A Career Forged in Compassion (Image Credits: Unsplash)
As Russia’s invasion stretched into its fourth year, American veterinarian Colleen Lambo stepped into Ukraine’s war-torn regions to provide critical care for abandoned pets and surging strays.
A Career Forged in Compassion
Colleen Lambo, a 43-year-old veterinary surgeon from the United States, traced her passion for animals back to 2002. She began volunteering at a wild animal sanctuary, where she cleaned cages and tended to bears and big cats.[1]
Lambo earned her doctorate in veterinary medicine from Kansas State University in 2009, along with advanced degrees in reproductive physiology. Her resume included stints at animal shelters, a zoo in South Africa, a wildlife rehabilitation center in London, and disaster response efforts with Texas A&M’s Veterinary Emergency Team during crises like wildfires. These experiences equipped her uniquely for the demands of frontline veterinary work. A platform called Roo later offered the scheduling flexibility she needed for international missions.[1]
Launch of Lifesaving Missions
In April 2024, Lambo joined Worldwide Vets for her debut trip outside Lviv. Over two weeks, she and her team sterilized more than 600 animals and delivered urgent treatments to pets and wildlife, including a stork with a broken wing.[1]
The effort addressed a crisis fueled by displacement: millions fled, leaving over a million pets behind, which swelled stray populations and overcrowded shelters by 60 percent in the conflict’s first year. Lambo also nursed an emaciated street dog named Biscuit back to health; on her return, he trailed her eagerly for affection. These interventions marked just the beginning of her impact.[1]
Deepening Ties with Local Heroes
Lambo returned in May 2025, focusing on Brody, where a family had transformed their home into the Step Shelter. Oleg, a former fighter pilot, and Oksana, once a massage therapist, along with their sons, dedicated everything to rescuing animals despite the war’s toll.[2]
The family hosted Lambo’s team, fueling them with borscht and bread while clearing space for operations. Together, they spayed and neutered hundreds more animals and treated community pets, pushing Lambo’s total contributions past 1,000 lives saved. She praised the locals’ resilience: “They gave up everything to build a shelter, which is also their home… They work harder and longer hours than we do, every day.”[1]
Navigating Dangers and Gratitude
Volunteering in active conflict zones demanded precautions; Lambo carried tourniquets and gauze alongside veterinary supplies. Yet the rewards shone through in community responses. “The most meaningful aspect of my work in Ukraine has been the gratitude we feel from the community,” she reflected. “Our work is a drop in the bucket, but no one has treated it as such.”[1]
- Sterilized over 600 strays and pets on first mission alone.
- Treated wildlife injuries amid displacement chaos.
- Partnered with home-based shelters run by war-affected families.
- Prevented potential health crises like rabies outbreaks.
- Inspired by Ukrainians’ generosity despite personal losses.
Key Takeaways
- Lambo’s trips highlight how targeted veterinary aid combats war’s ripple effects on animals.
- Local initiatives like Step Shelter amplify international volunteers’ reach.
- Over 1,000 animals gained a second chance through sterilization, treatment, and care.
Lambo’s story underscores a simple truth: in humanity’s darkest hours, compassion for the vulnerable persists. Her efforts not only mended broken wings and bodies but also fostered bonds across borders. What do you think about these acts of kindness in crisis? Tell us in the comments.
