BREAKING THE CHAINS INTERNATIONAL

GAZA PROJECT: Breaking The Chains is launching a project to support both animals and people in Gaza. We currently have a team on the ground and are the only non-local animal rescue organisation operating in the area. For more details about our project, please visit our dedicated project page.

In February 2022, during the intense conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Charitable Organisation Breaking the Chains International was established by former British Veteran and Animal Rescuer, Tom S-N. The group is primarily made up of former soldiers who use their combat experience and knowledge to help carry out the organisation's missions.

Breaking The Chains specialise in rescuing animals of all species and sizes from arduous conditions around the world. Committed to providing relief and aid to animals caught in the turmoil of conflict, the aftermath of disasters, and the chaos of crises, we often venture where few dare to go determined to give animals the same level of rescue and care that humans receive from military and emergency services.

Our team mostly operate along the frontlines of Ukraine, navigating the harsh landscapes in search of animals that have been displaced from their homes or severely wounded in the crossfire.

In February 2023, as the earthquakes struck Turkey, we arrived on the scene within 48 hours. Our first priority was to lend our expertise to the harrowing task of extracting trapped survivors from the rubble of collapsed buildings. With lives hanging in the balance, we worked tirelessly to rescue humans in need of urgent assistance. Once the immediate danger to human lives had subsided, we turned our attention to the silent victims of the disaster - the animals stranded in unsafe structures. In a race against time, BTC managed to save over 150 animals, reuniting many of them with their families.

Our mission extends beyond rescue operations. Through our self-constructed animal shelter and operational veterinary clinic in Ukraine, we provide a safe place for the animals we rescue along the frontlines, tending to their injuries and restoring their well-being. Dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of dogs and cats, we offer medical care, nourishing meals, and a safe, nurturing environment. Every effort is made to ensure these animals receive the care and compassion necessary to heal from their traumas, ultimately finding them loving homes through adoption services once they are healthy and healed.

Our Ukrainian outreach programs involve visiting frontline villages to assist the stray animal population by providing spay and neuter services, treating sick and injured stray animals, offering parasite treatment, and ensuring proper feeding.

We also provide a unique Veteran's Rehabilitation Program that offers a place at our shelter for Ukrainian soldiers with mental and physical wounds to heal alongside our rescued animals. From Monday to Friday, soldiers with a variety of injuries can visit our shelter, where they can participate in animal therapy, benefit from our state-of-the-art Shiftwave Chair technology, or find comfort in sharing their stories and experiences with fellow soldiers. Our program’s uniqueness lies in the shared experiences of both the animals and humans who cohabit our space, having endured similar hardships in Ukraine. We believe in the healing power of animals to bring about positive change in people's lives.

Among our various initiatives, we support other animal rescuers in enhancing the operations of their shelters for improved efficiency and effectiveness, as well as aid other organisations in their rescue endeavors. Currently, we are involved in projects in Serbia and Turkey.

Additionally, Breaking the Chains has been at the forefront in Ukraine, carrying out vital humanitarian efforts such as evacuating the elderly and vulnerable, delivering crucial medical supplies to frontline hospitals, distributing survival kits to residents in isolated villages, and aiding in the reconstruction of war-damaged villages and community centers. They also provide assistance to orphanages in need.