Ukraine's animal emergency BE A PET & HELP

The Animal Sanctuary's Shawn Bishop has sprung into action for four-legged victims of war

- Kasia Jillings

For as long as anyone can remember, Shawn Bishop has been surrounded by animals.

Her mum's favourite story is when she found Shawn as a toddler curled up happily and safely asleep with a friend's "dangerous, chained dog in the backyard".

It was a sign of things to come as Shawn grew up rescuing any animal she could. Then, at age 43, she and husband Michael Dixon took the plunge, gave up successful corporate careers and their urban Auckland lifestyle to start their own refuge, The Animal Sanctuary.

It's been 20 years since they moved to the 32-acre Matakana property and Shawn is more devoted than ever to the 100-odd animals in her care.

"I knew I was born to work with animals," says Shawn, who's current menagerie includes cows, horses, sheep, goats, birds, pigs and chickens.

When the long hours of feeding, cleaning, medicating and loving are done, the US-born Kiwi sits down at night and plans how she can generate enough money to keep the Sanctuary running, and help even more creatures in need, including the pets affected by war-torn Ukraine.

"Whenever I feel despair, my antidote is action," shares Shawn, who is organising online auctions to fund animal rescue efforts for Ukrainian pets left behind.

"We had a direct connection because Sebastian and Ada, the last volunteers who lived with us before Covid, were from Poland. They are like family and as soon as the war started, they dropped everything to help animals in Ukraine.