Ukraine

Kyiv Mayor Orders Humane Treatment of Stray Animals - Update April 2009

Kyiv Mayor Leonid Chernovetsky (left) and Deputy Mayor Irena Kilchytska (right) have paid great attention to the plight of stray animals in Kyiv.

Despite the enormous workload and demands on their time in running one of the major cities in Europe, Mayor Chernovetsky has made the time to address the welfare of stray animals. He is the first Mayor of Kyiv ever to have cared enough to consider the care of stray animals.  With Mrs Kilchytska, he ordered the dismissal of the existing Director of Borodyanka and appointed a first class new director, Olga Drozdova. In just a few months, Olga and her team has transformed the facility, which previously was a dreadful prison for strays, into a modern western style animal protection shelter.

In early April 2009, a small group at City Hall advocated a return to capture and kill in advance of the UEFA championships due to be held in 2012. However, this return to barbarism will not be allowed with Mrs Kilchytska appearing on TV to inform the citizens that Kyiv will continue to maintain only the highest European standards in addressing stray animal control. This is truly wonderful support reflecting that Mayor Chernovetsky and Mrs Kilchytska are genuine in their intentions and will not see a a return to the old ways of brutal and cruel mistreatment of animals. Ghandi famously said that, a country which couldn’t look after its animals couldn’t look after its people.

We praise Mayor Chernovetsky and Mrs Kilchytska for their modern and forward thinking approach in looking after both the citizens and the animals of Kyiv. Of course, everything is not perfect in Kyiv –  it has only had a few years of independence and Mayor Chernovetsky has only been in power since 2006, but important progress is being made. Naturewatch Foundation, together with our colleague societies from Germany and Austria, are delighted that the city of Kyiv has adopted a policy of treating stray animals humanely. Although improvements have yet to be made in many areas of animal welfare, the first difficult steps have now been taken and the trend has been set to achieve the goal of the highest European standards.

We look forward to continuing to advise and assist Kyiv municipality in its pioneering work. We are sure you will enjoy the following images taken on 15-17 April 2009.  

The entire facility is now clean and hygienic
New outdoor facilities which the dogs really enjoy
All the dogs are happy to see Director Olga, they know she takes good care of them. This is a stunning turnaround in conditions and all achieved in just a few months.
Each dog has a record card		Dogs now get taken out for walks
Left - We have visited Borodyanka many times since 1997 and this is the very first time that, when entering the shelter, I looked at a dog and it started to wag its tail at me. I was amazed, before all the dogs cowered in fear, so I went into the kennel to say hello! Right - Recently appointed new management team at shelter, Director Olga Drozdova with Shelter Manager Olga.
Animal Welfare Press Conference held on 16th April 2009		Naturewatch Foundation together with Directors of German and Austrian animal welfare societies receive City Hall award as thanks for assistance and aid for Kyiv stray animals since 1997.

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