A dog festival titled «Paws, Coffee, and Donations» was held in Kyiv. This event has a significant social goal — to assist animals from frontline territories and to promote animal therapy as a method for providing psychological support to military personnel, veterans, and anyone seeking to improve their mental health.

The charitable aim of the event is to raise funds for Mariupol volunteer Mykhailo Puryshyev, who has been rescuing people and animals from frontline areas for three years: evacuating, delivering food and medicine, and setting up shelters and feeding stations.

«We understand what it means to be near the front lines, to temporarily lose contact with loved ones, and then to be unable to evacuate them from that hell because they resist — it hurts them to leave their home. We are immensely grateful to volunteers like Mykhailo. He doesn’t abandon our people and animals in frontline territories, risking his own life to give them a chance for salvation,» said Artem Ipatov, CEO of #ShоTam.

Visitors enjoyed lectures from professional animal therapists, dog trainers, and veterinarians, as well as competitions and challenges for dogs. The «Furry Talents» contest received special recognition.

«The number of four-legged participants grows with each event, and we are pleased to see the improvement in obedience levels and the quality of interaction between humans and dogs,» said Kateryna Shershnyova, founder of Holy Doggy and deputy head of the IРC «Base 4.5.0».

At the «Paws, Coffee, and Donations» venue, there were grooming zones, workshops for people and dogs, photo zones, a veterinary point, and a craft fair.

The organizers created a cozy and friendly atmosphere where everyone — both humans and their four-legged friends — found new acquaintances, valuable knowledge, and inspiration. Such events are incredibly important and showcase the various roles of dogs in society — from companions and athletes to therapists who help veterans recover from trauma.

The initiators of the «Paws, Coffee, and Donations» picnic were the positive news media #ShоTam in collaboration with Holy Doggy — a project promoting animal therapy. Thanks to socially responsible companies such as Josera, Avrora, LavGav, and Rozetka, entry to the picnic was free, and each dog received valuable gifts.