Australians Helping

– Ethel Blair

Australians have a strong track record of helping when they see a genuine need and will step up and give generously to a crisis whether that be in our country, or in another part of the world.

When Russia invaded Kiev I suspect many people looked at the news and felt confronted by the many images of cities and towns being decimated. Especially the images of people evacuating from their homes and carrying their dogs to safety were very poignant and illustrated that Ukraine people in their worst hour tried to look after their animals. Being in Australia on the other side of the world left many of us with a feeling of helplessness on how we could help Ukraine.

Basenji Breed Network Queensland’s (BBNQ’s) fundraising campaigns for Ukraine really started with a message from a Basenji friend in the USA who was expressing her concern about the animals caught up in the war. She asked whether there was anything we could do to help, especially the Basenjis who were being displaced. Then another friend from afar made contact and asked a similar question, which led the author to contacting a friend in Sweden to find out what the Basenji community in Europe was doing to help.

It was suggested if the Basenji community in Australia wanted to help, then we could send funds to the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) because they had set up a special account to receive funds from around the world and would distribute the donated funds to various animal aid agencies and to the Ukraine Kennel Club. This was a good option, particularly when we were so far away and did not have the contacts in Europe to manage our funds and/ or to provide direct assistance.

Artwork by Iryna Potapenko depicting srescued Ukranian Basenji puppies that went to the Netherlands.

BBNQ ran its 1st campaign on Facebook to raise funds for all dog breeders in Ukraine, which was launched on March 13:“Basenji Breed Network is promoting an appeal started by Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) to assist Ukraine breeders and their dogs. The funds will be managed and dispersed by the FCI and will be used to assist ALL breeds of dogs and their breeders. Please consider donating to this appeal…”

There was an overwhelming response to the post and 24 hours later an invitation was received to a Facebook group that was set up to enable people around the world to communicate and share information with people and their animals who needed assistance. Being in this communication loop on Facebook helped keep us abreast of what was actually going on in the different cities/towns in Ukraine.

We also asked Lana Belakov to assist BBNQ to communicate with the people who were going to assist. We thought Lana would be a good candidate after seeing a Facebook post she did showing her family and friends standing in the centre of Melbourne bearing placards saying, “I am Russian, but I stand with Ukraine”. Lana’s contribution to our efforts was invaluable. We raised just over $1,000 AUD for the FCI campaign.

On March 17: we launched our 2nd campaign – “A Ukraine Basenji breeder with her 6 Basenjis and 2 Dogs needs to evacuate from Ukraine with her animals. We have 24 hours to raise some funds to send to her so we can secure a van and a driver to transport her dogs. We know that when she starts her 1,000 km journey she will be challenged. We are calling upon your Aussie generosity again to assist her.” Our 3rd campaign was launched on March 25: “Sadly BBNQ/A is running another fundraising appeal for a Basenji Breeder in Ukraine. Oleg lives in Kyiv with 5 adult Basenjis and 4 puppies, and he is one of the original Basenji breeders in Ukraine. He cannot leave his country because all males between a certain age are required by the Government to remain in Ukraine. Oleg needs financial support to feed his Basenjis and to provide vet care to his puppies. Please donate where you can. All donations are welcome and will help Oleg care for his Basenjis during these very challenging times in Ukraine.”

Oleg received his funds and was extremely grateful that people on the other side of the world cared enough to help him with funds.

Just when we thought we might hang up our fundraising boots, another person was brought to our attention so we launched our 4th campaign on April 2:“Yes, there is still more Basenji breeders to help in Ukraine. We are going to run a quick, short appeal for Tatiana Shevtsova who lives in Dnipro Urkriane to raise $500.00. The situation has grown worse in Dnipro so she has decided to travel to Poland with her 4 Basenji puppies. Tatiana is a

Alice eventually evacuated her mother, sister and her 8 animals to Poland. She said a number of times how grateful she was for the support Australian Basenji breeders showed her. Following our 2nd campaign, we were notified of another person who was stuck in Kiev with his Basenjis. He had some young basenji puppies and adult dogs and was requesting funds for food and vet care.

Alice Dubas’ Basenjis safely in Poland

Image by Iryna Potapenko showing our canine companions seeking safety underground from the war in Ukraine.

Facebook friend with many Basenji owners around the world. Please donate to her appeal and share.”

We heard that Tatiana travelled to Poland successfully with her 4 puppies and returned to Ukraine.

April 15:“Thank you to all who donated to Basenji Breed Network Qld Australia appeals to help Ukraine dog and Basenji Breeders. All funds have now been distributed. What an amazing effort – we raised across 4 appeals for Ukraine breeders $5,000 AUD.”

The people we sent assistance to are our friends on Facebook and have been for many years, and they are also a part of our international Basenji community. Our campaigns showed Australians at their best – reaching out to the other side of the world and helping people in need. Thank you to all who donated to our Call for Action and for standing together to help our friends in the dog community in Ukraine. Alexander Cook McQuire was born in Scotland on 9 October 1933 and passed away on 17 August 2022.

He trained as a bricklayer under the guidance of his father, who was a Mason after their settlement in Australia.

His mother was a Matron in Scotland who remained there until she died.

Alex married his first wife Margaret and they had 3 children – Cheryl, Andrew and Kirsten. They started their Collie Rough kennel named Souter in the 1960’s and bred English Springer Spaniels and exhibited Airedale Terriers in 1970’s.

Alex married Gloria who already had a successful Welsh Corgi Pembroke kennel –Jadeglo, which was changed to Jadecrest after their marriage.

Alex was an All breeds Judge who judged extensively around the world and was on the Judges Training Board in Queensland and in Canberra while they lived in Young, NSW.

On return to Queensland he continued Judging and Stewarding.

In his later years he kept busy bricklaying many kennels in the Brisbane area.

He instilled in many trainees to study hard and when judging to enjoy your day with a joke and a cold Whiskey at the end of the day.