Ukrainian refugees’ pets euthanised in Finland against owners’ wishes

Pets belonging to Ukrainian refugees have been euthanised in Finland without their owners’ full consent, with language barriers, high veterinary costs, and differing animal welfare practices contributing to the distressing situations, Yle reports.

Olha Treshchova’s 13-year-old dog Bonya was euthanised at a veterinary clinic in southern Finland in 2024, despite her objections. Treshchova, who fled the war in Ukraine’s Ternovka in 2022, said she was told the dog would receive an injection—only to later face a €308 bill for the euthanasia and consultation.

“They said they were just giving Bonya a shot,” Treshchova recalled. After the dog suddenly began vomiting, she took it to a vet, where staff claimed the animal had stomach cancer and must be put down due to its age. Treshchova refused, insisting she wanted to care for the dog herself, but authorities arrived later that day. With limited Finnish skills and no interpreter, she may not have fully understood the implications of “ending the dog’s life.”

Bonya’s case is not isolated. Volunteer Veera Mustonen, who assists Ukrainians with animal-related issues, described another incident where police were called after an owner resisted euthanasia. The woman was taken to a police station without an interpreter, though she later contested the decision in court. Administrative courts have upheld authorities’ actions in such cases, citing the animals’ age or illness.

For many refugees, pets are their last remaining link to home. “Often, the animal is the only thing they have left from their past life,” Mustonen said.

Some Ukrainians have avoided euthanasia by seeking care abroad. Iryna Voloshyna fled to Estonia with her cat Marsik after Finnish authorities deemed the animal too sick. An Estonian vet disagreed, stating the cat was “too lively” to euthanise and could be treated. Voloshyna also criticised the treatment of her dog Penelope in Finland, alleging unnecessary tooth extractions.

Financial barriers have further complicated care. Olha Onyshchenko’s dog Busia nearly faced euthanasia after a clinic demanded €570 for dental work. “They threatened euthanasia if I didn’t pay,” she said. A donor ultimately covered the cost, saving the dog.

Finnish authorities defend the practice under animal welfare laws, which mandate euthanasia if an animal is suffering or lacks necessary care. “If an animal is in severe pain or distress, and keeping it alive would be cruel, it must be euthanised without delay,” said Ellen Kaartokallio, a supervisory veterinarian in Seinäjoki. Euthanasia may also occur if owners cannot provide treatment, even for relatively healthy animals.

Margo Roi, chair of FinUA, a Ukrainian advisory organisation, noted that Finland’s high veterinary costs—often a shock to refugees—exacerbate the problem. Language barriers and differing cultural attitudes toward pet care further deepen the trauma for owners already displaced by war.