In freezing conditions, a Ukrainian woman fleeing her war-torn country had to carry her elderly dog for ten miles.
Alisa, 35, told the Guardian about her perilous journey with her two dogs and family to flee Ukraine.
She worked for a German company that assisted her in leaving the country with her family and two large dogs, one of whom was an elderly German shepherd. They were bound for Poland.
“We drove 16 hours to a village 140 kilometers from Kyiv…
Alisa explained, “We decided to leave the village later in the morning because it was dangerous even there.”
Alisa was one of nine people crammed into her Peugeot 307, but they decided to walk the rest of the way because they couldn’t stay in the car for the “next three-or five-days.”
As a result, they walked 10 miles in minus seven degrees at 4 a.m.
The family’s 12-year-old German shepherd was having difficulty walking and “fell down every kilometer.”
As Elisa stated, “I flagged down passing cars and asked for assistance, but everyone refused; they advised us to leave the dogs alone. Our dogs, on the other hand, are a part of our family.
My dog has shared all of our joys and sorrows with us. Mum’s dog is all that remains of her previous life. As a result, my husband carried our dog on his shoulders at times.
However, when they arrived at the Polish border, her husband was unable to cross “due to his age and the mobilization order.”
Alisa has been praised for her bravery and devotion to her family and pets.
As one Twitter user put it: “I’m in tears.” Even more amazing to me is that the dogs appear to understand and willingly allow themselves to be carried in all of the photos and videos I’ve seen.
“I’m not sure I could lift my 85-pound girl, but I couldn’t abandon her.”
Another person said that photos like this were a “testament to the Ukrainians’ love and goodness.”
