Animals are a source of profound comfort and support during times of crisis. From the recent challenges of displacement due to conflict to disasters, our connection to animals provides not only psychological relief but also essential practical support. Service and companion animals are often crucial in navigating these challenges, serving roles from emotional therapy to logistical assistance in daily life and rehabilitation. On the other hand, during emergencies people often refuse to be evacuated until their pet or farmed animals are taken care of. Join us for a discussion on the importance of the human-animal bond during humanitarian crises. We will explore how animals support emotional resilience and recovery for individuals impacted by disasters and how animal welfare groups, policymakers and other interested parties can work together to shape strategies that integrate animal welfare into the EU’s humanitarian response. Together, we can build compassionate, effective policies that acknowledge the unique role of animals in human recovery and resilience. We will use this occasion to present how we helped animals and internally displaced people in Ukraine after the start of the war, and we will make an important and exciting announcement about the future of our organisation. Register here.
Programme
18.30 Welcome drinks 19.00–19.05 Opening words Petras Auštrevičius, Member of the European Parliament (Renew Europe) and vice president of the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals 19.05–19.20 Humane Society International’s work in Ukraine since the beginning of the war Ruud Tombrock, executive director, Humane Society International/Europe 19.20–19.40 The role of animals in emotional resilience, recovery, and humanitarian strategies across Europe Paolo Dalla Villa, technical officer, disaster management, World Organisation for Animal Health 19.40–20.00 The Petcare Project, a joint programme between the Ukrainian Red Cross Society and Humane Society International Tetiana Yeskova, head of project management office, Ukrainian Red Cross Society 20.00–20.15 A new chapter for Humane Society International Jeff Flocken, president, Humane Society International
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Petras Auštrevičius – Member of the European Parliament Petras Auštrevičius is a Lithuanian politician, diplomat and a Member of the European Parliament of the ALDE/Renew Europe since 2014. He has been an advocate for EU foreign policy, security, transport, human rights and animal welfare. As supporter of animal welfare policy, he initiated the People for Animals movement in the Lithuanian Parliament. In the European Parliament, he is a vice president of the Intergroup on the welfare and conservation of animals, and he actively promotes EU values and global influence. |
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Ruud Tombrock – Executive Director, HSI/Europe Ruud Tombrock, a Dutch and British national, has been leading Humane Society International/Europe since September 2017. With a background (MA) in social psychology, Ruud spent a decade in senior leadership roles at the Netherlands Red Cross, the American Red Cross, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before transitioning to the animal welfare sector. He previously served as country director for WSPA (now World Animal Protection) Netherlands and later as Europe director for World Animal Protection from 2012 to 2016. Since 2016, Ruud has been a member of the Dutch National Council on Animal Affairs, advising the minister on animal welfare and health issues. |
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Tetiana Yeskova – Head of project management office, Ukrainian Red Cross Society Tetiana Yeskova, head of the project management office of the URCS, has over a decade of project management experience across the NGO and business sectors. With a degree in construction engineering, she has led a wide range of projects, including construction and industrial initiatives, organisational transformations and digital innovation. Since 2022, Tetiana has focused on strengthening humanitarian project management at the URCS by developing tailored frameworks to enhance operational capacity and ensure efficient execution. Her work aims to optimise operations, meet donor expectations and achieve consistent outcomes in complex humanitarian environments. |
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Paolo Dalla Villa Paolo Dalla Villa is an Italian veterinarian, recognised as an EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law. In 2020, he joined the WOAH Sub-Regional Representation in Brussels to provide technical assistance on disaster management and animal welfare. He now serves in the WOAH Standards Department in Paris, supporting global disaster management efforts. From 2012 to 2015, he has been working at the European Commission’s DG SANTE, in charge of development and implementation of the EU policies on animal welfare, in international cooperation and the protection of companion animals. As head of the Head of Human-Animal relationship and Animal Welfare Laboratory at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G.Caporale" in Italy/WOAH Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare in Europe, Paolo coordinated research projects and provided technical support, training and capacity-building for Veterinary Services globally. He also led the Italian Reference Centre for Veterinary Urban Hygiene and Non-Epidemic Emergencies, managed the secretariat of the WOAH Veterinary Emergencies Network and coordinated veterinary emergency responses during major natural disasters in Italy in 2009, 2016 and 2017. |
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Jeff Flocken – President, Humane Society International Jeff Flocken leads Humane Society International’s efforts to combat animal cruelty and promote welfare in over 50 countries. He collaborates with international teams of campaigners, scientists and legal experts to advocate for animals worldwide. Previously, Jeff served as the North American regional director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare and worked with the U.S. government on global species conservation policy and grant programs. He has also consulted on various media projects related to wildlife conservation. Jeff is actively involved in several conservation organisations, including the Jaguar Conservation Fund and the GRACE Gorilla Sanctuary. He is the founder of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders initiative and co-author of the award-winning book, Wildlife Heroes. |