“We don’t just sell pet supplies — we also care for stray animals, thanks to the Ukrainian Red Cross” — Oleh, participant in the Reboot programme

Before the war, Oleh Bondarenko owned a pet shop in Bilozerka, Kherson region. It was his lifelong passion, but the invasion changed everything: he had to leave his hometown, and the business he had spent 15 years building was destroyed.

A new chapter began for Oleh and his family in the Uman district, where he returned to his passion and opened a new pet shop, Le Murrr.

Oleh learned about the Reboot programme at the Uman Employment Centre, where specialists provided information on opportunities for internally displaced people and local residents. Together with his wife, he developed a business plan to expand their pet shop and applied for a grant through the programme.

After their microgrant was approved, the couple used the funds to expand their product range, improve storage conditions, and enhance customer service. Le Murrr operates as a retail pet shop, offering a range of products including food, hygiene products, accessories, toys, clothing, and other essentials for cats, dogs, rodents, and ornamental birds. The shop also supports people who care for stray animals.

Stories like this are about more than business. They are about regaining a sense of home when those you love are by your side — even if they are small, four-legged friends. For the Reboot programme, implemented by the Ukrainian Red Cross with the support of the Spanish Red Cross, Oleh Bondarenko’s story demonstrates how timely assistance can provide a second chance for people forced to rebuild their lives from scratch.