On July 27, the mural “Family for a Four-Legged Friend” dedicated to the topic of pet adoption was opened in the center of Kyiv (Zolotoustivska St. 23). The project was created by Suziria Group, a family group of companies that includes the largest chain of pet stores in Ukraine, MasterZoo, to draw public attention to the problem of homeless animals and the urgency of adopting four-legged friends by caring Ukrainians.
The number of homeless animals in Ukraine reached a critical level even before 2021. According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the country’s cities were among the most overpopulated with homeless animals in Europe. And now, as a result of the full-scale Russian invasion, the situation has worsened even more. Currently, there are about 150,000 animals in need of help in Ukraine, and in the frontline regions, the number of four-legged animals in shelters has doubled. The level of adoption is also gradually increasing thanks to caring Ukrainians. For example, the Kyiv city administration notes that in June 2023, after the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP, Kyiv residents harbored a record number of tailed friends. However, shelters are still being filled much faster than they are being emptied.
“As one of the leaders in the pet market, we understand all the challenges shelters face. And in addition to regular assistance to animal volunteers, we strive to solve the problem systematically. With the help of the mural and our other adoption projects, we want to popularize the adoption of four-legged friends so that as many pets as possible find loving families — Polina Kosharna, co-owner and head of the supervisory board of the Suziria Group, comments. – In the long term, this will help reduce both the number of homeless animals in Ukraine and the burden on shelters, which are limited in resources. After all, each adoption opens up space for receiving new animals that need help, treatment, sterilization, and, of course, love”.
The main character of the mural is animal volunteer Anastasia Tykha, who, together with her husband, saved about 30 animals, including dogs with disabilities, from war-torn Irpin. The photo, which was captured by the famous photographer Christopher Occhicone, went viral not only in Ukraine but also around the world and became a symbol of the courage of Ukrainians who, even in the most difficult times, risking their lives, do not forget about their pets.
