Animal shelter in Pyrohiv on verge of closure, says SOS Animal Society

Kyiv, February 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The shelter for homeless animals in the village of Pyrohiv on the outskirts of Kyiv, which is owned by the SOS Animal Protection Society, has found itself on the verge of closure because of funding problems, President of the SOS International Animal Protection Society Tamara Tarnavska has said.

"The situation is catastrophic indeed. At present, the shelter is on the verge of closure. There has been no financing since January 1 (2012). We have reserves for a month then there is a dead end," Tarnavska said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

Tarnavska noted that international organizations had helped to build this shelter and kept it running for 15 years.

According to her, Kyiv's authorities, namely First Deputy Head of Kyiv City State Administration Oleksandr Mazurchak, promised in 2011 to allocate UAH 100,000 to maintain the shelter. However the shelter received only UAH 6,000 at the end of 2011.

"At present, more than 2,000 animals are on the brink of death... We'll have to open the door and bring some of the animals to the walls of Kyiv City State Administration, so the authorities might listen to them," Tarnavska added.

"I am ashamed to appeal to international organizations again. I am ashamed of this country, that cannot solve even the problems of animals," she said.

Tarnavska expects that residents of Kyiv will help the shelter survive. According to her, they need a minimum of UAH 600,000-650,000 a year to keep the shelter going.