A shelter born from war

One woman’s mission to save Ukraine’s forgotten dogs

In war-torn Ukraine, a tiny black-and-white Chihuahua is found in a garbage bin, weak and clinging to life. Rescued by a garbage collector, it survives and is adopted by a caring Swedish owner. While this dog is lucky, thousands of abandoned dogs are not. Ira Yavoriv, founder of the Green house dogs shelter is on a mission to rescue and rehome as many as she can.

Rescue mission turns into a lifeline

It all started with 15 dogs. They had been rescued from a bomb shelter and Ira and her three friends tried to get them across the border into Poland, but there was one problem: they did not have the proper paperwork. With no legal way forward, the only option was to send them back. “I couldn’t let these dogs go back to the war,” Ira recalls. “They needed a safe place – somewhere to stay while we figured out what to do next.”

What began as a temporary fix – a place for dogs awaiting safe passage – soon evolved into something much bigger. The organisation Green Shelter was founded in the spring of 2022, and as the war dragged on and more pets were abandoned, Ira’s shelter became a permanent refuge for animals with nowhere else to go.

Dogs at the shelter.

A lifelong love for dogs

Ira’s passion for helping dogs traces back to a small moment in her childhood – one that would shape her love for animals forever. “I didn't grow up with a dog at home, but there was one special dog that changed everything for me,” she explains. That dog had been found by her sister in the city and given to their grandfatehr, who had been living alone after loosing his wife. “That dog brought him so much joy. I remember how happy he was, and how that dog became a source of comfort for all of us when we visited him in the countryside.” It was a simple, quiet connection, but one that would become the foundation of her lifelong dedication to helping animals.

Dogs of war: Trauma and trust issues

The dogs that arrive at the shelter today come from regions now infamous for the violence and destruction that has torn through them. These dogs aren’t just strays; they’re survivors, carrying the physical and emotional scars of war.

“They arrive terrified. They don´t trust anyone because they’ve been abandoned by the only families they’ve ever known. Some are injured, many are confused and traumatised.”

The shelter has become a place not just for physical recovery, but for emotional healing as well. The staff work tirelessly to help these dogs rebuild their trust in himans, one gentle interaction at a time. “They need love more than anything. After all they’ve been through, it’s the only thing that can bring them back.”

Surviving the cold: the hardest winter yet

Building the shelter was no small feat, but Ira quickly learned that keeping it running would be an even greater challenge. Winter, in particular, was brutal. With no heating system in place, keeping the animals warm became an uphill battle. “We thought we were prepared, but nothing could have prepared us for how hard the winter would be,” Ira says. “We didn’t have any heating, so we had to improvise with blankets and makeshift dog houses lined with styrofoam.”

Despite their best efforts, the winter was harsh on the animals and the people caring for them. “It was heartbreaking to see the dogs cold and miserable, knowing there wasn’t much more we could do,” she says. The experience underscored the urgent need for more resources to improve the shelter’s conditions, particularly as the war shows no signs of ending soon.

Ukraine’s Growing Stray Dog Crisis

Even before the war, stray dogs were a common sight in Ukraine, wandering the streets in search of food and shelter. But the war has multiplied the problem. “When people evacuate, they can’t always take their pets with them,” Ira explains. “The evacuation buses don’t allow animals, so families are forced to leave their dogs behind.”

These pets are left to fend for themselves in a country ravaged bywar. Many join the ranks of street dogs, forming packs and roaming the abandoned towns and villages. For shelters like Ira’s, this has created an overwhelming need for more space, ore food, and more hands to care for the ever-growing population of abandoned dogs.

Global Support: A Lifeline for the Shelter

Despite the daily challenges, Ira and her shelter have been able to keep going thanks to organizations like Operation Change that has provided essential donations, from food and medicine to equipment like leashes, collars, and even building materials.

“These donations have made it possible for us to keep the shelter running and to keep saving these dogs, Ira says.”

Dreams for the future: A vision for the shelter

Though the war has made the future uncertain, Ira remains hopeful. Her immediate goal is to secure electrivity for the shelter, a basic necessity they still don’t have. “Without electricity, everything is harder – especially during the winter,” she explains. “We need it to power heaters, run a proper vet clinic, and keep our dogs safe and warm.”

Beyond the basics, Ira dreams of building a multipurpose facility that would include a veterinary space for examining new arrivals, storage for food and supplies, and heated areas to shelter the dogs in cold weather. “It’s a big dream, but I believe it’s possible,” she says with determination. Ultimately, Ira’s biggest hope is to find homes for every dog in the shelter. “I dream of the day when we can celebrate two victories—the end of the war and the day every dog here has found a loving family. This war has taken so much from so many, but these dogs didn’t ask for this. They don’t deserve to suffer because of it,” Ira says. “We’re here to make sure they don’t.”