Stronger Than Winter: Oleksandr’s Story 🐾

We will be telling the stories of our volunteers — people doing extraordinary acts of compassion. Oleksandr Rybas is the first volunteer we are honored to share with you.

Oleksandr is over 70 years old. He and his wife live in Kherson, where daily life includes shelling, power outages, and no central heating in their apartment. They survive on a small pension, yet even with very limited means, they continue to care for others.

At home, they have two cats. In the basement of their building, seven more cats depend on them every day. Oleksandr and his wife share what little they have to help feed these homeless animals.

Every four weeks, we send dry and wet cat food to support their efforts.

Every time we hear from Oleksandr, he asks us to pass along his warmest regards and heartfelt thanks to everyone around the world who continues to support the people of Ukraine. He writes:

"Я хочу висловити свою подяку організаторам та всім людям, які допомогли нагодувати безпритульних котів Херсон, Україна. У цей непростий час як для людей, так і для тварин. На мою думку, тваринам зараз дуже важко, бо вони не розуміють, що сталося і чому вони опинилися на вулиці. Дякую ще раз за допомогу для котиків Херсона. Олександр Рибась м.Херсон. Україна"

"Сьогодні мої котики отримали на день Святого Миколая чудовий подарунок! Я незнаю як вам дякувати... Дякую всім організаторам збіру  допомоги на   корм нашим Херсонським кицям . А також всім людям з Канади, США, Австралії, Великої Британії та інших країн. За підтримку  і бажання допомогти нам і нашим котикам в цей важкий час як для людей так і для тварин України Бережіть себе і дякуємо вам за турботу про тварин!"

“Thank you so much to you and your entire team for the constant help for my little ones. Without your support, it would be very difficult to feed them.”

After the recent cold weather, all the cats hide deep in the basement. So Oleksandr does what he calls “personal delivery.”

“I can’t make a photo report right now. After the cold, all the cats are in the basement. I have to deliver food to each cat in their little nook. They eat quickly, drink warm water I bring them, and hurry back to hide. That’s how we live… I work as a courier for my cats.”

He also adds:

“Thank you for your constant support and for remembering Kherson.”

Your donations may seem like a small gesture, but here it means everything.
Cats waiting in the winter — and Oleksandr and his wife sharing what little they have, day after day.

We would also like to express our deepest gratitude to our customers and supporters around the world. Every order you place is more than a gift — it is a choice to help, to care, and to make the world a little better each day.

Together, we are stronger than winter. 🐾