Nate Mook was walking through the streets of Kramatorsk, Ukraine, when he noticed something that made him pause.
A bunch of displaced dogs stood in a carefully spaced line across the sidewalk, all patiently waiting their turn to eat from a pet feeding station Mook had helped erect the day before.
Mook has been actively involved in attempts to assist Ukrainian pets who have lost their homes as a result of the ongoing Russian invasion of the country, which has displaced over five million people to neighbouring countries and over seven million within the country itself, according to The BBC.
I’ve never seen anything like this. Yesterday we installed a displaced pet feeding station in Kramatorsk (with your support!). This morning, the Ukrainian dogs waited in line to eat. 🇺🇦🐕 pic.twitter.com/5aEDCvUE2n
— Nate Mook (@natemook) October 20, 2022
“We’ve witnessed a great demand for animal support,” Mook told The Dodo. “Dogs and cats who once had homes.”
Mook recently assisted in the delivery of 500 pounds of donated pet food to a sanctuary in Sviatohirsk that houses pets found wandering the streets of the newly liberated city.
A few of the #CatsOfUkraine I met today! 🐱🇺🇦 That’s Sviatohirsk Monastery—and the rubble of the bridge. Access to here and cities like Lyman, Bakhmut & Izium is limited, so there are only a few volunteers like my friends Katya & Sergiy helping the pets. I asked what we can do.👇 pic.twitter.com/RyxCK7gxxv
— Nate Mook (@natemook) October 16, 2022
Ukraine’s people continue to face insurmountable obstacles. Citizens are seeing glimpses of positive in the shape of grateful displaced canines, eager to wait their turn and appreciative that someone is looking out for them, thanks to activism and collective effort on behalf of brave volunteers like Mook.
