The ‘Animals in War’ three-day conference was held online by Naturewatch Foundation from 27th-29th September 2022
Experts and delegates came together from around the globe
228 people from 23 countries registered to listen to 24 presenters. The speakers, experts in their respective fields, came from Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Italy, Greece, Canada, UK and the USA.
This ambitious conference was broadcast on Zoom and was available to anyone who registered. It was streamed live on YouTube and Facebook and simultaneously translated into Ukrainian, English and Romanian.
Our intention was to offer an authentic and knowledgeable overview of the situation for all animals in Ukraine seven months after the war began. We also wanted to hear from global experts on how to prevent animal abuse through increased understanding of the part it plays in relationships, family units and communities.
We will add the information given throughout our ‘Animals in War’ conference, relevant links, videos and more to our English and Ukrainian websites and share this information through our social media channels.
Our aim is to continue to collaborate with partners to advance animal welfare throughout the world but especially on this campaign in war-torn Ukraine.
What did our ‘Animals in War’ conference cover?
DAY 1
- Sarah Carr, as Chief Executive of Naturewatch Foundation, opened the conference.
- Then we heard from Marina Surkova, a qualified lawyer and economist, vice-president of the Association of Animal Welfare Organisations of Ukraine.
- We then crossed to Italy to hear from Francesca Sorcinelli, founder of LINK-ITALIA Association. Francesca is also co-founder of the Violence Social Promotion Association in Italy, which deals with shelters for the protection of families consisting of women, minors and animals affected by abuse.
- Kharkiv has suffered from endless attacks affecting both animals and people. Yaryna Antonyk explained how Kharkiv Animal Rescue have responded to the challenges.
- Kate Parker from Naturewatch Foundation then presented on how we had to change our own work in Ukraine after 24th February. She also talked about her humanitarian trips to Poland.
- During the war, many animals have been separated from owners and Victor Kopach explained how the Animal.ID tag system works.
- Shipping many tonnes of animal feed across Ukraine is a huge logistical challenge and Olga Kirilovich and Oksana Koshak from UPAW described how partners from inside and outside Ukraine had risen to the challenge.
- Andrew Campbell, from the USA, gave a hugely powerful and emotional talk on animals and people in the community, with particular attention to victim survivors of abuse. He also concluded with sobering thoughts about how, in times of crisis, people need animals more than ever.
- Finally, Oleksandra Tselishcheva gave an overview of the ‘One Health approach’ within Veterinarians Without Borders’ work in Ukraine.
DAY 2
- One intention of the conference was to consider the welfare of all animals and Maria Trunova, the head of the Public Association of Animal Advocates and curator of the Direction of Protection of Wild Animals from Abusive Treatment told attendees about evacuation of animals from zoos that are in dangerous places.
- Our Campaign Manager, Mark Randell, expanded on the ‘Protect Animals. Protect People.’ concept to raise the profile of animal welfare and abuse in policing and political strategy.
- Olena Kravchenko, the head of the NGO ‘Together’, spoke about spaying, neutering, rehoming and providing food under constant shelling.
- Then Dr. Alona Prylutska told the conference about bat rescue and conservation during the war.
- Neighbouring countries were, and still are, affected by the war and Gregg Tully from Save the Dogs and other animals enlightened us about the impact on Romania.
- Farm animals have been heavily affected, especially with the heavy reliance on battery farming in Ukraine. Olena Baran from Open Cages highlighted the huge numbers of animals involved.
- Four Paws are operational in Ukraine and Oleksandra Lischyshina, director of Four Paws Ukraine gave us more details of their work.
- Afterwards, Antonina Goshovska, animal advocate, canine therapist, psychologist, lawyer, author and project manager gave a fascinating talk on Animal Assisted Intervention.
- The connection between animal welfare, and abuse, and violence in the family is very real and heightened at times of stressful situations. Teena Stoddart, a retired police officer from Canada, shared why this happens and why it matters.
DAY 3
- UAnimals were extremely active in Ukraine before the war but had to change and expand after 24th February. Their Chief Operating Officer, Olga Chevganiuk, joined us from Kyiv to talk about their projects reaching across the country giving regard to the occupied territories.
- Poland was also affected by the outbreak of war – Roxanne Robertson enlightened us to what this meant for Poland and animals traumatised by the war.
- Roxanne was followed by Evangelos Drivas, a Greek Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist, and police officer. He presented on the motivation of animal abusers and why understanding the motivation can advance animal welfare.
- Alevtyna Kozachok was our last speaker of conference. She is a board member of Open Cages Ukraine and articulated issues around the plant-based diet within the Ukrainian military and the campaign ‘UA Plant-Based’, which focuses on growing plant-based market in Ukraine.
