woman caring for them shares painful story and reminds about legal consequences for animal cruelty
A resident of Sokal expressed her gratitude to the townspeople who visited with their children to admire and feed the stray cats she had been sheltering in the basement of her building at 33 Heroiv UPA Street. She had opened the space to provide a safe home for the animals, and many residents supported her efforts.
All the cats had been vaccinated and sterilized. They posed no danger to anyone and even helped control local rodent populations. Despite this, a tragic event unfolded — ten of the cats were poisoned.
The woman shared that she faced criticism and even verbal attacks from some neighbors, but remained committed to helping the animals. Her grandson, who has served in the military for three years, reminded her that cats helped soldiers stay warm in the trenches. Meanwhile, in the peaceful rear, people were at war with those very creatures.
She described the horror of seeing the cats suffer for days. In a heartbreaking detail, the cats, even while dying, climbed to her balcony — seemingly to say goodbye. A six-month-old kitten barely made it up the steps and was later found dead near her basement.
The building’s basement areas were connected by a window grate, allowing the cats to move freely. She warmed them using gas and electric heaters, as she has no central heating.
During the summer, the cats roamed near her balconies, which irritated some neighbors whose garden plots were nearby. That may have led to the cruel and illegal poisoning.
Legal liability for animal cruelty in Ukraine
In Ukraine, animal cruelty is punishable under Article 299 of the Criminal Code. Intentional cruelty that results in the death or injury of an animal can result in:
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A fine of 3,400 to 8,500 UAH
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Arrest for up to 6 months
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Restriction of freedom for up to 3 years
If the act involves particular cruelty or occurs in the presence of minors, the penalty can increase to up to 5 years in prison.
Local residents are urging law enforcement to investigate the incident and hold the perpetrators accountable.