Although they're neighbours, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania have different views and laws on animal welfare – but we're working together to address these differences and improve conditions across the region.
Our work in Ukraine, prior to and during the ongoing war with Russia, has included:
In this video, our Ukraine-based Campaign Coordinator, Natalie, shares a brief overview of the key challenges facing animals Ukraine, Moldova and Romania — and how we’re helping them.
While these neighbouring countries share geographical borders, their legal frameworks, public attitudes, and approaches to animal welfare differ widely – especially in areas like population control of stray animals, microchipping and rabies prevention.
We believe every animal deserves compassion, regardless of borders. That’s why we take a holistic and culturally sensitive approach when addressing animal welfare issues in the region.
Learn more about animal welfare in each country:
We are committed to improving animal welfare in Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania, creating lasting change for animals now and for future generations.
In 2024, we expanded our campaign into Moldova and Romania, where we knew our Ukrainian experience would be beneficial.
We visited Moldova in 2024 to discuss future collaborations with motivated officials and animal advocates in Chişinău and Bălți. And, in May 2025, we held a national two-day seminar in on humane and effective stray dog catching.
We launched a campaign urging our supporters to back calls for the enactment of Law 2351 in Ukraine. We also submitted evidence and letters to the Ukrainian government.
After two years of campaigning by Naturewatch Foundation and other advocates, Law 2351 was passed in November 2021, bringing significant welfare protections animals across Ukraine.
When the war began in Ukraine in 2022, we immediately adapted our work to where it was most needed.
We have supported our Ukrainian friends throughout the conflict, providing funding and spay-neuter initiatives to control the increased stray animal population in Kharkiv and Kupyansk.
We created a teacher training programme in Ukraine, encouraging educators to promote compassion and empathy for animals in their classrooms.
In March 2024, we launched an online course for teachers in Ukraine, updating the existing programme with more theoretical material, more practical tasks and more speakers.
We worked with animal protection group, Eurogroup for Animals, and other experts to formulate a strategy for the companion animals of Ukraine going forward.
The strategy document, published in November 2023, centred on humane cat and dog population management in Ukraine. It identified three main areas to focus on. Read more.
Our two-day seminar in Moldova focused on humane dog catching, understanding the behaviour of free-roaming dogs, planning effective sterilisation campaigns, and more.
Thanks to our supporters, we co-funded a vehicle for our partners at non-governmental organisation, Promin Myloserdia. The van helps them reach animals across the damaged roads of Kupyansk and Kharkiv more easily.
Speaking to children at a local Sunday School about treating animals with care and respect is just one of the ways our ‘Lessons in Kindness’ are reaching young audiences in Ukraine.
Our office dog Hope, with just some of the letters our supporters sent to the Ukrainian government in support of Law 2351, which was passed in November 2021.
When the war in Ukraine broke out in 2022, we provided useful resources, including drainpipe feeders, which helped local people feed stray animals in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Chernivtsi and the surrounding villages.
The Safer Dog Handling Manual for Ukrainian police shows officers how to recognise canine body language and respond appropriately to ensure positive and effective interactions.
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