A recent consignment of vital supplies sent to Ukraine by Swindon Humanitarian Aid Project included a treat for a morale-boosting dog.
SHAP chair Mike Bowden
SHAP has sent countless truckloads of medical and other supplies to Ukraine since Russia invaded early last year, together with vehicles including a bus kitted out as a mobile field hospital.
The aid has included around 130 pallets of hygiene wipes, which are much sought after as they help keep both civilians and front line troops clean when there is no water available for washing.
One bag of hygiene wipes sent recently also included a pink dog coat which was among the thousands of items donated in Swindon since the invasion.
It turned out to be a perfect fit for a little dog named Pavlovna by Ukrainian soldiers - and came just in time for the harsh winter.
SHAP Chair Mike Bowden said “ I have to be honest and say when we loaded the pink dog coat I did wonder if we had gone barking mad but it’s so lovely to see a little Ukrainian dog wearing it.
"Hopefully it will keep him or her warm in the cold winter months ahead.
"Of course, our primary focus is to send aid to the people of Ukraine, but in keeping with the Brits' love of animals we send bags of cat and dog food and the odd pink dog coat.
"I'm so proud of the magnificent work of the whole SHAP team of volunteers."
Meanwhile, the aid work of SHAP continues at full throttle, with volunteers delivering aid and vehicles.
Mr Bowden said: "It involves many hours of driving, with some 1,200 miles to cover. One Vauxhall van was driven to Lviv packed with medical aid for a hospital we have close ties with.
"One Citroen van owned by a colleague from an aid organisation in Didcot, and with a SHAP colleague drove across Europe and into the war-ravaged city of Dnipro. One should not underestimate the courage needed to undertake such a journey.
"And finally, a Mitsubishi pick-up was driven to Krakow in Poland, where it was handed over to Ukrainian friends for the onward journey into East Ukraine.
"During these journeys, phone calls from generous donors continued to pour in, the most exciting being a donation of 400 hospital mattresses - with the possibility of 400 hospital beds to follow - from a contact in Yorkshire."
SHAP will be re-energising its Candles for Ukraine campaign this winter. Last year candles collected by the organisation and sent to Ukraine proved vital for people enduring power cuts and limited electricity as a result of the ongoing fight for survival.
Updates about the work of SHAP, along with information about how people can help that work, can be found at www.facebook.com/groups/1161884587960781/
The aid has included around 130 pallets of hygiene wipes, which are much sought after as they help keep both civilians and front line troops clean when there is no water available for washing.
One bag of hygiene wipes sent recently also included a pink dog coat which was among the thousands of items donated in Swindon since the invasion.
It turned out to be a perfect fit for a little dog named Pavlovna by Ukrainian soldiers - and came just in time for the harsh winter.
SHAP Chair Mike Bowden said “ I have to be honest and say when we loaded the pink dog coat I did wonder if we had gone barking mad but it’s so lovely to see a little Ukrainian dog wearing it.
"Hopefully it will keep him or her warm in the cold winter months ahead.
"Of course, our primary focus is to send aid to the people of Ukraine, but in keeping with the Brits' love of animals we send bags of cat and dog food and the odd pink dog coat.
"I'm so proud of the magnificent work of the whole SHAP team of volunteers."
Meanwhile, the aid work of SHAP continues at full throttle, with volunteers delivering aid and vehicles.
Mr Bowden said: "It involves many hours of driving, with some 1,200 miles to cover. One Vauxhall van was driven to Lviv packed with medical aid for a hospital we have close ties with.
"One Citroen van owned by a colleague from an aid organisation in Didcot, and with a SHAP colleague drove across Europe and into the war-ravaged city of Dnipro. One should not underestimate the courage needed to undertake such a journey.
"And finally, a Mitsubishi pick-up was driven to Krakow in Poland, where it was handed over to Ukrainian friends for the onward journey into East Ukraine.
"During these journeys, phone calls from generous donors continued to pour in, the most exciting being a donation of 400 hospital mattresses - with the possibility of 400 hospital beds to follow - from a contact in Yorkshire."
SHAP will be re-energising its Candles for Ukraine campaign this winter. Last year candles collected by the organisation and sent to Ukraine proved vital for people enduring power cuts and limited electricity as a result of the ongoing fight for survival.
Updates about the work of SHAP, along with information about how people can help that work, can be found at www.facebook.com/groups/1161884587960781/
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