When the war with Russia swallowed his Ukrainian town, Andrea Cisternino was given the same choice as everyone else: run or survive.
He chose something harder.
Inside his shelter were nearly 400 dogs with nowhere to go. No cars. No fuel. No safe roads. As bombs fell and electricity disappeared, Andrea stayed. He locked the gates — not to keep danger out, but to keep his promise in.
Food ran low. Water froze. He rationed every meal, melted snow to drink, and slept beside the kennels so the dogs wouldn’t feel abandoned. In short, shaky videos, the world saw fear, hunger, and a man who refused to leave.
Those videos reached millions. Help crossed borders. Donations came. Volunteers risked their lives. Slowly, supplies arrived. Four hundred dogs lived because one man decided their lives mattered as much as his own.
War measures power in land and weapons.
This story measures it in responsibility.
Sometimes courage isn’t escaping.
Sometimes it’s staying where love already exists.
Weird World
My Commentary:
When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Italian-born Andrea Cisternino remained at his animal sanctuary near Kyiv rather than abandon the roughly 400 animals in his care. They included not only dogs, but cats, horses, cows, and other rescued animals.
There is something wonderfully Franciscan about that choice. Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis saw creation differently. Animals were not simply possessions. They were fellow creatures of the same Creator — part of the magnificent family of God’s creation.
War reveals humanity at its worst: destruction, fear, displacement, and suffering. But even in war, love can reveal humanity at its best.
Andrea could not stop the bombs. He could not end the war. But he could protect the lives God had placed in his care.
Perhaps that is where Christianity always begins — not with asking whether we can save the whole world, but whether we will care for the piece of the world God has placed before us. Jesus said, “Not one sparrow is forgotten before God.”
If God notices the sparrow, surely His followers should notice the frightened dog, the abandoned animal — and especially every frightened, displaced, suffering human being.
Sometimes courage means running from danger. Sometimes courage means staying.
And sometimes holiness is simply this: remaining where love needs you.
Think about what a dog, a cat or another animal has taught YOU about life and about God’s creation.
GOD GIVES YOU THINGS TO SHARE. GOD DOESN’T GIVE YOU THINGS TO HOLD!
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