MARCH 24 2022 – FOUR PAWS, the global animal welfare organization, has successfully rescued and transferred a 20-year-old Ukrainian ‘restaurant bear’ to its BEAR SANCTUARY Domazhyr near Lviv in Western Ukraine yesterday. FOUR PAWS had been planning to rescue male brown bear Vova since November 2021, but his fate was a court matter prior to the outbreak of the war.

Vova endured years of isolation, living in a barren concrete cage near a burned-down restaurant in Western Ukraine. The bear’s living conditions and safety deteriorated in recent years forcing the owner to hand him over to the authorities voluntarily. A FOUR PAWS rescue plan was taking shape when fighting began earlier this year.

Once able to proceed, the transfer of Vova to FOUR PAWS’ BEAR SANCTUARY Domazhyr was done by an external transport partner. A local veterinarian accompanied the transfer to check on Vova’s well being.

Although attacks have now been reported in the west of Ukraine as well, the team at the bear sanctuary continues to provide the best possible care for all the bears and the sanctuary continues to offer a safe place for bears in need.

The keeping of bears in private captivity is still legal in Ukraine, however, due to the changes in the Ukrainian Law “On the protection of animals from cruelty” in November 2021, the keeping of bears and big cats for leisure and entertainment purposes became illegal. For this reason, Vova’s keeping became illegal and his fate became the subject of a court decision, however, the court rejected the case twice. After the war broke out in Ukraine, FOUR PAWS was contacted by the responsible authorities and asked to take him into its care as soon as possible.

FOUR PAWS began working in Ukraine in 2012 helping stray animals. FOUR PAWS’ Stray Animal Care team has delivered veterinary care to 30,000 stray dogs and cats in over 60 municipalities within the last decade. Then, with the development of a FOUR PAWS office in Kyiv, and the construction and opening of BEAR SANCTUARY Domazhyr in 2017, FOUR PAWS created a species-appropriate home for rescued bears, while also supporting the Ukrainian government with enforcing the ban on the cruel practice of bear baiting.

FOUR PAWS, in collaboration with local partners, is also currently helping care for Ukrainian refugees fleeing with pets. Specifically, FOUR PAWS helps with vaccinations, microchipping and medical treatments, provides transport boxes for pets, food, leashes and harnesses, temporary accommodation and resources for anyone in Ukraine who needs to cross borders with their pets.