Meet the dogs of Chernobyl

In 1986, when a nuclear disaster occurred in Chernobyl, people were forced to leave the area and were banned from taking their beloved pets to safety. The army was sent in to shoot the animals. But some survived and hundreds of stray dogs, mainly descendants of those left behind after the disaster, now live in the woods around the exclusion zone. They endure harsh Ukrainian winters with no proper shelter and carry increased levels of radiation in their fur and have a shortened life expectancy. Few live beyond the age of six.

The good news is that Clean Futures Fund, a US non-profit organisation that helps communities affected by industrial accidents, has set up veterinary clinics in the area, including one inside the Chernobyl plant. The clinics treat emergencies and issue vaccinations against rabies, parvovirus, distemper and hepatitis. They are also neutering the dogs. (I donated)

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Images: Solo East

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