How to Help Innocent Animals in War Zones
As if war is not bad enough, most of us look on in horror as innocent animals are also bombed, or have their human guardians, homes or habitats blown to pieces, set on fire or suffer from the consequences left over (from starvation to lack of fresh water and food, to no heating in winter climates).
Of course this all means humans suffer too. But animals are often more innocent forgotten victims, from pets to native wildlife, and from caged zoo animals to working donkeys and farm animals. Many end up hungry, scared, injured or facing a fight for survival, whether due to disasters around them, or losing their human guardians to killing. Here are some simple ways to help.
If you wish to donate anonymously to below charities, set up an account at Charities Aid Foundation. Make one-off donations or set up giving accounts (for business, Gift Aid is taken care of).
You can also nominate NowZad and WarPaws (and Safe Haven for Donkeys) at My Giving Circle. This means that instead of donating on the individual charity websites, your donations are pooled with others.
Whichever charity gets the most support periodically gets a windfall donation from the website founders, to fill up the coffers with much-needed funds.
Nowzad (helps animals in Afghanistan & Ukraine)
Nowzad does amazing work for animals caught up in conflict abroad. They are need of financial help, as funds have gone down substantially recently due to the cost of living.
The charity was founded by a former Royal Marine Sergeant serving in Afghanistan, who was appalled to see how many animals were suffering. He rescued and befriended a dog involved in organised dog-fighting and named him ‘Nowzad’ – his first ever name.
Originally formed to rescue stray cats and dogs in the country, today it has a bigger mission of helping animals worldwide. Volunteers in Afghanistan educate people on how to care for donkeys and horses (the main form of transport) and provide vet care.
It’s also recently opened the country’s first sanctuary for older and retired/ill equines. Here they receive loving care, good food and veterinary care, on the outskirts of Kabul. Donations fund:
- £1 – a kilo of bran
- £8 – a monthly hoof trim!
- £20 – an insulated winter coat
- £30 – a month’s fuel supply for the sanctuary
- £50 – a month’s water supply
- £80 – a month’s hay supply (tasty if you’re an equine!)
The charity also has a sanctuary for dogs and cats in Afghanistan, where local people can find free advice and vet care. Plus vaccinations and spaying/neutering services (important to prevent over-population, which often leads to pets living on the streets).
The veterinary team also humanely capture and peacefully put to sleep any local dogs with rabies (presently no cure) so they are not killed by others, in less humane ways.
Nowzad is also working closely with heroic volunteers at animal shelters in Ukraine, which have obviously seen a huge uptake in residents, since the invasion a few years ago.
Help to Save the Afghanistan Shelter
Recently (due to road construction and building high-rise buildings in Kabul) some sanctuaries are to be bulldozed, so the charity urgently needs funds to rent new land and build a stable sanctuary in a safe place. Plus it needs to safely move each resident (this will cost around £100K).
Easy ways to Support Nowzad Charity
- Make it your page at easyfundraising. Then any time you buy something at participating retailers, the charity gets a cut, at no cost to you. Does not affect loyalty points.
- Leave a legacy in your Will, to help animals after you’ve gone.
- Donate your scrap car (including the USA).
- For special occasions, save a tree and send an e-card to help.
- Bideford (Devon) has a retail charity shop, to raise funds.
- The Nowzad trolley coin fits supermarket trolleys, to save you fiddling around for a £1 coin.
War Paws (helping forgotten victims of war)
War Paws also provides resources and rescue for animals in war zones. It tries to remove animals caught up in conflict, but also educate local populations on animal welfare.
Mostly working with dogs and cats, it works mostly in Syria and Afghanistan. And also supports serving soldiers and contractors in war zones and areas of civil conflict, by reuniting them in home countries, with dogs and cats they bonded with, on tours of duties.
It also helps to humanely reduce stray dog populations through trap-neuter-release programs, and provides medicine to help prevent rabies.
Easy Ways to Support War Paws
- Make it your page at easyfundraising. Then any time you buy something at participating retailers, the charity gets a cut, at no cost to you (loyalty points are not affected).
- Recycle used ink cartridges, old jewellery (even broken) and used stamps.
- Donate by sending an e-card instead of a tree card.
Safe Haven for Donkeys (in the MIddle East)
Safe Haven for Donkeys helps donkeys living on the border in the Middle East, of extreme concern at present. Donkeys and horses are the main form of transport for many, and often worked on little food or rest. Read more on helping donkey friends.
This charity has just set up a project in Egypt to help donkeys who work in intense heat to move bricks to kilns (used to build houses). Many have untreated wounds, fly infestations and overgrown hooves. The animals are treated on-site and at mobile clinics.
Easy Ways to Help Safe Haven for Donkeys
- Make it your page at easyfundraising. Then any time you buy something at participating retailers, the charity gets a cut, at no cost to you (loyalty points are not affected).
- Playing their Weather Lottery (instead of the national one) is good to earn them extra funds.
- scrap your old car, and monies raised from metal will benefit this wonderful cause.
- Lucy’s UK Donkey Foundation also gives grants, to help working animals in the Holy Land. Again, make it your page at easyfundraising.
How to Help Animals in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine has also affected many animals, not just humans. 25% of profits from this print by Red and Howling are donated to animal rescue causes worldwide.
Good Good Good is an American newspaper with a super post on how we can help (the end of the post includes animal shelters to help).
Four Paws and IFAW are both major charities that have international relief teams, that kick into action for both wars and natural disasters, when animals need help.
