Adoption Events and December 2015 Results

In the first 18 days of December 2015 BAGIRA group of volunteers took into their homes 31 animals to foster, a few puppy litters and adult dogs are being cared for by the group (food is provided by BAGIRA).

Volunteers foster the animals in their homes (usually small flats) and the financial support is provided by people like you.

Unfortunately,  this month’s adoption events  were not very successful.  The past 2 events none of the animals found their homes.

Look at the volunteers and animals standing outside for hours during adoption events:

Adoption events are organized by the volunteers who foster homeless animals. All animals are previously dewormed and vetted.

This work cannot be done without your help!

Please make a small donation to BAGIRA group.  Anything will go a long way.

Thank you and happy holiday!

______________________________________________________________________

BAGIRA  is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

Injured mama dog

Today 2 volunteers form BAGIRA group went to visit a stray injured mama dog with her puppies.
The place where the dog is located is outside the city with no access to food. The girls brought a pot of freshly cooked food which was gone in a few minutes after the mama dog started eating it.

The puppies are still nursing and are weak.  After the dog ate the volunteers were able to put some warm blankets into the place where the dog sleeps.

As you can see, it is a very tight space just beneath the ground level. Currently nobody can foster this family, despite all the post online and pleas nobody could take the dog family in.  So the volunteers are doing what they can to make them survive by bringing them food and blankets.

When the mama dog was fed and saw that these people did not mean harm she allowed to have her wound treated.

As you can see the volunteers go far and beyond to save animals  even when it means to ask for donations, cook  5 kilogram of food and drive a few kilometers away from the city to feed the dog family.

Please donate towards this group, anything will go a long way.

Thank you!

______________________________________________________________________

BAGIRA  is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

Name change – SV became BAGIRA

The SV group had to change its name to BAGIRA Sterlitamak. The decision was made due to constant pressure from the public of the city who assumed that if the group is called “Volunteers” they would have to take in and save all the animals in the city.

The group is still all volunteer based. The logo was changed to accommodate the name change:

 

Please donate towards this group, anything will go a long way.

Thank you!

______________________________________________________________________

BAGIRA  is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

Spinning kitten

A few days ago SV group received online post about little snow white kitten with blue eyes living on the street. The worried Samaritan wanted to make sure the kitten was safe before temperatures outside dropped (and they did, now it is snowing, yes, in October!)

One of the Volunteers went to  the meet with the lady who caught this kitten and her orange tabby brother.  Both were taken into their foster home followed by a vet check up.  As usual they had flee infestation, bloated bellies and ear infection.

The same day foster mom started noticing that snow white kitten was making circles as if her head was dizzy and she was spinning in one spot instead of walking (video).

The vet prescribed treatment which will be 4 shots a day for 40 days!  Snow white (let’s call her that name) is crying and not liking the treatment. She had stomach issues after the first set of shots and did not eat anything, but 2 days later she is doing mush better and her movement has improved. She is not spinning that much and walks almost normally.  See the video.

These kittens are two of many the Volunteers is caring for.

Please donate towards this group, anything will go a long way.

Thank you!

______________________________________________________________________

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

Kitten on the side of the road

The founder of SV group was driving outside the city when she thought that she saw something in the grass on the side of the road.

Then she asked her husband who was driving to pull over and go back.

She was right and it was a little black and white kitten.  There were no houses nearby, only the roads. The kitten was left there to die.

After the initial check up we found out that the kitten has ringworm that is now being treated. The kitten is being kept separately from other animals due to ringworm.

The kitten is being treated for the infection.

Please donate to make help SV gout save animals.

Thank you.

______________________________________________________________________

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

Results September 2015

In September 2015 the SV group has fostered 81 previously stray animals. 

79 animals found their homes.

14 animals were spayed and neutered.

The group has arranged 12 adoption events, pretty much haf of the month was spent driving animals to the adoption site.

______________________________________________________________________

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

Results July 2015

SV group is doing a remarkable work saving homeless animals in the hometown Sterlitamak, Russia.

Only in July 2015 the Volunteers rescued 95 animals.

They found homes for 69 animals.

3 cats and 3 dogs were spayed and neutered.

Received donations: $504.10  (= 32011 rubles)

Spendings: $460.59 (=29248 rubles)

Owed for previous month: $32.28 (=2050 rubles)

Balance for July 2015: $11.20 (= 711 rubles)

__________________________________________________________________________The balance of $11.20 is budgeted for spaying surgery of a mom cat found recently, but the procedure was delayed because all fosters are filled with animals and there is no spot for the after the surgery recovery (10 days).

As a result of July 2015, SV group has a balance of zero and 29 animals in their foster care.

The Volunteers are people with big hearts and endless energy. They accept any help they can get: old clothes, food for the animals, transportation for their injured and usually critical animals and just kind words of encouragement.

This work goes unnoticed by many citizens on Sterlitamak and many think that the Volunteers must take in every single homeless animal in town. At adoption events organized a few times a week by the Volunteers, they get swarmed by people who bring boxes of newborn kittens and puppies! These people get aggressive if the Volunteers refuse to take the animals. And these Volunteers are usually teenagers who spend their free time helping to fix the mistakes of negligent and irresponsible adults.

These kittens were found in a box by a busy road

The Volunteers at the Adoption Event

Box with the kittens found by a busy road

SV group wants to proceed with TNR campaign (Trap-Neuter-Return) but unfortunately they do not have the money or the place to keep the cats and dogs after the surgery for 10 days before the stitches should come out and the animals can be released.

Please make a small donation towards saving lives of animals. Any amount will go a long way.

 

______________________________________________________________________

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

Rescue Operation of 3 kittens

On July 23 Sterlitamak Volunteers were informed about a litter of 3 kittens and their cat mom living in the basement of a dentist clinic. The clinic has requested to seal all entrances into the basement and if the kittens and their mom were not rescued, they could be trapped inside the basement and die.

3 Volunteers went to rescue the cat family that day.  Upon arrival they witnessed 3 happy kittens playing in the sun right outside the basement.

The rescue operation has begun:

To catch them

For protection

Basement

2 out of 3 kittens

 

The kittens and their cat mom were not happy to be chased after and bothered. 3 hour later the Volunteers got 2 kittens out of 3. Their mother cat escaped from the basement.

2 rescues are ready for a bath

The kittens were infested with fleas. The water they were bathed in turned red. They received flea medicine and medicated bath.

Just a small part of fleas

Boys are very stressed and hissy

Their first night at the foster home was stressful. But they are getting all the medications, food and care they need.

The third kitten managed to escape.  The kitten was caught the next day and it was a whole new adventure.

The 3rd kitten with cat mom

 

The kitten was outside running in the sun next to a shallow pipe that led into the basement. The Volunteers tried to cover one end of the pipe to trap the kitten and get it ou. But it was easier said than done:

Running away from his rescuers

This rescue operation finally ended when they got the kitten inside the basement the next day.  It turned out to be a girl and she was not happy, like her brothers, to be bathed and treated for fleas and worms.

These kittens are now being cared for at the homes of the Volunteers. After they are socialized and adapted to the human interaction all 3 kittens will be put up for adoption.

This rescue operation is one of many that SV group does every day.  Please help us by donating a small amount, that will go a long way in Russia. Only for the month of July the SV group took into their homes over 60 animals, provided food and medical attention. The group does not have a designated shelter space or the means to rent out a place for animals and all Volunteers take the sick, abandoned, abused and homeless animals into their homes. After the animals are healthy and ready for adoption the Volunteers organize adoption events.

We need your help.

SV group. 

______________________________________________________________________

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

Rescued puppies

SV group received a call from their vet who informed them about puppies living next to a river trash pile. The river there is deep and moves fast. The puppies were crying and hiding in nettle bushes.

The river bank where puppies were hiding is too steep and slippery, and thick nettle bushes made it hard to see the puppies.

A few hours later and some logistics one of the Volunteers Svetlana Pankova was able to catch 3 puppies:

The puppies are from different litters and of different age but they all were infested with fleas:

The water turned red when bathing the puppies.

3 puppies now, bathed, fed and parasite free:

The tan puppy was adopted a few days after the rescue thanks to the social media post!

Thanks to rescue efforts and love for animals by Sterlitamak Volunteers 3 more lives were saved!

 

Happy Tails: 2 years later cat reunites with owners

SV group received a call at 8am about a cat recently found by the Volunteers. The young male cat was found a few months ago in terrible condition – emaciated with matted dirty coat, infested with fleas. The cat stayed at the foster home where he was treated for fleas, gained weight and became a gorgeous cat with white and grey long hair coat.

Before:

After:

He was named Kesha by his foster parents and he knew his name.  As all foster animals, Kesha received a lot of love and support by the SV group and the foster. The Volunteers made a post on social media website about him and …it worked!

The person calling about Kesha turned out to be his owner. He said that Kesha (Gosha as they named him) was lost exactly around the area where he was found but 2 years ago! When fosters met with the potential owners they were questioned about the age of the cat because he seemed too young to be lost 2 years ago. The owner said that when Gosha was very little one of his claws on the hind leg had to be removed because it got infected. The foster parents were surprised to find out that Kesha (Gosha) did not have the claw!

The foster parents were happy that Gosha found their original owners and went home with entire family.

 

We are very excited about this reunion and hope that we can see more of such happy endings!

 

 

Happy ending

This morning Lisa, one of the volunteers of SV group, found a box with a month old kitten inside. The writing on the box says: “Take it, needs good hands”:

Volunteer who found the kitten

Nobody knows who abandoned this kitten. It was raining all day and the poor little thing got soaking wet and cold. The volunteer took her home and made a post looking for a foster care or a home.

A few hours later the kitten was chilling on a couch in her new home after a meal and playtime.

 

This is one of the happy tails that we love to see all the time. Thanks to good hearted people like the volunteer Lisa one more life was saved today.  BIG thank you to all Volunteers and people who rescue animals!

Please be kind to all animals!

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

Adoption Event #255

Sterlitamak Volunteers group has found homes for 8 previously homeless animals. 8 puppies and 2 kittens went to their forever homes on Sunday, March 15, 2015. 

All animals have sad stories and we hope now they will have only happy endings.

Sterlitamak Volunteers are mostly students who devoted their free time to save animals

Kitten with an adopter

This dog was found as a stray and has been fostered while Volunteers were looking for previous owners. Unfortunately, they were not found and the dog was adopted. (with a Volunteer)

Kitten with an adopter

going to her forever home

going to his forever home

going to his forever home

Potential adopters are here to see the animals

For 3 months of this year 2015 the group has already saved over 80 homeless animals. The work of the Volunteers is priceless and they have the biggest hearts! Either it is a litter of new born puppies whose mother was killed or a cat that was hit by a car and paralyzed – the Volunteers are there to help! Most of the Volunteers are middle and high school students who do not have cars (yes, it is a privilege) and who live miles away from each other but that does not stop them from picking up stray or injured animals all over the town and driving them (in public transportation sometimes) to the vet clinics or foster homes. They are doing it all year long in any weather.

Sterlitamak Volunteers solely depends on the donations from the public and people do help with whatever they can: food, toys, medications, old clothes, free rides, donations and words of encouragement.

Thank you all who help animals in need!

 

 

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

Update – 1 out of 5 puppies survived

For her young age (only 4 months old) Lapa has been through a lot. She was born homeless in a litter of 5 puppies, then the puppies were supposed to be fostered by someone but those people betrayed the puppies and let them starve and eventually the “foster parents” drove the puppies out to the woods to leave them there without shelter and food to die. (You can see the story in earlier posts).

When SV group learned about the puppies it was too late and sadly all but one died.

After numerous visits to the vet clinic and iv fluids and other medications, Lapa is doing well and has gained enough weight. She was spayed recently as well. The surgery went well and now Lapa is ready for her forever home.

She is still shy and skittish but with a lot of love her personality will come out soon.

SV group is looking for her forever home now and we cannot wait for her to have a family that will be able to give her enough attention and love that she deserves.

SV group is hoping that Lapa will get her happy tail soon.

Please consider a small donation towards Lapa’s needs. A small amount will go a long way.

Thank you!

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

Update – Cat with a string (Happy Tails)

Kolya, a cat with embedded string, is now in his forever home!

Kolya was found with deep wounds caused by embedded string all around his body.

You can see before pictures in earlier posts.

Here is Kolya now:

He lives with another cat at home and  they seem to get along pretty well.

Help SV group make more happy tails come true! Please make a small donation which will go a long way.

Thank you!

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries for homeless animals. 

Update – Litter of 8 puppies in the dumpster

All puppies are doing great!

They have opened their eyes and became more active.  2 are fostered by a young Volunteer and other 6 are in a foster home.

These two are brother and sister. The female puppy is very active and likes to explore her foster home and also chase her brother.

They had indigestion in the beginning but after some needed medical care they are  well on their way to blossom into active puppies. When they are ready enough to be adopted SV group will be looking for their forever homes.

______________________________________________________________________

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

Litter of 8 puppies in the dumpster

 A litter of 8 puppies left to die by the dumpster. 

The Volunteers is caring for a few litters of puppies at any given time and today we found another litter of newborn puppies right next to a dumpster. They were tossed like a trash to die. All black puppies, 8 altogether, but only 6 survived for far. When the Volunteers arrived to the spot 2 puppies were already dead.

This is how the puppies were found, in a blanket by the dumpster in below zero temperatures.

One of the dead puppies was found like this.

Newborn puppies from the dumpster at their foster home

Puppies are fed and asleep in their foster home

The puppies are being bottle fed by our volunteers, one of them is a skilled foster mom who nursed back to life a few litters already; she is just 12-years old!

I cannot comprehend the thought process of people who are able to discard a living helpless being like that! But I am happy to see that good hearted people are everywhere and we can help the helpless and speak for the ones who are not able to speak for themselves!

We will be posting more updates about the puppies. We all hope that they will grow strong and find their loving parents.

If you would like to help these puppies please donated via the link below with the note “for puppies”. All proceeds are going to provide food and medical attention to the animals in need.

Thank you!

 

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

20 abandoned puppies

SV group received a call about over 20 puppies living in the outskirts of the town (Sterlitamak, Russia). When Volunteers came to assess the situation they were shocked to see approximately 20 PUPPIES of all ages and sizes living in the woods with almost no shelter! We do not know the exact number of puppies because they some of them hide when they hear human voices. Two women who found the puppies first had been feeding the puppies daily but when they could not keep up, these ladies called SV group for help.

Coming out of their shelter 

Feeding time

    

SV group has found homes for 6 puppies so far. Two smallest puppies  out of this bunch have been taken to their foster home today, because they are very weak and would not survive in such cold temperatures.

Two sister twins 

Now in foster home:

Puppy #1

Puppy #2

The rest of the puppies are in need of foster homes right now and daily food supplies.  They have makeshift shelter and the Volunteers brought warm blankets and rags to make their puppy cave warmer.  All blankets and warm clothes as well as food is donated by the citizens of Sterlitamak.

Donation of warm blankets and clothes for the puppies

Puppy den covered with snow

Insulating the den with warm clothes and blankets

SV group is trying everything possible to save  animal lives and while they might be expendable to others, for Sterlitamak Volunteers and many other good hearted people these lives are priceless and we will do everything to save them!

We will be posting more updates about the puppies. The SV group is in need of food, pee pads, warm used blankets and clothes for the puppies.

If you would like to help these puppies please donated via the link below with the note “for puppies”. All proceeds are going to provide food, pee pads and medical attention for the animals in need.

Thank you!

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

 

Update – Cat with a string

SV group rescued this poor cat with a string embedded into his body (see earlier posts). We do not know what happened to him. After treatment and a lot of love this boy is ready for his forever home.

Kolya (SV group gave him this name) is doing well. He is probably 1 year old and a very large cat. His wounds are healing nicely and he is just full of love to give. We hope to find very good parents for him.

Please help us rescue more animals in need. It is not very hard to do. By donating just a few dollars you can save a life. Any amount will go a long way in Russia. For example: cost of a spay/neuter surgery for cats is just $6-8, cost of spay surgery for dogs is $25.

SV group is receiving no help from the government and all Volunteers who save animals, foster injured and homeless animals in their own homes. Most of the Volunteers of the group are teenagers who work on volunteer basis without pay after school and during school breaks. They are doing amazing work and it shows! Only for the fist month of 2015 SV group has rescued over 40 homeless injured animals and provided food for 3 litters of homeless puppies!

The food, medications, and cost of vet services are covered by donations.

Please be a part of a good deed and donate.

Thank you!

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries for homeless animals. 

Update – RIP- Kitten with a broken jaw (Button)

Sadly Button has passed away on Friday (January 23, 2015)…

On January 21st she started throwing up blood and her stool contained blood.  She would not eat or drink.

Button had suffered abuse. She was found on a cold night outside crying for help. Her jaw was broken. SV group took her and fixed her jaws. As we all thought she was almost healthy for her forever home, but a few days ago she stared feeling sick and fading. Button had internal injuries, her liver raptured.

Her foster mom and the leader of Sterlitamak Volunteers is very sad and appalled by the cruelty people cause to animals. She hand fed Button during her recovery and was working on her fear of man. We all were so happy to see Button getting better…

RIP Button…

Button

Please read her rescue story in our earlier posts.

Animal abuse in Russia is unfortunately a common practice and there are almost no laws protecting them. The Russian government actually spends money on hiring firms with firearm licenses to kill homeless animals and it is a fact.  Also a self-proclaimed society called “Dog hunters” formed by morons is killing homeless animals (cats and dogs) and pets daily.

Animal activists in Russia are fighting for animal rights and we hope the government will respond to multiple petitions and letters to the president.

Update – 1 out of 5 puppies survived

Lapa is the one out of five homeless puppy who survived from the cruelty and stupidity of certain humans (see our previous posts).

Now Lapa is in good hands and gaining weight slowly.

On arrival – first IV

One day into the treatment. All her siblings died at that point.

 

Here is Lapa now.

 

Lapa is struggling psychologically. She is a very shy scared timid puppy. She has a fear of closed doors and cannot sleep in a room without the light. She is being cared for in her foster home by Angelina (foster mom). We hope she will be healed soon physically and emotionally.

Please help us raise money to cover the cost of food for Lapa.  Please help us help more animals in need.

Any amount will go a long way!

Please donate! Thank you!

 

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

Update – Kitten with a broken jaw (Button)

Button was found by a good Samaritan before New Years Eve. The kitten was visibly in distress. She had a broken jaw and was outside crying for help.

Button’s jaw has been fixed, stitches have been removed.  SV group has raised money for her surgery and treatment. The surgery was almost free (thanks to the vet clinic) and the rest of the raised funds went towards her food and medications.

Button is a curious lovely 3-colored kitten.  She follows her foster mom everywhere and can be heard purring from a mile away. One thing that she is struggling with is her fear of man (males only).  Whenever she hears male’s voice Button starts meowing unstoppably and she also tucks in her head whenever her foster mom is trying to caress her head.  She has been doing a good progress and let the foster dad pet her when Button was almost asleep.

Button is a very beautiful lovely cat with bright green eyes.

Purring and not opening her eyes.

SV group has already started looking for a forever home for Button. We hope she gets all healed up soon and get into a loving forever home.

Please help us turn more homeless animals like Button  into healthy happy pets!

A small donation will go a long way in Russia.  Please donate!

Thank you!

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

Cat with a string (Graphic Images)

Today SV group found a stray cat in horrible condition.

The cat is in a lot of pain and has open wounds caused by string tightened arounds its body. The string is imbedded into the cat’s skin making it a gruesome scene. The odor coming from the wounds is unbearable which means the cat has been in this condition for a few days.

Please be advised that the images are graphic.

Deep wound in the armpit area. The sting is cutting into the flesh.

The cat is in pain whenever you touch the string. The vet visit is schedule for tomorrow morning to remove the string and stitch the wounds.

The cat seems to be clean and well fed, the cat has good weight and good coat.

SV group started a fundraise for this cat. Any amount will go a long way. More post will follow.

Please donate.

1 out of 5 puppies survived

This story happened just before Christmas 2014.

SV group received urgent plea for help about 3 survived puppies (there were 5 initially) on December 24th.  According to a good samaritan, the puppies were fostered by a family who could no longer take care of them and they got rid of them by abandoning puppies in the woods further away from the town without food, water and shelter in below zero temperatures.

As you can see the puppies were very malnourished and could barely stand on their own.  We do not know whether the “foster parents” (if they can be even called that) were feeding the puppies.

On December 24, 2014 the puppies were brought to one of the Volunteers homes.  All 3 puppies were shaking and lethargic, could not stand on their feet.  IV fluids were given right away.

This puppy passed away

This puppy passed away

Survived

Half an hour after the puppies arrived 2 puppies passed away. The only survived puppy was in a critical condition.  After failed attempts to ask social media followers to help with  transportation to take the puppy to the vet clinic, the Volunteer who fostered the puppy took the crate with the dying puppy on a bus and brought her to the vet.

The volunteer carying the puppy to the clinic.

At the vet

The puppy turned out to be a girl. She was given necessary IV fluids and medications. The treatment continued at foster home.

Meanwhile the tiny bodies of 2 puppies who previously passed away had to be buried (the vet clinics do not provide cremation services). In order to properly burry the puppies SV group wrote a post on social media website asking for any volunteers to take them to the animal cremation center (located a few miles away from the town) or dig a grave for them. Nobody responded. The organizer of SV group and some of the Volunteers drove to the cremation center on New Year Eve. The weather was very brutal that day.

The box with dead puppies was left in front of the animal cremation center (the facility was closed that day)

The survived puppy is doing better now. She is a very smart and polite dog. She can walk around her crate and now goes outside to potty. When her foster mom at school, she is very quiet and uses a pee pad. She also started eating on her own and gained some weight.  She learned how to give a paw and she was named Lapa (which means “paw” in Russian).

Lapa and her foster mommy Angelina

Lapa is a shy puppy but we know that when she is all well and healthy we will find great parents for her and she will blossom into a playful and happy puppy as she should be.

This is a very sad story with a happy ending for 1 puppy out of 5! We wished we had saved them all but the help came too late.

Please make it your resolution for 2015 to help animals in need. If you see or hear about animal abuse, please report, stop the abuse and help the animal in need. WE ARE THEIR VOICES AND WE CAN SAVE THEM!

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

Update – Kitten with a broken jaw (Button)

The kitten is doing great! The Volunteers named her “Button” (or Pugovka – in Russian) because of her make-shift wiring. The swelling on the jaws has subsided and now she can eat on her own.  Also the rotten odor that was coming from her jaws is gone.

Meet Button

 

 

Button is receiving shots of antibiotics daily and all her stitches are being disinfected after feeding.

The only problem Button faces is the emotional: when she  hears male’s voice, she starts crying very loudly.  We suspect that whoever physically abused her was a male.  The good news is that Button is in good hands and we hope that she will soon recover physically as well as emotionally.

 

Button is a very polite lovely cat, she uses her litter box, eats well on her own and snoozes all day long.  After her complete recovery the Volunteers will be looking for her forever home.

Please help us make a difference in  lives of many animals like Button.  Please donate.  Any amount will go a long way in Russia.

Sterlitamak Volunteers is an organization that exists and works directly off of the donations received from general public. All Volunteers and organizers of this group are working as unpaid volunteers and all proceeds go to cover the cost of medications, transportation, food and surgeries. 

Update – Kitten with a broken jaw

The kitten with a broken jaw had a surgery this morning (December 29, 2014) and it went fine. The night before the surgery the kitten ate on her own but when it tried to lick its whiskers after the dinner the kitten cried with pain.

Kitten with a broken jaw eating on her own. A day before surgery.

In the morning the vet performed a surgery. The jaw was broken and had to be put into its place. The check up also showed that the kitten  has head injury.  Also both front paws missing 2 claws on each side, looks like they were torn out while the kitten was fighting for her life.  The paws are infected and now the kitten is on antibiotics.

After the surgery, December 29, 2014

After the surgery the kitten woke up and tried to take off protective collar. The kitten is being fed via syringe with puréed food. The stitches should be removed in 2 weeks.

We hope that everything goes well and our little feisty kitten will get better soon! We also want to thank the vet who only charged us 300 rubles or $5.50 for the surgery!

The kitten is in need of good food like Royal Canine Recovery and medications to boost her health.

If you would like to help, please donate. Any amount will go a long way in Russia!

If you do not have a paypal account, please follow “Donate” link and below you can find a link to donate with a credit card. 

Thank you!

Kitten with a broken jaw

This morning (December 28, 2014) a good samaritan found this little kitten on the way to work outside, the temperature in Sterlitamak (Russia) is 11F or -12C. The lady went to the store and bought dry cat food but as soon as she tried to feed the kitten, she could see the horrible condition of this animal.

The kitten had a broken jaw apparently because the jaws are not aligned and the mouth is not closing, also there is blood on its face.

This kitten was found on December 28, 2014

Kitten with a broken jaw and signs of abuse was found on the streets of Sterlitamak, Russia. Outside temperatures: 11F or -12C

SV group took the kitten to their foster care later today. Right now the kitten is in a warm crate being fed soft cat food. The vet is scheduled to make a house call tomorrow morning to assess and diagnose the kitten’s condition.

At foster home. The kitten cannot fully close the mouth and cannot eat because of the broken jaw.

We all hope that the kitten gets healthy and vet’s prognosis for its recovery will be promising.

SV group started a fundraiser to help offset the vet expenses.

If you would like to help, please donate. Any amount will go a long way in Russia!

If you do not have a paypal account, please follow “Donate” link and below you can find a link to donate with a credit card. 

Thank you!

Happy Tails – Cat survived after being set on fire

On October 17, 2014 Valeriya was on her way back from college when she noticed a cat sitting next to a supermarket’s entrance with a head down.  There are a lot of homeless and stray animals roaming the streets of Russia, so this is not a surprising occurrence to see a cat or a dog or a puppy next to a house or a supermarket scavenging for food and warmth. But this cat was different than others. After the first glance at the feline, Valeriya thought that the cat was covered in snow but when she looked closer – the cat had burnt whiskers and her fur was burnt as well. Also the poor feline was very emaciated.

Valeriya could not just leave this poor thing there and she called her mother and told her with tears what hapened. Valeriya’s mother told her to take the cat to the vet and bring home after, and this is exactly what she did.

The vet confirmed that cat was previously torched and suffered some burns on her skin. After receiving a few injections the poor cat was released.  By the way this emergency care the vet provided for free.

Valeriya took the cat home where she continued taking care of the feline and decided to adopt her even though there was already a cat in the house.

This is a great story of a humane treatment of an animal! Thanks to Valeriya, her mother and the vet one more life was saved!

First hours in the house

 

Burnt whiskers and the coat. She slept very quietly in the house and started purring right away falling asleep on Valeriya’s lap.

 

Burnt skin

Now the cat is fully recovered and is about to be spayed by the SV group.

 

This is how she looks now

 

 

She still have some wounds on her ears and skin but doesn’t have any emotional wounds in her heart even after some human set her on fire.

 

People be kind and protect those who cannot protect and speak for themselves!

 

 

 

Spay and Neuter by SV

Sterlitamak Volunteers are working hard to help reduce the population of homeless animals and find them good owners.

This week we scheduled spay and neuter surgeries for 3 dogs and 7 cats. The surgeries take place at the house of the SV leader and foster mom – Tamara.  Although it is a very simple makeshift clinic that might not follow all medical standards but it is the best possible option to have all foster animals together at the same place during after working hours.

The vet who was performing the surgeries is a well known in town and she worked for 5 hours straight.  In the meantime the Volunteers who foster animals had conversations over some sweets and tea.

It it is small group  of Volunteers with big hearts who do great things for well being of animals and society.

The small number of volunteers talk over some tea while the vet is performing surgeries

10 homeless  animals were sterilized today:

All these cats and dogs will be looking for their forever homes after the stitches are taken out in 10 days.  After being spaying and neutered they will have more chances of getting a home.

We need to schedule more surgeries for more cats, some of them are already pregnant and need urgent spaying.

Each surgery is about $14. The SV group receives no help from the government at all.  Each ruble and dollar is raised by Volunteers.

Please help us raise funds for the much needed spay and neuter surgeries and give homeless animals hope of finding a forever home.

Each dollar counts! Please help today tomorrow might be too late.

Thank you!

Abused kittens in a plastic bag

This happened today at one of the construction sites in Sterlitamak, Russia:

2  female kittens were found in a closed plastic bag. When the Volunteers saw the condition the kittens were in, it really broke everyone’s heart! As the results of a vet examination showed both kittens were beaten,  one has lost the eye, both have one broken leg and they both have hernias.

We are raising funds for urgent surgeries to remove hernias, fix 2 legs and provide medication and food for the recovery process.

Please help! Any amount will go a long way!

Cases of animal abuse are happening every day in Russia. And government is doing nothing, often contributing to the animal cruelty by approving laws that allow shooting homeless animals!

We are fighting every day to save as many as we can.  We are regular people like you – with jobs, families and problems. Sterlitamak Volunteers operates as a Volunteer organization without any shelter or help from the government, strictly on donations received from people.

Puppy hit by a car – Update

We received the news about the puppy’s condition and it is not really good. The pelvis is broken and one of the broken bones is obstructing the big intestine preventing the puppy from defecating. The puppy is suffering and whimpering because she has not popped for a week now.

The vet proposed to have enema done and a surgery to fix the bone after which the puppy will have a 50/50 chance of survival, but we will have to try! Otherwise, the puppy will die within a few weeks.

Right now the Volunteers are trying to give  puppy an enema to help relieve the pain.

We have started the fundraiser for the surgery, food and medication for the puppy (it is a girl as we found out), she will also need to be spayed during the surgery.

Before the accident

At the x-ray clinic

Please help this young puppy live! The surgery needs to be urgent.  Every dollar will count and will go a long way!

Thank you!

Puppy hit by a car

This week Sterlitamak Volunteers received a message from a lady who noticed a stray puppy crying on the side of the road. The puppy was in the area since September and an ad was created to find him a new home.

She took him into a shed by her house and emailed SV group asking for help. Th puppy was whimpering and could not get up on his legs.
The rural area where the accident happened is 20 minute ride from Sterlitamak, Russia. In spite of the late night, there volunteers to help this poor dog and people drove to the place and took him to temporary shelter, where it is warm (right now the temperature in that area is 14F or -10C at night!!!) and there is food and water provided.

Next day the puppy was taken to get x-rays done and now we are waiting for the vet to come over and assess his condition. The vet clinic does not have x-ray equipment and the vet clinic closes early, so the vet makes house calls for  200 rubles or $4.50.

The puppy is eating and drinking water, can urinate but not able to defecate – he whimpers when he wants to go. The x-ray technician said that there is something wrong with his pelvis and the right thigh. We are waiting on the news from the vet’s visit and will be posting the verdict later.

For now we wanted to start a fundraiser for this puppy to help him get better.

Before the accident

Bill for the x-ray 500 rubles or $12

At the x-ray clinic

I will be making more posts about the puppy to inform about his progress. As you can see even $5 can help tremendously, so please donate to help this puppy.  This is one of many homeless and stray dogs wondering the streets of Russia and we can help, maybe not all but we can start by saving one at a time!

 

Young Sterlitamak Volunteers

This post is to provide a glimpse into work of the Sterlitamak Volunteers. The volunteers are mothers, fathers, teenagers, students, elementary, middle and high school kids with their parents who support what they do ever single day – saving animal lives.

Despite homework, school, work, chores, and other problems of day-to-day life, the Volunteers devote their time and big hearts to homeless animals. As I have mentioned in my previous posts, in addition to taking animals from the streets and nursing them back to health, the Volunteers organize Adoption Events. These events take place outside of a Mobile Phone store near a local market. The management  of the store allowed the Volunteers to occupy a small space by the porch. They do not have any tent or seats, just the crates with fostered animals which they transport themselves from different parts of town and the country. Adoption Events usually run from 10 am to 6 pm. The Volunteers are on their feet for over 6 hours at a time without any shelter!

Adoption Events are hosted 3-4 times a week all year long! In Russia winter weather sets in around mid October and lasts until mid April. Summer weather lasts for just over 2 months. From June to September 1st school kids are on summer break. Some of them enjoy the hot wether but others, like our Volunteers, take care of homeless animals and organizing Adoption Events.

Please see a few pictures of Sterlitamak Volunteers at the Adoption Events:

Yes, it is very cold in the winter and Volunteers keep animals warm by wrapping them into warm blankets or tucking them inside their jackets.

The summer season is almost over now and many Volunteers will go back to school on September 1st. Unlike their school mates, Volunteers did not have time to rest this summer.

For example, just this week 2 Volunteers brought a former stray dog to be spayed. They already found a home for the dog in the country side, an hour away from the vet clinic.  The cost of transportation for the animals was paid by these girls. The dog weighs over 40 lb! These 2 Volunteers had a foster cat also who needed stitches removed after a surgery.

 

As a result only this year Sterlitamak Volunteers found homes for 575 animals, please see pictures here.

As of today, 144 homeless animals were spayed and neutered, please see pictures here.

Everything from transportation charges/gas to vet bills, medications and food for animals is either fund raised by Volunteers or comes out of their pockets!  The Volunteers who are in high school don’t do it for Community Work credits, we simply do not have this type of requirement in our school system.

This shows a strong devotion to the cause of saving animal lives!

Please support Sterlitamak Volunteers by donating a small amount which will go a long way! Please share!

Thank you!

Adoption Event #186 SV Group

Sterlitamak Volunteers group had 186th adoption event on July 9th. As a result of standing from 11 am to 3.30 pm under the sun in a hot weather, the Volunteers adopted out 9 kittens from different fosters.

The dedication of these people is admirable. All of them have families and their own problems, but they invest their time and hard work in saving animals!

One of the volunteers lives outside from Sterlitamak and she has to take a bus at 7am (with her foster animals) to get to the adoption events at 11 am!!! Isn’t that a true dedication?!

Note: The group adopts out previously cured animals which have been picked up from the streets. All of the animals have a note from the vet of clean bill of health at the moment of the adoption.  All adoptions are free of charge and people can donate anything they want (food, money, toys for animals and etc).

Most of the times, random people bring found animals to these adoption events and tell the Volunteers to take them in (usually in a demanding way).  The Volunteers foster over 200 animals, and fosters are not easy to find. The animals that were not so lucky to find their foster homes are being looked after in the places where they live by an assigned Volunteer who feeds and brings water to the animals daily. Also, the Volunteers provide medical care if needed. All this done by people with huge hearts and true love for animals.