From Beloved Pets to Shelter Animals: How The Edgard & Cooper Foundation Helps Animals in Ukraine

Every visit to the Ukrainian Veterinary Medicine Foundation’s charitable veterinary clinic comes with its own story. Some patients are beloved pets who have lived with their families for many years. Others come from shelters, while some are stray cats and dogs that caring people simply could not leave behind.

Thanks to the support of The Edgard & Cooper Foundation, the Ukrainian Veterinary Medicine Foundation can make essential veterinary care more accessible to animals and the people who care for them.

Surgery for a Serviceman’s Beloved Dog

One of our patients came to the clinic with her owners — a Ukrainian serviceman and his son.

During the examination, our veterinarians discovered a mammary gland tumor that required surgical treatment. The dog underwent the necessary examinations followed by surgery to remove the tumor. After the procedure, her family received recommendations on post-operative care and recovery.

Five Cats from a Monastery Shelter in Odesa

Another five cats were brought to our clinic by a nun who cares for an animal shelter at one of the monasteries in Odesa.

New cats are constantly arriving at the shelter. Some are found on the streets, while others are abandoned there. Many require spaying or neutering, vaccination, diagnostics, or treatment.

“I bring animals here for sterilization very often. People frequently leave cats with us, and this clinic helps us tremendously,” their caregiver shared.

This time, our veterinarians spayed five female cats. After the procedures, they remained under medical supervision, gradually recovered from anesthesia, and later returned to the shelter.

For small shelters, this kind of support is especially important. The more animals they take into their care, the more difficult it becomes to independently cover the costs of sterilization, vaccination, diagnostics, and treatment.

Two Stray Cats Who Learned to Trust People

Another family noticed two cats living on the street. They were thin, exhausted, and initially afraid of people.

The family began feeding them. Little by little, the cats started coming closer, became accustomed to people, and eventually allowed their new caregivers to look after them.

Once the cats had gained enough trust, the family decided to have them spayed to prevent more kittens from being born into life on the streets. Both cats were brought to our clinic, where they received the veterinary care they needed.

Support That Changes Individual Lives

Each of these stories is different. In one case, a family is fighting for the health of a beloved pet. In another, someone is caring every day for dozens of cats who have been left without homes. And sometimes, a person simply sees an exhausted animal on the street and decides not to walk away.

This is why our partnership with The Edgard & Cooper Foundation is so important to the Ukrainian Veterinary Medicine Foundation.

Their support allows us to provide veterinary care in situations where pet owners, volunteers, or small shelters may have limited financial resources, but the animals’ need for help remains.

It means being able to perform surgery in time, spay or neuter an animal, provide veterinary consultations, diagnostics, or necessary treatment — and, in doing so, change an individual animal’s story for the better.

We sincerely thank The Edgard & Cooper Foundation for supporting the Ukrainian Veterinary Medicine Foundation and for making it possible for us to help animals across Ukraine together. 🐾❤️