When elderly German shepherd in Ukraine could no longer walk, her family carried her to safety
“My heart is broken because I’ve never been without him.”
These were the words of a mother who is now in exile in Poland. Her family is broken and their lives were uprooted in an instant.
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And through the chaos and whirlwind of migrations and artillery shells, a snapshot of their incredible journey broke through the internet and showed a glimpse of how man and beast are inseparable, especially in the most trying of times.
Alisa Teptiuk lived a normal life before the invasion.
She’s a Python programmer who worked remotely for a company in Germany. Much like anyone else, she has a husband and kids of her own. They also have dogs – Kolt and their 12-year-old German shepherd named Pulya.
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And just like the people living in the now besieged country, their lives changed in an instant.
Their struggle started when Teptiuk lost her father.
The death was unexpected. The day after, the invasion started. She shared with the Guardian that as people left the capital city, she and her husband were running and driving around all over the city to sort out her father’s funeral documents.
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While sirens were blaring, they were signing papers and arranging commemorations and a burial.
However, with the war progressing quickly, they were left with no choice but to flee.
Leaving her father behind, Teptiuk crammed her family inside a Peugeot 307. Nine people were inside the car – Teptiuk, her husband, her sister, her sister’s husband, their mom, four kids, and two dogs.
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They endured the entire car ride for 16 hours just to get to a village 140 km from Kyiv. They stayed there only for a short while, however, because they deemed the location to be too close to the conflict.
Near the border of Poland, however, they were forced to make another choice.
Cars clogged the roads to the border and Teptiuk knew they couldn’t stay inside the car for the next days or so. Mustering their strength, they left the area at around 4 am and trekked the rest of the way.
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Pulya’s age was showing at every step. At 12-and-a-half years old, the elderly German shepherd dog struggled to walk that she was falling down every kilometer they walked.
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They asked for help from passing cars but they all refused. At one point, the motorists even advised them to leave Kolt and Pulya.
Leaving the dogs wasn’t up for debate.
Teptiuk shared that their dog had been a part of their family since the beginning. She’d been there through their hardships and triumphs. Despite the cold and the harsh uncertainties of their exodus, her husband carried their dog on his shoulders.
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As the end of their journey neared, relief washed over them. It didn’t last long, however, because she learned that through mobilization orders, her husband couldn’t stay with them. It was especially hard for Teptiuk.
“My husband is a big part of me, he is my best friend, assistant, adviser. Our boundless love is what gives me strength now,” she told The Guardian.
We hope they will be reunited soon.
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Source: Instagram – @alisa.teptyuk, The Guardian, Belfast Live, Facebook – @Jeden z dziesieciu – psy do pilnej adopcji z Korabiewic