As I write this, 2. Poland, supported by you, our UK supporters, immediately went into action. You probably know that I founded Viva! Poland in Under the excellent management of Cezary Czarek Wyszynski and Anna Zielinska, it has grown into the foremost animal rights organisation in Poland and has a beautiful sanctuary of 60 acres near Warsaw. It was an historic and intense visit. Just after reaching our Warsaw office, Lisa Buck, a long term Viva!
I welcomed her with open arms. Three days later, another van arrived with more donated supplies from the UK, this time driven by Ray and Gwen of Animal Couriers.
Our heart-felt thanks to them, also. I had invited our patron of 28 years, Wendy Turner Webster, and her husband Gary Webster, to accompany us as they were determined to shine a spotlight on the work Viva! Wendy and Gary were excellent! Six refugee reception centres have been set up in Warsaw and this is where we concentrate much of our work, as well as at the main train stations.
Our aim is simple β to offer what help we can to refugees with animals; and to someone arriving with almost nothing, any help is precious. They offer refugees pet carriers, food, flea collars, leads, beds and so on. I talked to Dori, about 10 years old, and her grandma. They were making their way to Germany and at least were now out of Ukraine and safe.
We gave them a dog carrier and food and they continued a journey they should not be having to make. I then chatted with two young women who had been travelling for 15 long days with Muffin, a very cute and affectionate Yorkshire terrier cross in their backpack. They had been forced to leave almost everything behind and were heading to Georgia, but avoiding transiting through Russia, so they still had a long journey ahead of them.
