Caretakers at Ukrainian rescue shelters refuse to abandon thousands of pets

'We are not leaving. We will stay with the animals.' Caretakers at Ukrainian rescue shelters refuse to abandon thousands of pets left behind throughout their war-torn country as food and resources grow more scarce

• Thousands of dogs, cats and other animals are in rescue shelters throughout war-torn Ukraine
• Their devoted and courageous caretakers have refused to leave the animals behind
• Animal welfare veteran Laura Simpson, who is the founder of Harmony Fund, an American based non-profit, has been
providing extensive care to the Ukrainian shelters for years
• Simpson told DailyMail.com. 'I have spoken with several shelter owners and of course they are scared, but they won't abandon their animals. I have seen so much heart in Ukraine'
• Marina Dilly is the founder of Shelter Friend located in Dnipro and home to some 650 dogs and 200 cats
• She told DailyMail.com, 'It is not possible to get food or material items to the shelter'
•'We have enough food for a few days, but if nobody helps us and if NATO does not close the sky over Ukraine, I am afraid these dogs will have little chance for survival,' Dilly added