The power of the dog and how pets are helping Ukrainians cope with war

https://www.npr.org/2022/03/12/ [login to see] /power-of-the-dog-ukraine-war-pets-russia
Stuffed in the back of the Nissan as he fled his hometown of Kharkiv, Ukraine, were two of Jake's most prized possessions: his Nintendo Switch and Puzo, his pet pug.

Jake, 31, is among scores of displaced Ukrainians who have refused to leave their animals behind due to the immense comfort and familiarity they've provided during a time of unprecedented turmoil caused by Russia.

"Every day, after the bombings would stop, I would get up and go to the room where [Puzo] was hiding and rub him. It was soothing," Jake, who asked for his last name to be withheld out of fear for his family, told NPR over Google Meet. "He would be snoring all the time and it would remind me of the peaceful times."

Those peaceful times were shattered for Jake, a network engineer, on Feb. 24. Jake was up late watching YouTube videos when he decided to tune into the emergency U.N. Security Council meeting.

As diplomats pleaded for Russia to back off, Jake shifted his focus to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had just gone on TV in his homeland to launch a military operation against Ukraine.