10.11.25
As Naturewatch Foundation’s Ukraine-based campaign coordinator, I visited the Step Shelter in Brody, western Ukraine, in October 2025 to check on our 16 supporter-funded doghouses on Naturewatch Street and explore additional ways we could support the shelter.
Despite a short delay while a secure external fence was installed, the doghouses are looking fantastic. They will provide safe, insulated, and cosy spaces for mothers with puppies, as well as dogs recovering from illness or surgery – keeping them warm and comfortable through the freezing winter months. On seeing the houses firsthand, I was impressed by how well-designed and welcoming they are.
Transforming animal welfare in Brody
The Step shelter is making a real difference in animal welfare across Brody. While I’ve long admired their commitment, seeing the team in action was truly inspiring. Under the leadership of manager Oksana, the team has achieved:
- An efficient system of Standard Operating Procedures for daily operations.
- High rehoming rates, with careful checks on potential adopters.
- Regular mass sterilisation projects carried out by visiting vets, helping to reduce the number of homeless dogs and cats in the region.
- Strong collaboration with local authorities, including the mayor and council, who even helped set up a new gate.
- Care for a wide variety of animals, including dogs, cats, and farm animals such as chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, and horses.
- Equine-assisted therapy programmes for children and members of the military.
- Humane education for schoolchildren, teaching them how to behave near animals and care for them responsibly. This is a subject that’s close to my heart due to our own training and education projects.
A family-led rescue centre making a difference
The Step shelter is a real family affair. Oksana’s sons assist vets in preparing and caring for animals before and after surgery, her mother cooks meals for staff and visiting vets, and her husband helps with transport, catching animals, and rescues.
Together, they hope to eventually establish an NGO specialising in medical care for dogs that cannot be treated in a shelter environment and build on their equine-assisted therapy work.
Romanian vets lead life-saving treatment
I also met a team of Romanian vets who were running a mass sterilisation project at the shelter (not funded by Naturewatch Foundation). They had planned to operate on 100 animals but ended up with 140 as there were so many requests (they spayed and neutered family pets as well as the animals fostered by volunteers).
As they were travelling to Step, the vets noticed a dog with a huge tumour, so they took her with them. They removed the tumour and left the dog with Oksana, confident that she will find a new home soon (pictured).
During my visit, a local man brought a German Shepherd for surgery. He said that he didn’t want her back, so she also remained at Step for rehoming after her procedure.
It was heartwarming to see one of the vets adopt a small dog she fell in love with, as well as a cat who needs permanent treatment that would be challenging to provide at a rescue centre.
An animal welfare partnership in the making
I exchanged contact details with the Romanian vets who, coincidentally, are friends with the team who worked on our sterilisation project in Moldova.
They are very dedicated and are eager to help us with catching, treating and sterilisation, and we hope to work with them ourselves in the future!
What’s next for Step?
My visit to the Step shelter was an opportunity to see the current conditions firsthand, understand the most urgent needs, and discuss how we can work together to make long-term improvements. The team’s dedication is clear, and the new doghouses on ‘Naturewatch Street’ are a wonderful step forward – providing vulnerable dogs with more comfort, protection, and dignity.
Still, there’s more to be done before the centre becomes the truly safe and welcoming space every animal deserves while they wait for their forever families. More houses are needed for those who can’t yet share space with others, and a separate cat building with an outdoor area would greatly improve their wellbeing. The team also hopes to renovate the upper floor above the surgery rooms into accommodation for vets and students. This would make it easier to invite them more often – providing extra hands for treatment, care, and everyday tasks.
Thank you for changing animals’ lives
Everyone at the Step shelter is deeply grateful to Naturewatch Foundation’s supporters for funding the new doghouses. Providing this secure, insulated housing was their top priority, as the dogs’ comfort and wellbeing depend on having a kind place to rest and recover.
Thank you so much for your support – I look forward to sharing more updates on ‘Naturewatch Street’ soon!
Natalie Sorokopud
Want to know more?
- Check out our interview with Oksana, with questions submitted by our caring supporters.
- Read about how we responded when the war broke out in Ukraine.
- Find out what we’re doing to make life better for animals in Ukraine, Moldova and Romania.
