Today’s guest, British Army Veteran “Tom,” (We do not have his last name for security reasons) went into Ukraine to help abandoned and injured animals, caught in the fray of the war. After serving in heavy conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan, Tom’s experiences manifested into PTSD. By volunteering to help animals in Ukraine, it helped to soothe his physical and emotional state which included depression and anxiety. Tom worked with former military animals and the compassion he felt toward those animals helped to save his life. He and fellow military veteran “Steve” volunteered early on in the war to get supplies to children and hospitals, then aimed to help as many animals as he could. In the midst of all the devastation, he offered help and assistance in the high-conflict zone. He describes the horrible conditions as people are trying to rebuild. Almost all of the animals he rescued were terrified; he and his fellow volunteers have been bitten and injured numerous times, until eventually the animals began to trust them. These innocent animals remind us of patience and compassion, and pure unconditional love. Tom explains how zoos in Ukraine are bombed and abandoned, pets are lost, and those who keep exotic animals as pets often leave them behind. He shares a story of how he and other volunteers moved nine lions from abandoned zoos with help from other international organizations to a sanctuary in Europe. First the lions moved to Romania, then later were relocated to safety in Colorado. They operate in very dangerous areas and the first task is to reach out to local people to make sure the animals, including many dogs and cats, are not someone’s pet. They re-home them from there. They mainly house animals throughout Europe because of costs of moving them to other countries worldwide. Tom’s organization is “Breaking the Chains International” and they do accept donations for food and veterinary care. He has recently completed building an animal shelter in Ukraine where they can treat seriously injured animals. He and his fellow veterans continue to help the people in Ukraine as well, with needed supplies and support. He further talks about how innocent animals and people are the ones who suffer in war and how we must eventually strive for a peaceful planet. He and his fellow volunteers are now expanding ground teams to react to any natural disaster in the world and specifically provide emergency services for animals. Info: BreakingtheChainsInternational.org