcels by phone: 099 752 0627.