Cronulla RSL Supports Australian Animal Aid

Cronulla RSL support animals that are impacted by War, through the Australian Animal Aid (a Sub-branch of War Animal Memorial Organisation). Earlier this year, Australian Animal Aid returned to help the people and animals of Ukraine.

The United Nations estimates as many as 3.7 million Ukrainians initially fled the country last year and many of them are pet owners, forced to flee to bordering countries with their beloved pets without essentials such as food, medicines or apparel items.

The Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation Inc. (AWAMO), a registered not-for profit Incorporation is Australia’s leading service animal charity. Australian Animal Aid is a sub-branch of AWAMO, has viewed the crisis in Ukraine like many and decided to do something about it. Last year, AWAMO President Nigel Allsopp approached several animal businesses for assistance in helping to facilitate a delivery of more than $500,000 of essential pet care supplies to animals impacted by the war in Ukraine. To ensure the aid got to the intended destinations two AWAMO representatives (Nigel Allsopp and Peter Kotzur) went to Ukraine to oversee the distribution of emergency food relief to the area’s most in need.

Conflict often results in the depopulation of entire regions causing animals to be left behind. Domestic animals may be deserted without adequate access to food or water, either tied up or kept inside an abandoned building, or else left to roam the streets or run off in the process of war or their owners have been killed. Many are taken in by volunteer shelters who are overwhelmed in numbers.

Through fundraising efforts on ANZAC Day in 2023, Cronulla RSL was able to donate $5,000 towards the cause, which included initiatives such as:

Microchip Project: working with local organisations to implement a country wide universal microchip program for all animals, which is not currently in place in the nation.
Animal Shelter: Visiting shelters (initially built for 50 dogs, now home to 500). AWAMO has in its shipment various winter coats for dogs as well as dog bowls and collars, leads and blankets. These will help in the coming cold months.
First Aid Training: AWAMO team visiting volunteers, university students and demonstrating first aid principals. Techniques taught apart from basic health and administration of medications, included K9 CPR, bandaging, blast wounds, shock management including application of drips, gun wounds and other trauma related injuries common in a war zone.
War dog medal presentation. Honouring Ukraine’s war and service animals: AWAA Visitied the Special Operations dog section in Kyiv. The Australian team members have been training border Force and Army canine teams in advanced combat K9 First Aid, as well as exchanging knowledge in Mine and Explosive detection techniques. Australian Animal Aid (AAA) has also donated numerous operational leads, harnesses, collars and kennelling to front line Military Working Dogs. Here, they recognised these deeds and sacrifices that animals have endured in conflict, by presenting a war animal medallion to well deserving military war dogs.
Presentation of bronze plaque: Similar to the initial presentation of the animal bravery medal presented to the Ukraine Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko last year, AWAMO staff also presented a bronze plaque to honour all the service animals caught up in the conflict
Remembrance Garden: A flag was laid in the remembrance garden. Among a sea of Ukraine flags flies a lone Australian flag. A reminder this war concerns the whole world and many people from around the world including Australia and New Zealand have given their lives for a cause they believed in.
Feeding Tubes: Various food stations were set up by local volunteers at the front or in devastated regions were both displaced cats and dogs’ roam. These devices can be filled weekly with either dog food or water.