Landlords' mission to save pets in Ukraine

As millions of refugees flee war-torn Ukraine, with little more than the clothes on their backs, many have had no choice but to leave much-loved family pets behind.

Like so many people across the UK, horrified at the scenes they could see unfolding on their television screens, property investor Nick Tadd and his partner Vanessa Warwick, co-founders of online landlord community Property Tribes, wanted to do all they could to help.

After reading about volunteers travelling over to the Ukraine to offer help on the ground, they were inspired to start their own fundraising effort. As Vanessa co-ordinated fundraising pages at home Nick packed up his car with food and other supplies and began the long journey across Europe.

He said: “When I set off on my journey I didn’t know exactly how I could help, just that if I got out there the answers would come. As I travelled across the channel and drove up through Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, donations begain flooding by the thousands. People were desperate to help.

On arrival at the border of Poland and Ukraine, he was met with harrowing scenes

He said: “It was minus five first thing in the morning and it was heart-breaking to see the state people were in as they crossed the border. I had dropped off the supplies when Vanessa called to say an animal charity had put a call out for pet food. We had raised around £6,000 by then, so I drove to Dresden, picked up as much food and pet supplies as I could and drove straight back, dropping them at veterinary clinic the ADA Foundation.”

Pictured: Nick Tadd with some of the animals

Abandoned

Nick said that while some families were able to leave Ukraine with their animals, due to that fact that 80% of pets are unvaccinated and unchipped, the vast majority were forced to leave their pets behind, with many left tied up outside railway stations or abandoned on the streets. He has now helped ADA transport hundreds of animals from Lviv in Ukraine to sanctuaries in Poland and dropped off food and other supplies to animal sanctuaries in the area.

“The animals I saw were genuinely traumatised, they had no idea what was going on and I knew I had to something to help,’ said Nick. “The staff at the clinic told me they needed another pet ambulance, so Vanessa and I discussed it and started to focus the fundraising on that. At the same time I started to document what I was seeing on the ground in a video diary to help raise awareness.”

An appearance on ITVs This Morning followed, leading to a boost in donations which saw the fund attract more than £136,000 at the time of going to press.

The cash has helped fund two new animal shelters in Poland, has paid for the expansion of two others and has funded the purchase of the additional pet ambulance. One of the shelters, in a former Italian restaurant, is now home to 89 cats.

Nick said: “A well as funding and staffing the cat sanctuary we have also expanded dog shelters by buying up extra land. We have converted a warehouse to house another 40 dogs and have another warehouse which is being used to store and distribute food both to the shelters and pet owners who need it.”

After four trips to Ukraine Nick is now planning to return to help with work with charity Canine Rescue International on a new clinic in Ukraine itself.

Asked about the personal risk he is taking, he is unfazed: “When you are there you just don’t think about it. We are in the western side so there haven’t been any bullets flying around, although when you hear the bangs, see the distant plumes of smoke and hear the air raid sirens going it reminds you just how close the conflict is.

“To be honest, day-to-day it is much more frightening to see the state of the animals we are helping. They are terrified, traumatised by what has happened, which is why the work we are doing here is so important.”

Nick estimates that since arriving in Ukraine he has helped find a safe place for around 200 dogs and 89 cats, working with charities both to provide funding and manage logistics on the ground, co-ordinating volunteers and the distribution of animal food and medical supplies.

Getting involved

Nick and Vanessa, who are based in Guildford, have a mixed portfolio of properties, mainly in the London and south east and said that the nature of their work as landlords and developers gave the freedom, to travel to Poland and the Ukraine at short notice to carry out the fundraising work.

Nick said: “Working in property meant I was able to drop everything and drive to the Ukraine, while Vanessa managed things at home. Not everyone is in a position to do this, but I would encourage people to do what they can. 

Nick and Vanessa are continuing their fundraising mission. If anyone who would like to find out more about their work or make a donation, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ukrainemissionnick