Nomination "Responsible for those": The "HelpDogMini" shelter from St. Petersburg, as part of the "We Are Together" charity fund, rescues homeless, abandoned, or ownerless dogs and cats.
The story of rescuing our four-legged friends from the Krasnodar Krai began in April 2026, when drones attacked an oil refinery and a seaport in Tuapse. A major fire broke out on the territory of the refinery and the port terminal. Combustion products fell as "black rain," Fontanka.ru reported. During those days, local volunteers picked up abandoned dogs and cats covered in soot and fuel oil. Most likely, the animals were left by their owners on suburban plots when the city came under attack.
The residents of Tuapse turned to shelters for help, as the four-legged pets urgently needed washing and nursing. After all, petroleum vapors and combustion products are toxic to animals, penetrating their bodies through the skin. Furthermore, the stressed pets tried to lick themselves clean to get rid of the discomfort and the impermeable film that blocked their skin from breathing. As a result, the furry creatures suffered from chemical poisoning.
The St. Petersburg shelter "HelpDogMini" responded to the plea for help, taking in the affected dogs on April 25 despite being overcrowded. A specialized pet transport service delivered the rescues to the City on the Neva. "After the tragedy in Tuapse, local volunteers contacted us and asked for help. We didn’t refuse and took in ten pets. All of them were covered in fuel oil," said Yulia Klafton, founder of the shelter and president of the "We Are Together" charity fund.
At the time the four-legged guests arrived, the shelter had no hot running water, as the foundation had recently been forced to move to a new location due to the construction of the Bolshoy Smolensky Bridge. Even cold water had to be trucked in, NTV reported.
Some of the rescues were successfully washed by the shelter staff, but they required repeated hygienic procedures. Other filthy pups were in desperate need of emergency washing. St. Petersburg groomers came to the shelter's rescue. It took a pet groomer three hours to wash just one dog. First, they used sunflower oil to dissolve the petroleum products, and then special shampoos to degrease the skin and fur.
Once the four-legged guests were cleaned up, relieved of stress, treated, and vaccinated, the search for their new homes began. To date, eight out of the ten Tuapse pets have already found loving owners. Among them is Graham, a very social and affectionate two-year-old boy. His companion, a young rascal named Antoshka, has also found a home. Bim, an active, awesome, and funny one-year-old, is now living with his new family. According to the volunteers, he is not just a dog, but a real David Copperfield, who somehow manages to open his enclosure on his own.
Two-year-old brothers Buk and Vyaz have also been placed in good hands—a restless gang of active and social boys, each of whom found loving parents. Also growing up in their new homes are charming partners in misfortune: Mula, a curious young girl; Masya, an inquisitive puppy; and Alyonka, a sweet four-year-old who lost one eye under mysterious circumstances.
A forever family has not yet been found for the charming Laska and Yusya—very gentle and social sisters around two to three years old. These sweetest tailed creatures still remain under the loving care of the volunteers.
The "HelpDogMini" shelter was founded in 2016 by Yulia Klafton, who has dedicated her life to rescuing animals since childhood. As a young girl, she would pick up or buy neglected kittens, hamsters, guinea pigs, turtles, and other animals from the market. Under her tender care, these creatures found a home and returned to life. Her own pets included a Boxer named Dolly, a rescued long-lived cat named Alisa, a found Pitbull named Hooch, and other beloved animals. The turning point in her life came with the arrival of Timofey, a Toy Terrier with an injured paw. Without proper treatment, the poor dog faced amputation. Since there were no funds for his medical care, Yulia and a co-rescuer created a support group for Timofey. Later, she launched her own rescue group, "HelpDogMini," to be able to help the weakest and most hopeless pets. Thanks to this initiative, hundreds of dogs have found their homes.
Currently, the shelter is home to 230 dogs and 27 cats. All the animals live in warmth and comfort, well-fed and waiting for their owners. 'By the end of 2025, 252 dogs and 15 cats found homes and families. This year, we have found loving owners for 168 dogs and 18 cats,' the shelter's founder noted.
Since March 2021, 'HelpDogMini' has been operating as part of the 'We Are Together' charitable foundation. It employs a well-coordinated team of 15 staff members and an even larger number of volunteers—all compassionate individuals dedicated to saving our furry friends as their true calling. The foundation participates in festivals and other events raising awareness about homeless animals, as well as the 'Kindness Caps' eco-charity volunteer project, which combines environmental care with helping those in need. In addition, the foundation engages in extensive educational work: it conducts field lectures for school children on the importance of animal care and helps parents foster a responsible attitude toward four-legged pets in their children. After all, humanity is defined not only by how we treat other people, but also by how we treat animals.
Photo from the HelpDogMini archive