About humans and animals.

Katya, Kateryna Streltsova, my wife, works in a pet store. From the first days of the war, almost every day, we had to feed animals (because there was no one else left). We were out of the store only on February 26 (the enemy’s sabotage and reconnaissance group’s breakthrough to the center of the city) and March 1 (shelling of Kharkiv Regional State Administration).

When we were feeding the animals, people started asking to let them into the closed shop to buy something for their pets. Katya contacted the management, and they allowed us to start selling to people. Then she offered to open the store officially. It was the first store of their chain that started operating in besieged Kharkiv. In a few days, the Internet was fixed, and the terminal started working.

Besides centralized deliveries, the evacuation of animals from another store was organized with the help of volunteer relatives. One might ask: how important are animals when the situation of human beings' themselves is so dire?

First of all: people who do not abandon their pets in times like this, and often even take someone else’s pets, deserve attention and support.

Secondly. People who provide a pet with food and care are calmer. And they do more in difficult times.

Thirdly, and probably this is the most essential thing. If during the war we do not eat dogs, rats, and cats, but take care of them instead, then it is not so bad, we are alive!

As Katya said, «So, we remain human beings!». And people leave the store with DIFFERENT eyes. Let everyone do what they can in their place. And — just a little bit more.

WE ARE PEOPLE. WE’RE HOME. WE WILL WIN!

Anton, Kharkiv