The importance of innocence

By Angela Stoop

Monday 29 December 2025

In times of immense human suffering, it is easy to lose sight of the smaller souls we share our life with. Somehow we often convince ourselves that human lives take precedence over animal lives. What we forget when we do that is the impact animals have on our emotional well being.

Photos of soldiers sharing their cods and trenches with cats and dogs have become a common sight in the media. Pictures of Ukrainians carrying cats, dogs, birds and even goats as they were evacuating the front lines travelled all over the world, gaining praise and admiration. And yet there is something fundamentally buried deep within us that convinces us risking life and limb for dogs and cats is just plainly a stupid thing to do.

I've been working animal rescue and veterinary relief since 2022. I witness the importance of animals, especially to our armed forces. I cannot count the amount of times both civilians and military have requested my help in caring for or evacuating their beloved animal companions. The amount of strength gained from the company of pure innocence and love has helped many Ukrainians and countless soldiers through rough times. The presence of something inherently good and harmless, the unconditional warmth and love they provide, it gives hope.

Besides that, being able to save that little soul that means so much and never had an evil thought, is something tangible they can do in a world where we are powerless against a lot of the suffering inflicted upon us. It is a tiny victory, one burden less, something good that we can do and see through to the end.

This is why I put major importance in the work I do. Saving animals IS saving people. It's saving their sanity, their soul, their hopes and their heart. It's why I keep going back to some of the most dangerous areas of Ukraine's frontline. Facing shellings, drones and direct enemy fire. It is why taking risks to carry out veterinary work is worth it to me. It is saving people too and this humanity is what separates us from the ones trying to destroy us. It's a moral victory that strengthens us and keeps us going.

For people, for animals, for Ukraine and for the world.