Written by Wildlife & Welfare Volunteer Dr Lauren Pound

Important Context

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, millions of families have been displaced, leaving behind beloved cats and dogs. The result, a booming population of stray animals living in the rubble littered streets of Ukraine.

At Wildlife and Welfare, in partnership with Worldwide Vets, we believe one of the most effective, compassionate ways to address this is sterilisation. This simple, preventative procedure is a ripple of change with the capacity to positively influence animal welfare, human health and reducing the pressure on resources such as animal shelters.

Wildlife and Welfare Volunteer Dr Lauren Pound offers a Veterinarian’s perspective on why sterilisations are so important for the recovering communities and the stray animals living among them.

What is sterilisation?

Sterilisation refers to neutering of animals making them unable to produce offspring. In males this is called castration, where the testicles are removed (orchiectomy) and in females this is called spaying, where the ovaries and/or uterus are removed (ovariectomy or ovariohysterectomy). Both are irreversible surgical procedures carried out while the patient is under a general anaesthetic. This procedure is routine in many areas of the world as a means of population and disease control.

Animal Welfare: Prevention of Suffering

Vet carrying out sterilisation in Ukraine

Sterilising cats and dogs living on the streets of Ukraine promotes animal welfare in the short and long term through various means.

Short term benefits:

Females are likely to struggle to manage multiple litters, particularly in poor health with limited access to food and water.

Entire animals are more likely to engage in fighting which can lead to injury, for example infected wounds, and disease transmission.

Avoiding pregnancy complications such as difficult or obstructed labour or postpartum infections and haemorrhage.

Neutered animals are at a much lower risk of other diseases such as certain cancers like mammary and testicular cancers or fatal intrauterine infections.

In domesticated pets, most of these diseases can be treated. Sadly, stray animals are much less likely to receive veterinary treatment, particularly in areas where conflict has resulted in towns and cities being inhabitable for humans. Neutering is an effective way of entirely preventing some diseases and significantly reducing the chances of others.

Long term benefits:

Neutering is a mode of population control. By preventing the birth of more animals, ultimately fewer animals will end up living on the streets and experiencing the harsh reality of living with a lack of food, shelter and medical care.

Inbreeding (when animals that are related reproduce) can result in puppies and kittens being born with genetic defects, some which will make survival trickier.

Public Health: Protecting Humans and Animals Alike

Animal and human health are deeply interconnected. In Ukraine where the conflict has propagated a sharp increase in stray animal populations, maintaining animal health is a crucial aspect of public health. Unvaccinated strays act as reservoirs for zoonotic diseases which are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans – most notably in this case, rabies. With the support of Wildlife and Welfare, Worldwide Vets are not only neutering animals but also administering rabies vaccinations. Rabies vaccinations reduce transmission by providing the animals with immunity, allowing them to fight the virus and preventing it from replicating. This in turn prevents the virus from being spread between animals and from animals to humans. Indirectly, neutering can reduce aggression and therefore decreasing transmission of rabies through bite wounds. Achieving a substantial vaccination coverage in stray populations prevents rabies outbreaks, benefitting both public and animal health.

Resources: Relieving and Redirecting

Where resources are scarce, utilising them effectively and sustainably is crucial. Managing a smaller and healthier stray population is more cost effective for NGOs and vets. Neutering and vaccination is a small investment that reduces demand for resources, including physical resources such as food but also taking pressure off of animal shelters and individuals in Ukraine rescuing poorly animals. During conflict, medical supplies are often scarce and there is a need to prioritise human medicine, therefore reducing the number of animals means limited veterinary resources can be redirected to animals that really need them.

Healing Through Prevention

Communities in war torn Ukraine are facing immense challenges – rebuilding human lives while addressing the silent crisis of beloved pets that have been left behind. From a veterinary perspective, neutering and vaccinating stray animals is a compassionate, necessary act that promotes animal welfare and human health, and easing the strain on already overwhelmed resources.

How you can help

Each sterilisation costs approximately £30, accounting for medications, supplies, transport and staff expenses. Your financial support can contribute to providing essential, life-saving care, crucial in the development of safe communities across recovering Ukraine.

Donate now

The Power of Prevention: A Veterinarian’s Perspective on the Importance of Sterilisations