[Edit] You can call The Office for Foreigners +48 47 721 75 75 for info on help for Ukrainians who cross the Polish border.

[Edit 12:38 CET] The talks about the rules of transport of horses through the border are being held right now, I will try to get info asap and post it here as well. Should be in around 2 - 3 hours.

[Edit 15:44 CET] Still no info about horse transit, but the description of the transit procedure of pets has been translated to Ukrainian. You can access it here (pdf)

[Edit 16:18 CET] Apparently the rules for the transport of horses to Poland from Ukraine are staying as they were for now. Your horse, unlike other pets, still needs documents. If I understand correctly this is the legislation describing the rules. ANNEX IV (Ukraine is on page 29) by my understanding lists the kinds of Health Certificates that entitle to the border passage. If anyone is more savvy in the laws regarding horse transport through Poland-Ukraine border, please contact me.

I guess we've all been struck by the news of attak on Ukraine. I just want to share an important info for all those who own pets and want to look for refuge in Poland. Polish government has issued an exception from the rules of pet transit for you guys! It's easier and faster to get a pet through the border. Now it's possible even if the pet doesn't meet the EU requirements. Since our government has prepared the documents in English, but their website is in Polish, I'm sharing direct links to the documents in English:

1. You can find detailed info here (pdf, remember to read the whole thing)
Now in Ukrainian!

2. Here's application for permission for relocation or transit of a pet to/through Poland (pdf)

3. And a permission template (also pdf)

It's better for your pet to go the legal way through the border, but should it not be possible for you, here's some info on what then:

Illegal transit of an animal can result in it being located in a shelter or euthanasied. What does it mean? I don't know how will shelters approach ukrainian animals, but generally the law says that each animal admitted to a shelter has to stay on 2 week quarantine, after which it is directed for adoption.

To the extent of my knowledge it is 100% possible to adopt a pet, not being Polish citizen, so should something like that happen, or if it happened to you, you could possibly re-adopt it. Each shelter has a different procedure and very different standards. Also, be ready that you might have to pay an adoption fee, which is likely also an individual thing of each shelter. I paid 80 PLN (around 570 Hryvnia) for my dog, cats were sth like 60 PLN, I think?

When it comes to euthanasia, it is illegal in Poland to euthanise a healthy animal, unless they have a history of an attack on a human (in reality it usually has to be a serious thing, there's plenty of agressive dogs in shelters and I'm pretty sure not every bite counts). Also animals with serious, uncurable and painful conditions, like uncurable cancer or serious injuries are usually the only ones euthanised, so less terminal ailments will probably not get your pet euthanised.

If you need help with your pet, you can also check out this link (in Ukrainian). It's a registration form for Ukrainians issued by a fund helping animals Fundacja Dobrych Zwierząt, concerning getting a temporary home for your pet and perhaps even you.

I know googling things in a foreign language can be a pain, so If you have any questions, or need any information, but the language barrier stops you, I can try to help find it and translate to English.


And now to those from Poland, who can help! Jeśli macie warunki, żeby przyjąć Ukraińskie zwierzaki, a może nawet i ich właścicieli pod swój dach, dopóki ich sytuacja się nie ustabilizuje, jest i formularz zgłoszeniowy dla Was.

My heart goes out to all the victims of this war.