[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 168 (Monday, September 27, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H5180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING MAXIM SKRIPNIK AND GOSTOMEL ANIMAL SHELTER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor today to 
recognize Maxim Skripnik and the Gostomel Animal Shelter, an amazing 
individual and an amazing organization.
  The Gostomel Animal Shelter, located just outside of Kiev, Ukraine, 
is serving homeless animals in Ukraine, both in Kiev and outside.
  As the co-chair of the Ukraine Caucus here in Congress, Madam 
Speaker, I recently visited that country, and one of my many stops was 
at the Gostomel Shelter. This was originally established by the Kyiv 
Society for the Protection of Animals. For the past 20 years, the 
Gostomel Shelter has rescued abandoned animals off the streets of 
Ukraine, nursed them back to health, and gave them a second chance at 
life.
  The shelter is operated by Maxim, who graciously gave me a tour of 
the facility during my visit to Ukraine. Maxim has devoted his entire 
life to providing care for these vulnerable animals.
  Madam Speaker, there are an estimated 50,000 stray animals on the 
streets of Ukraine. This poses a considerable risk to the welfare of 
the animals and the overall public health of the community. The future 
for the majority of these vulnerable and abandoned and animals is 
bleak, but the Gostomel Shelter provides them with the opportunity to 
find a loving forever home.
  Since its inception, the Gostomel Shelter has advocated for their 
animals and promoted humane methods of controlling the ever-growing 
population of stray animals. Each victory, no matter how small, creates 
an environment more accepting of these vulnerable animals and proves 
that they can be rehabilitated and adopted into loving families.
  The shelter, which is housed in a former cowshed, provides 
safekeeping for up to 700 stray and abandoned dogs and cats. In 2006, 
the shelter established a veterinary hospital and rehabilitation 
center, which is now one of the largest in all of Ukraine. Here, 
homeless animals are sterilized, after which they undergo compulsory 
rehabilitation in a hospital and return to the shelter where they await 
their forever homes.
  Madam Speaker, the Gostomel Shelter, Maxim, and KSPA do not have 
reliable sources of funding and permanent employees. They often rely on 
public donations and volunteers to provide food and medicine to the 
animals.
  During my visit, I witnessed firsthand how Maxim and these volunteers 
work tirelessly, literally around the clock, to ensure these innocent 
animals have a second chance.
  Madam Speaker, I applaud the incredible work being done by Maxim and 
all the volunteers of the shelter. I paid a visit to the mayor of Kiev 
to relay all of my experiences and the positive impact that Maxim and 
those volunteers are making, and I wanted to formally recognize them 
here in this Chamber.

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