Alisa’s story became known on social networks for a photograph of her carrying Pulya, her 12-year-old dog, on her back.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused thousands of people to leave their homes and flee to bordering countries such as Poland or Romania, this was the case of Alisaa Ukrainian, and her Perrita Pulya.
The woman from Kievthe capital of the European nation, had to leave everything and flee to protect his life and that of his family.
However, the story of this Ukrainian woman became known on social networks after the viralization of a photograph of her carrying Pulya on her back, a 12 year old german shepherd.
In order not to leave her faithful pet behind, Alisa chose to carry the dog for more than 17 kilometers awaysince his advanced age prevented him from keeping up with his family.
At the start of the invasion, his entire family fled in a small Peugeot 307 vehicle. “There were nine of us, me, my mother, my sister, our two husbands, four children and two large dogs, including the German shepherd. It was impossible to move inside the car. We drove for 16 hours,” the woman told the British newspaper The Guardian.
Due to the large number of cars located at the border, they had to continue a 17-kilometre journey on foot to cross into Poland.
“We left at four in the morning: it was seven degrees below zero. It was difficult, between mountains and rivers. My children cried because of the cold. I wanted to cry too but I couldn’t give up… it was my idea to go to the border,” Alisa said.
A gesture that went viral
Since the distance to reach Poland was quite far, her dog did her best to walk, but her advanced age prevented her from continuing on her feet.
Despite the fact that her owner asked for help to get her up and continue, no one wanted to help her. “They advised us to leave the dogs. But they are part of our family. My dog lived all the happy and sad moments with us, ”she expressed.
In order not to abandon Pulya, Alisa chose to carry her on her back and carry her that way to the border. It was during that journey that she was photographed and quickly became popular on social networks.
The woman and her family successfully crossed to Poland. However, her husband and her sister’s husband stayed in the Ukraine due to the mobilization order stating that older men must fight.
Alice carried her dog for 17 km to reach the border. He is 12 and a half years old and everyone advised her to leave him and she replied: “I don’t leave my friends. My animal is part of my life.”#StopWar #Ukraine ???????? pic.twitter.com/Y5OfObiTiF
— CanguraS ???????????????????????? (@SEGCan) March 11, 2022