Vets for Ukraine is a website born from the collaboration of several organisations to provide assistance to people and animals fleeing the war in Ukraine.
It is called Vets for Ukraine and is a website born from the collaboration of several veterinary associations, both Italian and European, to provide immediate assistance to Ukrainian colleagues and to the people who, together with their four-legged friends, are crossing borders to escape the war. An extremely useful and decidedly important initiative that aims to make a concrete and detailed contribution during this very difficult time for people and animals.
Ukrainian veterinarians are part of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe as observers. For years, Ukraine has been working to bring its veterinary legislation in line with that of the European Union, a process that culminated last year with the approval of a framework law coordinating veterinary competences with regard to animal health and welfare. Ukraine has 38,800 veterinarians serving a population of 44 million people.
News of the invasion of the country triggered a genuine wave of solidarity among European colleagues, who immediately expressed their willingness to host Ukrainians, donate food and medical supplies, and give shelter to pets. It soon became necessary to coordinate requests and offers of hospitality, donation links, the regulatory procedures of various countries, and so on. From these considerations, the Vets for Ukraine website was born, serving as an online logistical hub for all these activities.
The number of refugees arriving from Ukraine is enormous, and the overall figure for this massive exodus appears to grow day by day. And with them, large numbers of pets caught up in the war and its consequences are arriving at the borders. Dogs, cats, ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs, small birds and fish: a collection of small lives that must be protected and helped during the extremely difficult phase of the exodus. All of this also entails considerable health concerns. One example? Unlike Italy and other European countries, Ukraine is not free from rabies, and this could be a source of concern not only for pet owners but also for human health, since this disease is a zoonosis.
"Under normal conditions, in order to cross our borders, dogs, cats and ferrets must be identified by means of a microchip, and must carry a health certificate issued by an official veterinarian from the competent authority of the third country, certifying not only that vaccination has been carried out, but also that a post-vaccination neutralising antibody titration test against the rabies virus has been performed with favourable results," explains Dr Silvia Piol, veterinarian and board member of Admv (Associazione donne medico veterinario), one of the organisations that promoted the website.
It follows that in an absolute emergency such as the current one, it would be impossible for Ukrainian citizens to bring their four-legged companions with them. To allow the exodus, and to enable people to cross the border without being slowed down by this bureaucratic burden in a situation of existential emergency, the European Commission has recommended that its member states ease entry requirements with regard to rabies vaccination specifically.
"Italy, like Germany and many other countries, has complied with this request: this means that pet owners may leave Ukraine until further notice without having to produce documentation in advance. The ministry has asked member countries, in conjunction with checks carried out at the borders, to communicate by email ([email protected]) the species and number of animals, the identification of the individuals (where possible), the name of the owner and the destination in Italy, in order to be able to provide information to the relevant local veterinary services and correctly manage the animals brought in. It will be the responsibility of the local veterinary authority to determine the health status of the animal — which will be isolated under official supervision — and, if necessary, to initiate further health measures such as the issuing of a pet passport, microchipping, rabies vaccination, antibody titration and, where appropriate, a quarantine period," Dr Piol continues.
Although Ukraine cannot yet be considered free from rabies, the disease has appeared only very rarely in recent years, and only in unvaccinated dogs. According to calculations by the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, the probability that a dog is in the incubation phase at the moment it crosses the border is very low. The risk applies, in this case, exclusively to unvaccinated animals. In vaccinated animals, the possible presence of the disease is largely negligible. "However, rabies should always be taken into consideration in the case of animals with neurological symptoms. And, in this regard, the veterinary services have already been alerted by the Ministry of Health so as to put in place all the measures necessary to safeguard public health, both human and animal," adds Silvia Piol.
The escalation of violence in Ukraine shows no sign of abating and, as always, it is the most vulnerable sections of the population and animals that pay the price. On the one hand, we are witnessing the largest refugee migration of the century, with an average of 3,000 people arriving in Italy every 24 hours and the need to ensure adequate reception for them and for the four-legged companions accompanying them, without forgetting to comply with all health requirements (Covid-19, animal health status, ongoing illnesses, etc.). On the other hand, the situation for those who cannot, or do not wish to, leave the country is extremely grave.
"Vets for Ukraine also provides information on the recognition of the veterinary profession as qualified in Ukraine. If a refugee holds a professional qualification issued in another member state, the member state that has granted them refugee status may decide to recognise that professional qualification. Furthermore, refugees can use the European qualifications passport (eqf)," Piol concludes. In many countries, refugees who practise as veterinarians and their families can find accommodation in temporary housing equipped to receive them, and in some cases also the opportunity to practise their profession in host clinics.
To support Ukrainian veterinarians and the organisations caring for animals still present in the country, Usava (Ukrainian small animal veterinary association) is coordinating support operations for vets and companion animals on the ground. On the Vets for Ukraine website, all the latest developments regarding aid for refugees and all useful information for those still residing in the country or travelling to reach other European nations will be highlighted as they emerge.