What would you take if you had to flee your home in a moments notice? Many Ukrainians are ensuring they take their pets. Photos of brave people carrying heavy dogs or bird cages to safety through collapsed buildings and rubble have gone viral.
Refugee pets
At one of the main transport hubs on the Polish side of the border, hundreds of people are arriving with their beloved companions. At the Przemysl main train station, newly arrived Ukrainians are seen clinging tightly to their dogs, cats and even hamsters cages.
Svitlana and her family, traveled the dangerous 650 kilometres from the Ukrainian capitol Kyiv with their big, curly haired, Labradoodle, Phil.
"It was hard to escape with such huge dog," she tells CGTN. "We had a long journey and it was difficult for Phil to sit in one place."
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Pets provide comfort
Phil was more than just a companion. He became a source of support and calm for her 15 year old son who was traumatised by the experience of having to flee his home. "Phil is our friend, our family, otherwise no way (we would have left without him)."
Humanitarian aid available at this train station extends past basic needs humans, to include animals. A shopping cart full of dog and cat food, leashes and bowls sits in the middle of the station.
Christell from Paris handed a women a cage and blanket for her small Jack Russell Terrier.
"I love animals so much," Christell declared, "and I knew that people would not leave them behind so I spoke to all the vets around my home, filled up my van and just started driving."
Donations in, dogs and cats out
But Christell isn't alone. Many are stepping forward to help Ukraine's animals. The Polish organisations DIOZ has been collecting international donations of food and medicine for dogs and cats stuck in the conflict zone.
Eryk Zloty is managing a warehouse DIOZ in a small Polish village where they are organising a new shipment into Ukraine.
"Here we have a lot of different stuff that we transport to the border,”he said. "From there it goes directly to Ukraine, to various warehouses, from where it is then transported for example from Lviv or Lutsk, even deeper to Ukraine, for instance to Kiev or Kharkiv."
In addition to food and other supplies, medicine is very important he added. "Painkillers, medical dressings, adhesive bandage are essential. A lot of animals are sick, they really need help."
DIOZ has also transported around 400 animals in need of urgent attention from various shelters in Ukraine to Poland said volunteer Eliza Murzacz.
"We try to support animals in all of Ukraine. In general, animals are not treated well. There are in terrible conditions. They are even starving and dying. We just try to make their life better.
Zoos are also struggling to evacuate their animals, with convoys being shot at. Caretakers at Kyiv's main zoo have been living with the animals to comfort them.
The loud explosions and shelling are stressing the animals and making them agitated forcing staff to sedate some.