While the war in Ukraine raged nearby, a desperate little dog with a fractured spine dragged himself along the ground. Each movement required enormous effort. His back legs no longer worked, and the  ground tore at his skin as he pulled himself inch by inch toward safety. His body was battered, but his spirit unbroken.

It’s impossible to know how long Alex heaved himself forward—it may have been days—before he finally reached a village. Thankfully, PETA-supported rescuers were nearby and quickly spotted the suffering dog.

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Dog Who Pulled Himself From a Warzone Is Finally Safe

When Alex reached the PETA-supported veterinary clinic in Ukraine, he couldn’t stop shaking. After days of dragging himself across the ground, his hindquarters were caked with mud and filth. He was exhausted and in pain.

Thanks to donations from compassionate PETA supporters, the veterinary team was able to begin intensive treatment immediately. For the first time in a long time, Alex was warm and safe, far from the sound of explosions and gunfire. He rested his head in a caregiver’s hand, finally able to relax in a soft bed instead of cold rubble.

Today, Alex isn’t just surviving—he’s thriving. With consistent care, pain management, and rehabilitation, Alex slowly began to recover. Day by day, his strength returned, and the team at Animal Rescue Kharkiv helped him regain mobility. Today, Alex is walking alongside his new loving family, who were overjoyed to bring him home.

How You Can Help Dogs in Ukraine Get a New ‘Leash’ on Life

Animal Rescue Kharkiv’s team works tirelessly to reunite animals with their guardians or help them find new loving homes. Thanks to supporters like you, animals like Alex, who’ve survived unthinkable trauma, can experience love and peace. When you give to PETA’s Global Compassion Fund, you’re sending help directly into war zones and other disaster areas where animals need help.

As relentless drone strikes turn villages into wastelands, PETA-backed rescuers:

• Rush terrified dogs to safety as explosions boom.
• Pull trapped kittens from the rubble—while deadly shelling razes nearby buildings.
• Search bombed properties and nurse gravely injured animals back to health.
• Provide long-term care to dogs who are so traumatized they cower at the slightest sound.

Your gift helps PETA entities and partners create positive, sustainable changes in corners of the Earth where animals desperately need assistance and may have no other hope.

Your generous support has already helped save nearly 30,000 animals from hunger, terror, and certain death since the war began.