Hello, wonderful change-making supporters, 

We are grateful and humbled for the sheer volume of love, compassion, and determination you've shown for an urgent appeal to lessen pet paperwork, cost and restrictions for people fleeing with pets from Ukraine to the UK. 

It brings us great joy to announce that we've (including you) have reached 25% of our targeted 100K+ signatures with your voices and support. Please hug your loved ones, your beloved pets and celebrate this milestone together. We understand that more work is needed, and we will share more about our campaign update in our next post. 

Today, we would like our spotlight to focus on our friends Gavin Guest (Gav) and Eli. This is a special feature for reaching over 25,000 signatures in 11 days.

You'll learn about their real story and the catalyst behind our petition for all women, children, pets and men fleeing Ukraine. 

*** Warning: This story contains upsetting descriptions of events. It will take around 6 mins of reading time. ***

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Eli (Gavin's trusted canine companion) started life in the harshest way possible; a frightened young puppy who sat in the corner of his kennel hiding from the sunlight and any human contact.

One cannot imagine what Eli had been through in his previous life, can you?

When Gavin's life journey brought him to Ukraine, he began volunteering with a Ukrainian Rescue Shelter, this was where the pair first met and formed an incredible bond ever since. Gavin devoted his love and time to transforming Eli's traumatic past into happier and more fulfilling new beginnings. Eventually, after months of supporting Eli's recovery, he was ready to go home, and so, Eli embarked on his new life leaving the shelter to be with Gavin - his forever human parent. 

Instinctively Gavin knew Eli was the one companion that melted his heart, the pair were looking forward to new adventures as they settled into their Ukrainian lifestyle. But on February 24, 2022, their dream home was no more - this was the day that Russia's Government and military did the unthinkable and launched an attack on their home in Ukraine. Overnight, they were in a world of horror - a war against humanity had started and that includes every innocent living being on our mother planet that we call our home.

How did the pair flee Ukraine? What happened along their journey?

Early this year, in January 2022, the Foreign Office warned of Russia's Government and the military invasion on Ukraine. Gavin - a British Citizen and an expat who taught at a Ukrainian International School in Kyiv, Ukraine, began his preparation to flee with Eli.

The Foreign Office told all Brits to get out of Ukraine on February 12, 2022. Yet, Gavin honestly struggled to leave by then. He had spent weeks trying to organise a pet waiver that would allow him to take Eli back home to England, UK. Despite trying to escalate the urgency, the UK Government told him the earliest would be by April 2022 due to processing his application (Why are things so slow?!). As we all know, April never came to be... Putin launched an attack on and in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. 

Over the past several weeks, we've heard all sorts; why didn't Gavin leave? Why didn't he leave his dog? Ask yourself this, would you leave without your family and your loved ones? As I'm writing this update, I know there is no way I would go without my beloved cat (or dog) on this planet. How is a pet or any animal any different? 

With the pet waiver still being processed, Gavin instinctively went into survival mode, and nothing was going to separate him from Eli. Just like any parent would instinctively put their life on the line to save their child (in Gavin's case, his canine fur baby). Gavin and Eli, embarked on a journey together in the hope to cross the border, fleeing from their apartment in Kyiv which was bombed. With chaos, shelling and violence increasing across the city on that harrowing night, they fled to Lviv, a city in Western Ukraine by road with another colleague and her dog.

In Lviv, the four desperately scrambled to get out and planned their following route in a matter of hours. Gavin secured further paperwork from a local vet and the UK embassy in Lviv - he used social media to stay in touch with his friends and family in the UK who were anxiously waiting, feeling fearful and praying for their survival. 

Eventually, they managed to escape unharmed and fled Lviv just in the luck of time before the city became a target zone for war. They drove part of the way before getting stuck. After 15 hours of driving covering 500km (311 miles) to the border of Ukraine-Romania in the hope to enter Romania with their passports - they just couldn't get close enough and were met with miles of long traffic queues that had formed in less than 24 hours. 

Instead, they walked for over 12km (7.5 miles) to the border - two people, two dogs, no home, and carrying documents, British Passports and two bags of possessions with enough water and a small amount of food to keep them going for a day. 

"Women and children were being squashed against the metal border gate. It was snowing, cold and choatic - no structure, no queuing, no information. It was pandemonium."

What happened? What did they experience?

When they finally reached the Ukraine-Romania border, exhausted, traumatised, stressed yet filled with adrenaline from the past 48 hours. It didn't stop there... met with a scene that you cannot possibly imagine; what they witnessed was heart-wrenching.

Gavin had posted/shared with his social media network. He witnessed:

• Single dads with young children and disabled men turned back including other foreign nations, including Mexican, German, and other British men.
• Air raid sirens across the cities of Kyiv and Lviv.
• Women and children squashed against the metal border gate desperately trying to flee.
• Parents and families were torn apart and separated as Ukrainian guards were mandating men to stay. Women, men, children and pets were left with the devastating decision to make difficult choices for survival. 
• Over 5,000 people outside in the cold and snow waiting to be selected, and allowed to leave.
• Lots of shouting between civilians, and the armed Ukrainian guards. Gavin mentioned, "They were saying Romania was being bombed, and Romania didn't want people to enter. The misinformation caused more chaos in the crowd."
• Gavin adds, "There was one woman in front of me who had a 13-year-old son, and a guard told her he could not go through as he looked too old."

The directive that Ukraine Government had announced that women and children only, men (Ukraine) aged between 18-60 are mandated to serve their country and fight. In reality, this was a different case... 

Gavin expressed, "When we reached the Ukrainian border to cross to Romania, the Ukrainian guards working at the border said they weren't interested in nationality; we're all refugees. We showed them our British passports, and they said no, no, no. No men were allowed to pass. We saw women and children were being squashed against the metal border gate. It was snowing, cold and chaotic - no structure, no queuing, no information. It was pandemonium."

He continues, "Our friend contacted the British embassy in Romania with our details." There was a glimpse of hope when the British Embassy called back to inform Gavin that they were sending someone to the border to support them. At, 02:00AM local time, "We got past Romanian guards no problem, but the Ukrainian border refused us. The consulate embassy team were only 50 metres away from us on the Romanian border. I couldn't understand it."

Recalling the stressful situation, Gavin said, "We were told that our passports mean nothing now and weren't allowed to leave the dead zone - The dead zone is the section of space between the borders of Ukraine and Romania. We were around 50 metres away, so close and so far. Then the Romanian border guards were shouting that bombs were dropping on Romania and the fence was going to collapse - we had to retreat."

It was a gruelling and trialling day for our friends; they had no choice but to retreat 40km (25 miles) back into Ukraine and re-attempt the next day. Thoughts were running through their minds on where can they possibly go next? How can they leave? How will the dogs cope?

Fortunately, a Ukrainian family kindly took them in for the night; they were so lovely given the circumstances; they provided food, water, internet, bed and shelter. The family showed compassion and empathy during difficult circumstances, which was why Gavin fell in love with the people of Ukraine. 

Disheartened but safe, Gavin was looking for alternative options - the thought crossed his mind in leaving the border from Romania to Poland and Hungary, but there was no guarantee they could successfully flee with their pets - as confirmed by registered charities:

• PETA UK (1056453)
• REAN Rescuing European Animals in Need (1163203)
• Pawprints 2 Freedom (1194754)
• iFaw (1024806)

Poland is limiting the number of pets any one family can flee (capped at a total of 5 pets maximum). Then there are transports like buses and trains that refuse to let animals onboard; families make heartbreaking choices to abandon their pets. [Evidence: Facebook Ukrainian Rescue Appeal]

Gavin said, "There was a single dad there with his kids, and he couldn't even get through; it was distressing. We did say, how can we go through when even he can't? We felt so guilty. It daunted on us when Ukrainian officials working at the Romanian border said a "British passport means nothing" as we made a desperate bid for safety."

Gavin is not angry with the guards and instead thinks it was a system failure as there was no queue for women, children and foreign nationals. He was grateful that the British consulate in Romania sent a car out to collect them from the border in Terebleche, Ukraine - but it wasn't meant to be.

After thinking through some options, the four then attempted the Romania border again on the following day. I remember messaging Gav based on the feedback that my Eastern European friends gave me... "He's British - no? ... OK, he's British! Tell your friend, Gav, not to be so British about things!"

When they returned on February 27, 2022, they discovered the rules were even stricter than before, with older boys now restricted from leaving. Gavin recalls: "There was one woman in front of me who had a 13-year-old son, and a guard told her he could not go through as he looked too old." How heartbreaking must it have been for a parent to watch a 13-year-old boy refused entry and to stay to defend his country?

Gavin said, "I explained to an official at the border that I and my dog had been waiting to leave for three days, we had two dogs with us, I can't keep coming to the front. They are rescue dogs, and people are trampling on them. The man said no men could leave, and I said I understood. I asked him to let us know when it was our turn, and he smiled and put his thumb up."

Meanwhile, Gavin updated his social media story to announce the entry was unsuccessful again. He asked his friends and family to help - those who were back in the UK were shocked they were rejected again especially after calling Ukraine and Romania embassy to report his case.

Then, in the space of 5 mins, he had a stroke of luck - Gavin, Eli and his friends were invited to the front of the queue. They say a lot can happen in a minute, and it did!

He said: "Some of the Ukrainian people and family in front of me said 'come, come'. They had heard about our plight and had been speaking (to the guards) on our behalf. They pleaded with them to let us through. The guards opened a roadblock barrier and said, 'go now'. I walked through and then looked around to see the faces that had helped us. They were smiling, and some people were clapping. It was so nice, but I felt so sad and guilty."

So, on February 27, 2022 - Gavin, Eli and his friends were free and one step closer to returning home to England, UK. Words cannot describe the tragic losses that Ukrainians are suffering right now. Can you imagine this?

Gavin has mixed feelings for leaving; he feels relieved that Eli is safe, yet the overwhelming sense of knowing that more families of women, children, pets, and men are in need of help.

After fleeing Ukraine, Gavin and Eli stayed in Romania, where he completed further paperwork and passports to take two-year-old Eli back home. All of this came with additional costs and time to resolve. 

We understand that every country has animal control regulations; surely, we can modernise this? Surely, there is more that we can do? Why are the UK so far behind in helping?

Gavin described their ordeal: "It has been mentally and physically draining. What I saw at the border - the crying women and children - is something I never want to go through again. Despite everything, I plan to return to Ukraine and support the families and pets fleeing in the not so distant future. I cannot sit around and watch and do nothing, but first, I need to bring Eli home to the UK to be our home dog with my parents."

"In fact - I'm damned sure I'm going back; Ukraine is my home; I won't allow Putin to determine my future in terms of not going back to a city where the people are so amazing."

On a closing note

Gavin has praised the resilience and kindness of the Ukrainian people. He says "Thank you" to everyone for helping him, and Eli get to safety. He asked for the people worldwide to continue standing with Ukraine and support in any way, shape or form.

Together our collective voice can make a change; Gavin and Eli is one success story; let's turn this into more success stories giving people with pets fleeing Ukraine a new beginning, new hope and a new home. 

And, as our friend Gavin prepares for his next steps in volunteering to support Ukraine on the front line with registered charities. We ask that your join us - together and united no matter who you are or where you are in the world. You can make a difference. Can you help us make this petition a victory?

We will continue petitioning, raising awareness, and sharing stories and facts of the war against humanity. Please continue to support, to drive the momentum of this petition with us, to share Gav's and Eli's story. We would love to hear about your personal experiences as well. 

*** Until our next post, stay safe, stay internet savvy and stay hopeful. ***

 

With love and gratitude

Friends and Family of Gavin and Eli

p.s. Give your loved ones a hug, tell them that you love them and embrace the love of your pets (aka furbabies).