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Similar to the last year, the situation in the shelter was very different from the general situation with stray animals in Ukraine. Despite of permanent money shortage which has even worsened because of the crisis, we managed again to improve the conditions of pets' living in Gostomel. The shelter built new industrial refrigerator and new outdoor cages, deeply renovated indoor cages, extended cats premises. Ongoing efforts in the popularization of humane treatment of animals continued.

At the same time stray animals were murderously exterminated all over Ukraine in the course of "tidy up" action on the eve of european football championship Euro-2012. Kyiv, following the animal protectors' pressure, ceased to mass kill dogs in the municipal "shelter" in Borodianka. Nevertheless the matter stays hot because of the activity of individuals and their semiorganized groups that poison the animals on the streets. European animal protection organizations finally became worried about the sad destiny of ukrainian street animals: German PETA, ETN, Deutscher Tierschutzbund; Austrian Vier Pfoten; Italian OIPA; as well as Polish, Dutch organizations etc. 22 deputies of the Europarlament signed a letter to Ukrainian president where they request to stop inhumane activities, ETN handed over to Ukrainian authorities a petition with 500'000 signatures. Many organizations and citizens of european countries committed themselves to the solution of the problem of stray animals in Ukraine at their own expense, asserting immediate killing stop as the only prerequisite. Anyway, Kharkiw municipal authorities continue killing of 95% trapped animals absolutely officially up till now. Donetsk city budget for year 2012 assumes trapping of about 16'000 dogs and extermination of their vast majority on the spot.

Ukrainian animal protection movement obtained new dynamics when in the focus of international attention. The trickiest question remains open though. If Ukraine did not manage to definitively take the road of humane treatment of stray animals while being under that hard pressure of Europe before Euro-2012, will it ever do after the championship is over?

Gostomel shelter for stray animals celebrated ten years anniversary in year 2010. So much has changed here within this period! But "constructing communism in a single and separate shelter" turned to be easier than changing so many people's barbaric and cruel attitude towards animals. And situation outside the shelter stays pretty much like 10 years ago...
Anniversary year was signalized by an intensive construction. The shed over cats' outdoor cages, which did not bear rich snowfalls, was repaired exactly before the warm season beginning. The cages to the right at the entrance were expanded and reconstructed for a different function. Utility sheds along the east fence where extended to accommodate various goods and chattels stored within the farm building before. Glazed tiles were laid in the cats indoor cages. All worn out doghouses were replaced. Washtubs for dogs' bathing during summer heat were purchased. Plastic windows were installed in the rest of farm building for better insulation; thermometers were hung around. Garden hoses were led from the water tap in the building to some outdoor cages. And very important, new outdoor cages along the west fence were built.

Kennels in open-air cages wear out quickly because of the rain and snow. Nurslings contribute too by their physical exercises. After several years existing kennels literally fall to pieces.

Looking at that, volunteers of the Shelter have organized building of new kennels: collected money, purchased hardware, found workers. After almost every weekend the number of new, pretty and robust kennels increases. You can watch the progress on the pictures.

During winter 2007-2008 we plan to replace or fix all outdoor kennels (more than 50!) and proceed to indoor kennels in summer 2008.

In the end of year 2007 members of international organization MarineConnection, which specializes in protection of marine mammals, contacted us. Colleagues asked for help in finding information about illegal capture of dolphins in Black Sea or reaching other organizations that could help.

In a while KCSPA could supply required information. We informed about scheduled press-conference and protest action (see Angelique Komarova's report), translated materials to English, and supplied post address and email of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Ukraine. The collaboration resulted in the article on Internet site of MarineConnection.

Municipal services locked air-holes in the basement of buiding 15 on 50th Anniversary of October street. Cats with kitties remain inside the basement for already three days. Help to save immured alive! Call city administration on special hotline 051, as well as housing and communal service #803 of Sviatoshin district.

This story tell about saving of young wolf, which accidentally found itself in folk recreation zone in Kiev suburb, by Asia Serpinskaya, her husband and a volunteer of Kyiv City Society for the Protection of Animals.