Oct 04, 2026 Hope on Three Legs: Umka’s Journey from Ukraine to a New Beginning
On World Animal Day, we celebrate the power of compassion to change lives. This is the story of one dog, one shelter, and a partnership that crossed borders to create hope.
If dogs could smile, Umka would have been smiling.
When Kristína Devinská of Sloboda Zvierat and I visited the BARBOS Animal Shelter in Uzhhorod, Ukraine, we met a large white dog whose injured front leg swung helplessly as he walked. Every step seemed difficult. Yet despite the challenges he faced, Umka greeted us with a gentle spirit and unmistakable joy.
He was impossible to forget.
A Shelter Doing Everything It Can
Umka was one of hundreds of animals receiving care at BARBOS, the first official animal shelter in Uzhhorod. Operated through donations and volunteer support, BARBOS provides refuge for animals who have been abandoned, injured, abused, or displaced. Today, the shelter cares for more than 200 dogs, dozens of cats, and other rescued animals.
During our visit, we witnessed both the tremendous need and the extraordinary commitment of the people caring for these animals. Resources were stretched thin. Food supplies were uncertain, veterinary services were limited, and many animals lived in outdoor kennels that offered little protection from the region’s harsh winters. Yet throughout the shelter, there was unmistakable evidence of dedication and compassion.
The animals knew the people who cared for them.
As BARBOS founder and director, Iryna Azizyan walked among the kennels, and dogs eagerly greeted her. Their response reflected the devotion of shelter staff and volunteers who continue to provide care under extraordinarily difficult circumstances.
Why We Traveled to Ukraine
Our visit to Uzhhorod was part of the work of Ukraine Rescue, Relief & Rebuild (U3R), a consortium led by WellBeing International. Together with partner organizations such as Sloboda Zvierat, U3R supports animal welfare efforts across Ukraine by providing funding, collaborating, and offering practical assistance.
I traveled from the United States to Bratislava, Slovakia, where I joined Kristína before we continued eastward toward the Ukrainian border. Once in Uzhhorod, we met with BARBOS founder and director Iryna Azizyan and Yuliya Firka, founder of United for Animals Ukraine, to assess the shelter’s conditions, challenges, and priorities. The goal was simple: understand what support could make the greatest difference for the animals in their care.
The visit strengthened a partnership that was already beginning to change lives.
Because of its proximity to Ukraine and its extensive veterinary expertise, Sloboda Zvierat was uniquely positioned to assist animals whose medical needs exceeded what could be provided locally. Since winter 2025, the organization has helped 30 dogs from BARBOS by transporting them to its shelter in Bratislava for treatment, rehabilitation, and rehoming.
One of those dogs was Umka.
Umka’s Second Chance
Umka had spent much of his life in a shelter. He was a large dog with a severe disability and little experience trusting people. Upon arrival at Sloboda Zvierat, veterinarians determined that the condition affecting his front leg had progressed too far to be repaired. The difficult decision was made to amputate.
But what could have been the end of his story became a new beginning.
The team at Sloboda Zvierat not only treated Umka’s physical condition but also worked patiently to build his confidence. Although timid, he was never aggressive. Day by day, he grew more comfortable around people. The fearful shelter dog gradually emerged from his shell and began seeking the companionship he once avoided.
Freed from pain, Umka adapted remarkably well to life on three legs. The disability that once defined him no longer limited him.
Through Sloboda Zvierat’s partnership with animal welfare organizations in the Czech Republic, Umka entered foster care as he completed his recovery. There, he continued to gain confidence, experience new surroundings, and prepare for something he had never truly known before: life as a cherished family companion.
Soon afterward, Umka found his forever home.
Today, he lives with a loving family and a canine companion of his own. The dog we first met struggling across a shelter yard in Ukraine can now be seen racing joyfully through the snow, embracing a future that once seemed impossible.
One Dog, Many Lives Changed
Umka’s story is extraordinary, but it is not unique.
Nearly all of the dogs transferred from BARBOS to Sloboda Zvierat have found permanent homes, thanks to cooperation among animal welfare organizations in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Ukraine.
Their success demonstrates what becomes possible when organizations contribute their unique strengths. BARBOS provides refuge and daily care. Sloboda Zvierat offers specialized veterinary services, rehabilitation, and rehoming opportunities. Through U3R, WellBeing International helps mobilize resources to improve shelter conditions, provide medicines and vaccinations, and strengthen the long-term capacity of organizations serving animals in Ukraine.
World Animal Day reminds us that borders, languages, or geography do not limit compassion.
Because dedicated people chose to work together, Umka’s story did not end with injury, uncertainty, or life behind shelter walls. Instead, it became a story of healing, resilience, and hope.
Many animals at BARBOS are still waiting for their own second chance.
Umka’s journey reminds us that when compassion crosses borders, hope can find its way home.
Help Rebuild Shelter and Hope in Ukraine
The BARBOS Animal Shelter continues to provide refuge for hundreds of vulnerable animals despite inadequate sheltering, harsh winter conditions, limited veterinary resources, and ongoing financial pressures. Following our recent visit, WellBeing International and our U3R partners identified critical needs, including improved sheltering, vaccinations, medicines, and other essential animal care resources.
Through a restricted Ukraine Animal Welfare Fund, WellBeing International is raising support to help meet these needs and strengthen the shelters that protect animals affected by conflict and hardship. Sloboda Zvierat will continue providing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and rehoming support whenever resources allow. Since winter 2025, the organization has welcomed 30 dogs from BARBOS for specialized care and placement assistance.
All donations to this fund are used exclusively for Ukraine-related animal welfare efforts.
DONATE TO HELP ANIMALS IN UKRAINE
All photos by Kristína Devinská