“Someone Who Was Rejected by Everyone — Except You”: The Lukas Shelter Rescues Forgotten Animals

Put to sleep, thrown out, forgotten — this is the fate of many animals each day. Animal cruelty is, unfortunately, common. Compassion can often take a back seat to cruelty. 

But not for everyone. Orda.kz tells the story of Anna Sobolevskaya, a former beauty salon owner who sold her business and opened a shelter that turns no one away.

Feels Like Home

Long before founding the Lukas Shelter, Anna Sobolevskaya had been rescuing animals.

After moving from Uzbekistan, she worked as a stylist in Kazakhstan and kept rescued animals in rented apartments. When the pandemic hit and business slowed, she sold her salon and moved to the countryside — not for peace and quiet, but to find space for a future shelter.

A big plus of the village: people are used to animals living here — sheep, geese, etc. So we don't really stand out... It has been with me since childhood — it's the way it is in our family. Grandma always brought kittens, puppies with tears: 'Monsters, they threw them out.' We nursed them, fed them. And my mother is the same way,
Anna says. 

Today, the Lukas Shelter is home to 43 dogs, 36 cats, a donkey, and a ram. Many have difficult pasts.

Anna’s vision was a home-like shelter, where animals could be socialized for adoption.

Anna’s mother is her only help. At 66, she refuses to retire, living in a small neighboring house and working each morning with the animals.

I didn't really count on such a large number of animals... Now, of course, everything has gotten out of control, but it's impossible to control it, because your heart can't take it anyway,
 Anna says.

Only three cats have been adopted in the past six months. Many people call asking for animals like objects — “a dog for security,” “a cat to catch mice.”

If they call me and ask for an animal as if it were some kind of thing... immediately no. This means that this animal will suffer the same unfortunate fate... I give them away only if the animal is taken as a friend, as a family member. 

Anna keeps track of all animals after adoption. But sometimes adoptions end in tragedy. She recalls when adopted animals died not from illness, but neglect:

I've had many unsuccessful adoptions, I took many animals back, some I couldn't — they died... It's very painful morally. It's not so painful when you fight and lose to death, but it's painful when some scoundrel... treats it like trash. 

Cruelty

Anna also investigates animal cruelty. She helped expose two illegal dog slaughterhouses.

We solved two slaughterhouses... more than a thousand dog corpses... The cases were closed despite the fact that we knew for sure that capture was involved.

One slaughterhouse was found in Qarasay District with cutting tables; another in Talgar District, where volunteers found only skins. She believes the meat went to local businesses.

They took everything that could be used as food... and threw the heads and skins into the burial area... The police said: 'We understand everything, but... they told us to shut it down.' 

Anna shared footage of the findings on Instagram. The videos are disturbing.

Meanwhile, illegal dogfighting continues.

We have an international tournament in Kazakhstan. They bring dogs from the Caucasus, China, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. Entire stadiums, rings, spectators, cups... Then these Alabai end up on the streets and attack children. And if we are not going to follow them, then officially allow them. Let everyone know what level of development we are at. Everyone scares me: 'They will kill you. You are getting into where the big money is.' Let them. It will be a precedent. I will still speak out,
 Anna says.

“Want a Pet? Pay Taxes.”

Anna supports taxation, regulation, and licensing for pet ownership.

I was again pelted with tomatoes (for the tax proposal - Ed.). But some animal rights activists and people who keep animals supported me. Many wrote: 'Where will these taxes go?' Let's demand dog parks in return, some free veterinary care, at least for the poor.

The shelter often receives abandoned pets. Anna recalls Laska, a three-legged dog tossed out post-treatment:

A month later, a subscriber calls me: 'We found a three-legged dog on the street.' January, minus 27. And I know this dog. 'She's been living with us for a week, we haven't kicked her out, but we haven't let her into the house,' the subscriber said. I took her back. 

Anna also advocates licensing for dangerous breeds:

When I realized that this was an Argentine Dogo... I said that I would not give this dog away. Because she is 100% from fighting parents... this is a real weapon in your hands.

Jacob The Donkey and Other Survivors

Jacob the Donkey was found with an open leg fracture on a highway median. Anna and a friend stopped traffic and splinted his leg with a board and tape. Jacob is now recovering and will live in a children’s camp.

One elderly dog found near a highway is now living out his days at the shelter. Another case involved a dog with OCD who gnawed his own limbs. Doctors suggested euthanasia, but Anna chose to treat him.

After six months, he recovered.

Surviving on Donations

The shelter survives solely on donations. Monthly expenses total about 1.2 million tenge, plus 200,000–300,000 for emergency care. Sometimes, such costs can add up to half a million.

One-time donations and monthly supporters help, but it's never enough.

The shelter receives no state support. Grants exist on paper, but Anna hasn’t seen one:

I don't trust our government yet to contact them. But they don't offer to either. Apparently, they aren't trusting either. There are patrons, there are rare sponsors, but these are all one-off stories. Because a shelter is a bottomless pit. It's impossible to sponsor it for life. And until the government shifts responsibility from dogs to people, this will never end. 

Attempts at dialogue with local authorities failed. Anna once pitched a TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) program in a village, offering full support for sterilized animals.

"A Chance”

Anna doesn’t see herself as a hero. She has no vacations, no days off, no travel. Each morning begins with tails, paws, and eyes filled with hope.

I can get tired, I can cry from helplessness, but I will never be disappointed in what I do. Because everyone rescued is not just an animal. They are someone who was given a chance. Someone who was rejected by everyone — except you. 

Original Author: Alina Pak