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Kiev City Society for the Protection of Animals
founded in 1960, revived in 1999

Pages of history. Present time. Sight in the Future

How the Movement for Animals Protection Started in Kiev

In 1960, the first section of the Animals’ Protection Organization was founded as a department of Kiev’s Nature Protection Association. Soon, this section became independent Organization that got the name Kiev’s Local Voluntary Animals Protection Organization. One of its founders was an outstanding Ukrainian poet Maksim Tadeyovich Rylski.
Many stray animals – cats and dogs found a shelter and care in his house garden. Maksim Tadeyovich and the activists of the society tried to convince the representatives of the local government that homeless animals do deserve the humane treatment. The literary-memorial museum of the poet preserves the tradition of the caring attitude to the world of nature. Local cats feel the aura of love created by the poet.

Where does the movement of Animals Protection start? It starts from some wonderful people who in spite of the cruel logics of life, do stand for the right of the much suffered small creatures. Where does the movement of Animals Protection start? It starts from some wonderful people who in spite of the cruel logics of life, do stand for the right of the much suffered small creatures. Lidia Drobinskaya, the dancer of the Opera and Balett Theater, has looked at the eyes of the death itself. Such a resolute and risky step was one of the first attempts to certify the fact that was hidden from the people – the caught cats and dogs on Kiev’s streets were dieing by agonizing and slow death at the special factory in the Pirohovo village, that was famous among the people as “death shelter”. In the utilized shops of “death shelter” the dogs skins were processed. That was the saddest chronics of the past soviet times.

The Factory Of Death

The number of animals destroyed in Kiev during the period from 1973 till 1981 yy
Year Dogs Cats
1973 11785 6454
1974 14214 7325
1975 15791 8773
1976 19283 9491
1977 16520 8320
1978 19845 7628
1979 24247 8190
1980 25518 7048
1981 22525 7803

The number of destroyed animals slowly decreased in 1977. Most probably this is related to the launch of the movie “White Bim – Black Ear” that woke up the consciousness of society. In 1980 the number of destroyed animals comes to its highest point. The reason was the preparation of the capital to the world sport holiday “Olympic Games 1980”. In 1981 the diagramme a bit decreased. At that time The Kiev’s Animals Protection Organization activated its movements against the murders of homeless animals.

Home Shelters – Rescue From Death?

The most popular way of protecting animals in Ukraine has been and is the foundation of the home private shelters. The shelter in a local apartment is the outstanding attempt to rescue at least some animals from death. People who had such private shelters were becoming the victims of mocking from the neighbors and local authorities. It was the way of constant persecution and starvation existence of the animals and their protectors. Very often such people were sent to the psycho-clinics, the animals were sent to the camps of death, and government was confiscating the apartment. Therefore the dictated regime was pressing on any display of the humanity, especially such as the compassion to the weak and unprotected creatures.

The idea of animals’ protection that was born during the thaw of 60s sank in the official indifference of 70s. The love to animals didn’t spread to those who appeared on the streets. That was and still is the common moral of those times. The soviet type of mentality couldn’t take the thought of protecting of animals. That was reality.

With A Belief In A New Life

That happened in 70s. The edge of new Millennium has noticed this story as some monumental one. But it still remains the vital and alive example of dog’s faithfulness and human’s self-sacrifice.

The Kiewit Vera Arseniivna Kotlyarevska, who was an activist of Kiev’s Animals Protection Organization, who was a teacher of biology in Kiev pedagogical college, came to Moscow on some business. In Vnukovo airport one shepherd dog arose her attention- the dog was lying on the flying track in a waiting pose. As it became clear, the dog was waiting for her owner who left her alone in the airport. The dog was waiting for 2 years. During this time the shepherd dog was taken care by the airport employees, but she didn’t let anyone come close. When the plane was landing, the dog was getting very agitated; every cell of her body was filled with the impatient waiting. The owner of a dog didn’t come back – he betrayed his dog.

Everyone felt sorry for the dog, the story got to the newspapers, but no one could help a poor animal. It was decided by the local authorities to shoot the dog. Vira Arsenieva came to the place just on time. She had felt immediately that could influence the way of the events. One week had passed before the dog trusted the woman, and allowed to put the collar on. Then it was a flight to Kiev where the hospitable home of Vera Arsenieva was waiting for a dog. This was the FAITH in HUMAN was revived – that faith that God gave to a dog, and that faith that a human abuses. There was a movie made about this noble act of V.Kotlyarevska as we believe didn’t remain anyone indifferent. Vira Arsenieva: “I was talking many times to spectaculars in the cinemas, and always I saw the sad picture – after the movie was over, the upset people were passing by the homeless animals with no reaction. But my Palma is not different from any betrayed and abandoned dog. My deed that is called by some people a pathos feat is very easy to repeat : many homeless dogs eyes are waiting for your one move of your heart to walk after you even to the end of the world”.

«Tatarka» – the bitter alphabet of Kiev’s Animals Protection Movement

During the time being, many new activists were joining the Kiev’s Animals Protection Organization. Also, not once, his authorities and principles were changed. But only one biggest problem was remaining the same: the animals needed care, protection and shelter. In 1987 on constant demand of activists from Kiev’s Animals Organization, the Municipality placed the shelter in Tatarka – the oldest district of Kiev. The so called animals shelter was not admittable for people and was closed with a high fence, and there were things to hide actually. All dogs, as big as small ones, puppies and grown ups, female and male dogs were living as one big pack with all the cruel laws of surviving. Hunger, anti sanitary conditions, out of controlled breeding, and as a consequence – a high death rate were the horrible signs of this dogs’ camp. The principles of Animals Protection Organization were remaining indifferent to such things. All the people protecting animals in Kiev, and even German, Austrian and other countries Animals Protection Organizations “went thru Tatarka” and it was the first and bitter manual for Kiev’s Protection Movement. “Tatarka” destroyed the trust of sponsors, lost a credit of the image of Ukrainian Animals’ Protector.

The Stray Animals Have No Right To Live In Kiev

In 1997 the key event happened in life of the protectors of animals in Kiev.
Thanks to activists of West Animals’ Protection Movement – T.Tarnavskaya, K. Shechtl, M.Khiiz, K.Yanach and others, there was a shocking video made of brutal killing of dogs in Pirohovo, famous concentration camp for animals. This horrible video was spread over in Western Europe.
This break up point – step made an international scandal, as a result of it Pirohovo camp was shut down, and on its place a new shelter called SOS was made that still exists for the costs of foreign investors.
The local state company “Animals in the City” continued the fight with the stray animals. Kiev’s municipality, having come to itself after this international scandal, was still willing to continue solving animals problems, so it was Tatarka turn now.

“Tatarka” was an eyesore not only to the representatives of municipality, but also to people of St. Makaria church. The activists of the Organization was trying to solve the problem with Tatarka, but Municipality solved everything by its strong will. Tatarka place was already viewed for building new houses for General Direction of serving foreign representatives in Kiev. The dogs were planned to be moved from Kiev to village Sinyak (35 km from Kiev).
The principals of Kiev’s Society in cooperation with lawyers were preparing the pack of documents for a migration of dogs to a new shelter.

The Death Of Dogs – Reckless Or Criminal Act?

On 30 April 1998 a big covered truck came over to the gate of Tatarka. The loading of alive souls started. There were observers: the assistant of the principal of Animals Protection Organization, the director of state company “The animals in the city”, the vet doctors of veterinary company “Fauna-Service”. The atmosphere was very tough, the militia was watching the process. The dogs behaved liked they felt misfortune, they wouldn’t let themselves put into the wagon, and that’s why the decision to put the dogs to sleep was made.
It was an unusually hot weather at that horrible spring day (+30 C). The dogs were loaded into the heated with sun wagon and there was not enough space for everyone. To save the gasoline, the decision was made to place the dogs, being delirious from tranquillizators, in 2-3 layers inside of a wagon. Overloaded with alive cargo, the truck headed down to the village Sinyak, but at the boarder of Vishgorod district, the truck was stopped and returned back to Kiev. The reason was the wrong documents. The truck was not admitted back to Tatarka as the place was already under security.
The poor animals were remaining at the metal wagon without water, without any fresh air for some days. Some representatives of Society were trying to stop such cruel act or carelessness, but the officials have already started the celebration of Soviet holiday 1st of May.

When the truck at last got to the village, most of the dogs were DEAD. The prisoners of concentration camp died in gas chamber. No one related to this tragedy was punished for murdering the alive souls.

Start Everything From The Beginning

The new shelter in Synyak was not that much different from the one in Tatarka. The dogs had miserable existence. Being far away from the city, the shelter faced the problems of proper feeding of the dogs and the working man power was not enough as well.
There was a building of the ex collapsed hot house given for this shelter. But the rent for exploitation was not made properly. Actually the dogs were taken out of the place and left unattended in a new shelter. Most of them didn’t survive in a cold and hungry winter. The ones to be blamed was the administration of Kiev’s Animals Protection Organization.

The activists of Kiev’s Animals Protection Movement decided to change such horrible case. On 11 of September 1999 the Conference of animals protectors took place and determined the further policy of Kiev’s Local Animals Protection Society. Asya Vilgelmovna Serpinska who was one of the most active members, was selected as the Chief head of the management.
Just after the Conference, a new selected Management went to Synyak village, shelter to see what goes on there and to take the active measures. There were only 36 dogs there, and only 10 survived dogs from Tatarka.
It was very obvious, that Kiev’s Animals Protection Society was on decay.

Point Of View

From 11 of September, the revival of kiev’s animals protection organization started.
Asya Vilgelmovna, the Chief Head of Management of Kiev’s Animals Protection Society: “Everything that was left after the previous management- it’s an empty bank account, 36 fortuned dogs, a corrupted and robbed shelter, and completely ruined reputation of the Society. A few people with dirty and corrupted souls were enough to ruin the idea itself of protecting animals. Such inheritance was so miserable, that I am surprised myself how I didn’t give up. But we were happy that at last we got a chance to get into this dogs’ camp and start doing something to save these misfortunate animals, and we did commence immediately”.

The first miserable experience and a “manual” for Asya Vilgelmovna, as to many other activists, was Tatarka. During many years, Asya Vilgelmovna donates huge amounts from her family budget to maintaining the dogs at Tatarka. Later she continues the sponsoring activity in Sinyak village. At the same time, all her family feeds the stray animals in the streets of the city. In March 1999 Asya Vilgelmovna Serpinska, the teacher at University, helped to organize the manifestation of Animals Protectors near the Parliament House, but no one of the above mentioned Parliament reacted to this action. Soon, one more manifestation took place, that didn’t end up in any result as well. Asya Vilgelmovna came to conclusion that the problem of stray animals has to be solved by the activists counting only on their own efforts.

Gostomel – The Place For New Shelter

In May 2000 the revived Society of Animals Protection found a new place for animals shelter. The old cow house in Gostomel city (Kiev district) became a shelter for many homeless souls. We still count on any Kiev’s lady that could be given for animals.
Asya Vilgelmovna could circle the same goaled activists, who, in such a short time (3 months) with own hands and with own costs could make a repair in the cow shed, built a kitchen, cages for dogs and cats, and took the first medicated measures for the inhabitants of this shelter.

Here, in the shelter, the dogs’ cages look like village yards where the animals walk bare feet on a green grass, dig in the ground, and hide themselves from sun under the trees and bushes, and when its cold, they hide themselves in the small houses made of real wood. They are walked out for many hours on the glades around the shelter. The happy and grateful animals don’t even think about abusing so generous given care and freedom. The shelter that is set up without any state or foreign help, has very ukrainian traditions. Because of the limited costs, the shelter doesn’t look like the best shelters in United Kingdom, where the animals protection has become a national tradition for more then a century time.

Asya Vilgelmovna says: “We understand very well how far we are from Western shelters that we can watch them only on video or magazines. We are willingly follow a foreign experience, and dream to make a set of shelters and veterinary complexes for sterilization, vaccination and treatment of stray animals. And this is only part of our dreams”.
The shelter of Kiev’s Local Animals Protection Organization is located in Gostomel city. The shelter occupies totally 1520 m2. The area for winter houses-cages with brick walls occupy only 400 m2, the amount of cages for winter dwelling for dogs is 17, for cats - 2. The summer cages are located along the walls of covered spaces and take 1100 m2, their number is 24. The cages in the shelter are walled with steel net. The closed space in winter is heated with 4 ovens, has electrical light and water pipe. Besides the cages for dogs, in the covered house, there are rooms for personal and volunteers, and medical care for animals.

The Blessing Of Pastor Serafim

“Come in those who suffer!” These are the words that could be written on the gate of men’s dwelling in a monastery of Kievo-Pecehrsk Lavra. They really came here- they were not only people, but animals as well. They all were enjoying the warmth of Pastor Serafim’s soul. That was a place where homeless animals found their shelter. Father Serafim made the beginning for such a Christian tradition. And to tell that he is not with us any more- we can not say so. People still come to his place to have a spiritual recovery. Some monks tell that many sick animals got recovered lying on Father’s Serafim grave.
“Be kind and merciful” Father Serafim liked to recall the words of old father Zosim. At the end of his life, father Serafim blessed the cause of animals protection society.

The Success Of The Society Depends On Mutual Understanding And Good Will Of People

Why is necessary to set up animals shelters? Every civilized human doesn’t rise such a question, every cultured Ukrainian man understands this. Yes, Ukraine is an economically weak country, and officials, that are indifferent to people first of all, use such excuse. The main sign of a spiritual health of a Nation is compassion to the weakest members of this nation. Is it worth looking for the proves that home animals have become part of peoples’ society a long time ago? The object of our protection is the silent creatures that even cant ask for help. Very often we are reproached that we take care of animals and not of invalids or homeless children. We understood that such reproaches can be heard only from people who help neither people nor animals.
Everybody of us pays taxes to the government. The State invests huge amounts on the sport development; different entertainment activities take part in the country… We take care of those, for whom the country never has costs, and compassion as well. And we find sense in being merciful, as nation who is rusted with corrosion of indifference, has no future.

He Was Lucky, How About Others?

This small puppy was found at some park area, in the suburb of Kiev. He was very weak and worn out. It was not possible for him to survive without special medical care. In Kiev’s local vet clinic the puppy was examined, and found out that he has all kinds of parasites that suck blood of many stray animals and pretty often this becomes a reason of animals death. This puppy was lucky, he met people who were not indifferent to his life and took care of him. From beginning he was very afraid of human’s hands – it was obvious that he has experienced already humans’ cruelty. This story is the small drop in the ocean of sufferings of small creatures that were born unneeded. Isn’t it finally time to determine that the most humane way to prevent birth of animals who will suffer during their life time, is sterilization. After the medical treatment, the puppy will stay in the Shelter of Kiev’s Animals Protection Organization, and will wait for his owner. We wish him luck!

Asya Vilgelmovna: "The biggest quantity of our animals are low bred or out of bred ones, so to say average dogs and cats. It has long been this way that animal’s marketing looks helps to better find him home. Though being of high breed doesn’t guarantee that well-bred and titled dogs have better life. Very often they become the victims of the commercial selection and of its horrible outcomes. But average homeless animal requires the protection more then anyone else. Should we innumerate the dogs’ credits for the humanity? It’s important to tell that an indifference and hatred to average dogs are similar to racism. Many people, who have commercial interests in breeding dogs, don’t even suspect that when they become unwanted, they are subject to abandonee and death.

Please look carefully into their “faces” - every one is not similar to another one. May be among them you will find a real friend. Every month the Shelter finds home for 8-10 dogs and about 20 cats. You could become a lucky owner of one of the Shelters dwellers".

2001