House of Paws, a No-kill Refuge

The House of Paws is known throughout Mykolaiv for its unwavering no-kill policy and for taking in the most heartbreaking and complex cases—those requiring multiple surgeries, long-term rehabilitation, and most importantly, love. Many of these animals are survivors of extreme abuse, and their healing goes far beyond physical treatment; it demands patience, understanding, and emotional restoration.

Proactive Approach

Thanks to Valerie and Olena’s relentless efforts, hundreds of animals have also been spayed and neutered—a vital step toward reducing the number of strays suffering on the streets.

Multi-Purpose Shelter

Today, the shelter cares for 30 to 50 animals at any given time. The building has recently undergone extensive repairs to ensure the safety and comfort for these vulnerable creatures: a brand new fence, interior upgrades to create quarantine rooms for cats and dogs, an indoor play area for cats, the yard cleanup and an upgrade to create a play area for dogs, as well as a full renovation and wall reinforcement of the basement to confidently serve as a bomb shelter.

But the need is constant and growing – food, medicine, veterinary care funding, and daily supplies are always in demand. Additional repairs are needed for the shelter building, such as a roof replacement, window replacement and outdoor enclosures. In addition, the vehicle used by the Olena Kalaianova Foundation has become unreliable; without it, the rescue missions to war zones are impossible, and the dire need for a reliable vehicle remains.