OkcPets Magazine January 2023

January / February 2023 • OKC Pets 29 out of the crate. Another wanted to run away. One stood like a statue, while the other was snapping and biting. They didn’t understand English commands, so we were afraid to let them get too far from us. So we gave them baths before starting the trip back to OKC — I held the freshly bathed and tired dogs all the way home.” Because of having been exposed to ceaseless bombing, crowded living con- ditions, constant relocation, lack of food, and contaminated water, the dogs had developed skin issues. They had been left untreated because there was no room to pack shampoos, conditioners, and medica- tions when the family escaped Ukraine. Today, the Ukrainian dogs are adjust- ing to life in Oklahoma. One dog, Persik, found his forever home in Oklahoma City with an experienced dog-training family. Lanphear receives pictures and updates al- most daily about how Persik is doing. The dogs that are still with Lanphear received new names because “I call their names, but I don’t have a Ukrainian accent, so it sounds completely different and unfamil- iar to the dogs,” Lanphear says. So Roo is now Carl Wayne, Lady is Lola, and Foxy is Puffy. The dogs are learning basic skills such as walking on a leash, sitting on command, going outside, downing, and other essen- tial manners. The dogs learned to respond to doggie treats quickly. Socialization skills for the dogs are a challenge. They had never seen a big dog, so Lanphear had to introduce her big dog slowly. The Ukrainian canines now go to classes with Lanphear’s other dogs to gain expo- sure to group environments. One pup has severe anxiety that manifests in uncontrol- lable crying when he is not being held. He is temporarily on medication. The dogs are attending group manners classes to prepare them for adoption. Lanphear has become very attached to the Ukrainian dogs; it will be bittersweet when they find their forever homes. Facing the Unknown As for Pikalova and her family and the remaining dogs, they are living in Ger- many. However, it is costly to be a refugee because of taxes imposed on animals. Now that many of Pikalova’s beloved dogs have found homes, the unique tax situation forces her to consider returning to west- ern Ukraine. With fewer dogs, she hopes the family could bug out more easily if fighting erupts closer to where they would be living. Pikalova, her daughter, and her grand- daughters live in fear of the unknown. It is a daily struggle for survival. The decision to stay in one place or to move could make the difference between life and death. OPOPOPOPOPOPOPOPOPOPOPOP POPOPOPOPOPOPOPOPOPOPOP An Oklahoma City family has adopted Ukrainian refugee dog Persik. Photo courtesy of Nicole Lanphear. Ukrainian refugee dog Roo now has a new name — Carl Wayne — and looks forward to a forever family. Photo courtesy of Nicole Lanphear.