Bartek
24 February 2022 Russia begins its invasion of Ukraine. From the next day, I start working at a centre helping Ukrainian refugees.
Stark
Stark's prior history is unknown. He was likely abandoned by his owners, left somewhere locked up, without food. Eventually, he ends up in a temporary shelter. These are makeshift kennels where dogs are crammed in, awaiting rescue or death. In March, rescue transports from EKOSTRAŻ commence to Ukraine. Volunteers, risking their lives and health, transport dogs from abandoned shelters to Poland. Starman, who will become Stark under my care, is in one of these transports.
Aga (EKOSTRAŻ): „I remember he arrived very thin. Not every dog arrived like that, but he arrived extremely thin. He must have starved for a long time, and it took a long time for him to return to his natural weight. Then, in turn, we had to watch him so he didn't put on weight. He couldn't stop eating; he'd eat all the rubbish on walks. I remember the first walk with him. It just so happened to be at midnight. It was amazing that Stark was willing at any time of day or night for anything. To be with a human. Simply a dog made for living and experiencing.”
Bartek
End of June 2022 After four months, as planned, I am closing the refugee aid point that I have been running. I am mentally and physically exhausted – from my regular job and working late at the aid point. Problems in a new relationship, hundreds of human tragedies, the real war stories of people have caused me to go downhill once again after closing the point. I lost. He won…
