Rehabilitation

Rehabilitating giant dogs after evacuation

Rehabilitation, 2024, photo 3 - Xtraverse Animals

Rehabilitating giant dogs after evacuation

Rehabilitating giant dogs rescued from combat zones is a long and difficult process: these animals need specialized care, need society's prejudice overcome, and require enormous resources to maintain. Here are the main reasons why this matters so much: 1. Stereotypes and prejudice -The "fighting dog" myth: Alabais and wolfhounds are often feared. Society, and even some shelters, mistakenly consider them aggressive. -Difficulty finding a new home: Because of their size, such dogs spend a long time in temporary shelters. Rescuing them breaks the myth that large guard breeds are incapable of adapting and loving again after the horror of war. 2. Enormous resources required for upkeep -Food volume: Giant dogs need dozens of kilograms of expensive food every month. -Medical care: Treating concussions, joint problems, or surgery after shrapnel wounds is very expensive. Volunteer organizations are often financially drained rescuing these animals. 3. Deep psychological trauma -Concussion and shock: Explosions deal a terrible blow to these animals' enormous nervous systems. The dogs can fall into panic or complete apathy. -Loss of an owner: Wolfhounds and Alabais are deeply attached to their territory and person. After losing their home and being separated, they need long-term canine rehabilitation. 4. Humanity and the value of every life War makes no distinction between a small lapdog and a giant mastiff. Rescuing giant dogs shows the level of humanity of a society that doesn't abandon those who depended on people the most and suffered the most from the war.

Volunteer team in action

  • Alabais Abur and Bakhra, evacuated from Osynove and Kivsharivka on the left bank of the Kupiansk community. At the XTRAVERSE rehabilitation center, winter 2023.

    2023
  • Buran the wolfhound, hand-raised from a weight of just 100 grams without ever tasting his mother's milk. The photo shows Buran next to donated food for the XTRAVERSE rehabilitation center.

  • An Alabai puppy during treatment for enteritis, which was diagnosed after the evacuation. The treatment was long and took place at our partners' Lapushka clinic. Spring 2024, an Alabai from Kupiansk.

    2024
  • Aiza the Alabai giving blood at the Doverie veterinary clinic together with an XTRAVERSE volunteer. Blood donation lets one dog help keep another alive.

  • Eva the AmStaff, just found and taken in at the XTRAVERSE center. Lying down and looking at you with love.

  • A mixed-breed puppy in Kupiansk after its vaccination, in 2024.

    2024
  • Cane Corso puppies from a village on the left bank of the Kupiansk community, before it was destroyed. Late 2022 - early 2023.

    2022

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