Dr. Cliff Redford is a passionate veterinarian that has traveled the world for the sake of serving to animals. Along with his expertise in volunteering across the globe, he knew he needed to get to Ukraine when the devastating warfare started.
Dr. Cliff owns a veterinary observe in Ontario, Canada, however his love for his work has no borders. He has traveled to international locations together with Egypt, India, Jamaica, and now even Poland and Ukraine.
Not solely does Dr. Cliff journey to areas of the world that want veterinary assist, however his daughter comes alongside for the journey as properly. Emily is presently in coaching to grow to be a vet tech, however she has been her dad’s trusted assistant on a lot of his adventures.
When the impression of the Russian invasion in Ukraine started to unfold, Dr. Cliff instantly obtained in touch with an animal group that was presently engaged on the Polish border. He had established plans to set off to Poland throughout the week, and he knew his daughter Emily could be the proper one to accompany him.
Emily was backpacking round Europe when she obtained the decision from her dad asking her to hop on a airplane and meet him in Poland. These two by no means shrink back from an journey, so it was a simple sure for the vet tech in coaching.
Some have questioned Dr. Cliff’s choice to deliver his daughter alongside to Poland and Ukraine, however each have acknowledged how essential this mission was to every of them. Emily can also be now 21 years outdated and has seen extra of the world than most, so the 2 knew they might stick by one another’s aspect and get the job executed.
From the second the 2 touched down on the Polish border, it was time to get to work! The Polish border was an evacuation level for Ukrainian residents and their pets, and lots of of them required remedy after their exhausting mission to security. There have been rows of tents set as much as take care of anybody that wanted assist, every stuffed with expert volunteers providing support.
Most of the canine crossing the border have been dehydrated, hungry, exhausted, injured, and traumatized. Many had been touring alongside their house owners for days, witnessing the identical traumatic occasions as everybody else.
“We largely noticed publicity to the weather, starvation, and dehydration. There have been some animals with burns and lacerations and one with a bullet in its backbone.” – Dr. Cliff
As soon as these pets reached the stations on the Polish border, it was time for the vet crew to step in and provide their expert support. This included providing fluids to dehydrated pets, tending to any wounds or lacerations, providing meals and water to fill their bellies, placing sweaters on chilly animals, and vaccinating pets in order that they may very well be accepted into different international locations.
For 2 weeks Dr. Cliff and Emily labored lengthy days with restricted assets, however their mission was about to get much more intense. They have been about to make the drive into Lviv, Ukraine, to drop off provides and provide vet care to one of many shelters within the metropolis.
Dr. Cliff describes the expertise of driving into Ukraine as completely surreal. Pictures and movies of his journey spotlight the devastation this nation has endured and the trauma every citizen and animal should work via as time goes on.
Fortunately for everybody on this journey, they made it secure and sound to the shelter in Lviv and dropped off 500lbs of animal meals. The shelter is presently caring for over 300 animals, 150 of which have been displaced because the warfare started.
We are able to’t start to think about how tough of a mission this was for Dr. Cliff and Emily, however they nonetheless describe the expertise as heartwarming and provoking.
Dr. Cliff is now again to work in Canada, however he continues to advocate for the numerous organizations on the bottom in Ukraine and the encircling borders. He’s nonetheless elevating funds and consciousness for the numerous animal advocates he labored with, and he might even return to Ukraine and Poland within the following months to supply extra assist.
“We’re nonetheless making an attempt to get the eye of air Canada re getting a cargo airplane to Poland and returning with 100 canine and 50 cats. Now we have assist from federal, provincial, and municipal politicians in addition to the OVMA. We simply want a journey.” – Dr. Cliff
Dr. Cliff can also be making an attempt to rearrange a flight from Poland to Canada for 150 animals, and he’s working to achieve the eye of Air Canada and another organizations that would assist. If you want to maintain up along with his work going ahead, we urge you to comply with his Fb right here.
Different vets presently working in Ukraine or on the Polish border embrace Dr. Lachlan Campbell and Dr. Andrew Kushnir. You possibly can sustain with their work on Instagram.
Thanks, Dr. Cliff and Emily, in your bravery and dedication to the numerous furry pals all over the world!
