Solutions from Ukraine: Kryvyi Rih University welcomes students to bring their furry friends to campus for studies

Kryvyi Rih University permits students to bring their pets to class, and the institution also provides care for ten stray dogs under the administration's supervision.

Suspilne Dnipro reported that.

Rector Andrii Shaykan proposed making the university a pet-friendly environment after noticing an influx of people seeking shelter with their animal companions during the full-scale invasion.

"One of our girls suggested having European-style, open spaces would be great. We supported it and said we would be pet-friendly. Since then, this rule has been extended to the entire university," the rector explained.

Students shared their experiences of studying with pets:

• Serhii and Basia: A second-year student says that the opportunity to take a dog to classes makes life much easier, especially during air raids. Her relatives took eleven-year-old Basia from occupied Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region. She fears loud noises, so Serhii tries not to leave her alone.

^{Serhii and Basia. Photo: Suspilne Dnipro}

• Valentyna and a one-and-a-half-year-old fluffy Domestos: As the girl noted, lectures are held in a shelter, so she takes her four-legged friend with her so that he is also safe.

• Sofiia and Vesta: The student shares that her dog does not interfere with her studies. On the contrary, the presence of her pet nearby creates a cozy atmosphere.

"Not to say that it is very distracting; sometimes it is nice that she sits next to me," Sofiia said.

As Shaykan mentioned, education has shifted to distance learning, but lectures and other educational events are still frequently held at the shelter. You can now experience being with animals from any location and anytime.

"Sometimes someone comes with their pet. It's not a mass event, like every day, but there are no restrictions or problems," he said.

In addition, ten dogs live on the university's territory, all vaccinated and with documents. The animals are cared for by the institution's employees; each four-legged friend has its own complex story. For example, one dog was found as a puppy in a mine, and the other was abandoned by its owner.

For reference:

As Rubryka wrote, Ukrainian military personnel receive physical and psychological trauma during combat operations, and their psyche undergo significant changes. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive disorders, and panic attacks are becoming one of the most frequent "trophies" with which service members return from the front.

The rehabilitation method, with the help of specially trained dogs, has proven itself well in Ukraine even before 2022. Rubryka learned how certified therapy dogs Ash, Bertha, Motiko, and Linda help veterans and their families in Zaporizhzhia. Read more in our article: "Animal-assisted Therapy and military rehabilitation: How Man's Best Friend Can Heal the Scars of War."

On December 3, a reading event took place at the City of Goodness International Center in Chernivtsi. It was attended by evacuated children, children in rehabilitation, writer Nataliia Popovych, canine therapist Ihor Rozdobudko, and dogs with disabilities from the "Khvostyky" shelter. They all took part in reading the book Special Animals, which focuses on animals with injuries and disabilities. The event also included discussions about the ethical treatment of animals and highlighted the shared beauty and strength of both injured humans and animals.

Also, in Kyiv, in the Darnytskyi district, on Petro Hryhorenko Avenue, a new dog-walking area opened.