Chris Jimenez, a canine trainer and a U.S. Army veteran hailing from California, made the decision to rescue 35 dogs in Kyiv, Ukraine.
As the conflict erupted, Chris began receiving calls regarding his own dogs he had discovered in Kyiv, prompting him to travel there personally and initiate a rescue operation.
After months filled with effort, sweat, and anguish, he ultimately succeeded in rescuing all of them. The dogs are now secure and well-cared for in California, awaiting new families.
Chris Had Four Of His Own Dogs In Kyiv
When the Russian invasion commenced, Chris had four of his own German Shepherds in Kyiv. During that time, his primary objective was to rescue his own pets from the combat zone.
“At that moment, I had four dogs in Kyiv, so I decided to go in… and retrieve my own dogs.”
Nevertheless, upon reaching Ukraine, he encountered numerous dogs confined in cages. They appeared to be condemned, forgotten without care anymore.
Ultimately, he made the choice to assist a total of 35 dogs. But executing this rescue mission proved extremely challenging due to limited funds.
It Wasn’t The Warzone; It Was The Logistics Of Traveling
According to Chris, the conflict itself wasn’t the most challenging aspect; the real difficulty lay in managing the logistics of traveling with over 30 dogs.
It took him nearly five full months to exit Ukraine, during which he traversed various countries—including Romania, Slovakia, Lithuania, and Poland.
In Poland, he turned to an abandoned animal shelter as a transient haven while he gathered enough funds to continue his mission. Most of the money he had allocated for this operation was utilized to purchase the dogs from their previous owners.
“…so that cost me $80,000 just to acquire the dogs,” Chris remarked.
While there, he raised donations to secure a charter flight to California. With the support from people globally, he successfully collected around $50,000 and eventually transported the dogs.
Specially-Trained German Shepherds
As per Chris, all the German Shepherds rescued from Ukraine were specially trained working K9s. He mentions that these dogs are “trained for narcotics detection, explosive detection, search and rescue, patrol, and/or personal protection.”
Each of these dogs served not only their handlers but also people throughout Ukraine, making it unjustifiable to abandon them. Fortunately, they found refuge with Chris, who ensured that their purpose in life continued.
K9 GSDs In A Temporary Kennel Waiting For New Home
Along with his friends, Chris constructed a sizable 8 x 8 x 8 kennel in California for the 35 dogs. This setup allows them to stretch and roam comfortably, as they need to recuperate and regain strength after traveling thousands of miles.
Thanks to Chris’s relentless determination, the dogs have finally reached a safe environment. At the onset, he faced skepticism from many individuals who claimed he was foolish for even contemplating such an effort.
“Throughout the entire process, there was always someone telling me I wasn’t in my right mind.”
Presently, these dogs, aged six months to seven years, are awaiting new homes. However, they cannot be adopted immediately, as they require proper training and an appropriate family.
It is likely that they will be placed with police departments or governmental organizations; one thing is certain—their service will certainly continue.