On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War that began in 2014. The invasion caused Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II, with around 6.7 million Ukrainians fleeing the country and a third of the population displaced. Not only has it hugely affected the cost of living across the world, it has also provoked fear and uncertainty in those watching.
As you will imagine, many of those who have had to flee their homes had pets. Some managed to take their pets with them, but many had to leave their beloved pets behind.
My pets are so important to me. They are my reason to get up every morning, my reason to work and my reason to walk out of the door. They are how I meet other people and I love spending time training mine and other people’s dogs.
I remember watching television and looking at a poor lady with her darling little calico cat stuffed in a holdall in an underground shelter. I also have a calico cat and at the time, I felt through the television their fear of such an unknown, uncertain situation and it reduced me to tears. I imagined how they must be missing their little routine of meal times and cuddles in front of the television. That experience prompted me to donate cat carriers to The Underdog Charity so at least some people may be able to carry their kitties to places of safety.
Recently the 60 Mile Dog Walking Challenge challenge popped up on my Facebook page and it seemed like a perfect way to help support the needs of those whose pets are affected by the war in Ukraine. Some people may say that humans should be put before animals, but in my mind, pets provide such comfort, balance and peace of mind to us humans that to help animals, is in fact, to help humans.
At the time of writing, the 60 Mile Dog Walking Challenge has 1900 members. We members have pledged to walk 60 miles in August and raise £150 each for the Wild at Heart Foundation. The money raised will fund emergency aid for refugees fleeing Ukraine with their dogs and for the dogs who have been left behind to seek shelter in abandoned and bombed buildings.
I ask you to donate at least £1 to my challenge here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/744816686785578/
So far we have walked about 55 miles, so any help and encouragement you can give me Rosa Hobo and Cairo will really help spur us on for the final few days!
Every donation made will make an impact. Thank you for your support.
UPDATE: We did it! We completed our challenge on 31st August 2022 and you lovely people raised £58 for the dogs displaced by war in Ukraine. I also donated in memory of the gorgeous Sinbad who sadly died during the month of August. So in total our little effort and your kind donations raised over £60 to be used by the Wild at Heart Foundation in Ukraine. Here is an idea as to how the money will be used:
£10 can vaccinate a puppy
£25 can sterilize a stray dog
£50 could provide a weeks urgent shelter
£120 can feed a stray dog for a year
Thank you all so much. We love you loads.
hotdogtrainer.com 
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