“Nova Poshta” Is Looking for a Dog: The Employees Who Kicked Her Out of the Branch Have Been Fired
7 August 16:54
Following an internal investigation, “Nova Poshta” fired the employees who chased a stray dog out of its branch in Ivano-Frankivsk during a heat wave. The company announced this after a video of the incident went viral on social media, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“We absolutely do not tolerate cruelty or disrespectful treatment of animals. What we saw in the video is completely contrary to our values. We are currently concluding an internal investigation and have reached the only possible decision—we are terminating our employment relationship with these employees,” the company said in a statement.
“Nova Poshta” stated that the company has always been animal-friendly.
“Nova Poshta” is a pet-friendly space. “Some of our branches are home to rescued cats that have become customer favorites; we install water bowls for animals, let them come inside to keep warm in the winter, and our branded boxes feature animals as a symbol of care,” the statement said.
In addition to the personnel decision, the company reported that its team on the ground is searching for the dog. Once the animal is found, it will be taken to a veterinary clinic in Hlevakha. “Nova Poshta” will cover the cost of a comprehensive examination and, if necessary, treatment.
The company also promised to provide additional guidance to its network employees on how to handle animals in similar situations.
Employees pushed the dog away
The video that prompted the internal investigation was posted on Threads. It shows employees at the freight department refusing to let a stray dog into the building and using a mop to push it back out onto the street.
Witnesses noted that the temperature outside at the time was 37 degrees. The company stated that the circulation of this video was the reason for the immediate internal investigation.
The Incident with the Dog at ATB
Last winter, a video circulated online showing a stray dog trying to enter the first entrance area near the shopping carts at one of the ATB stores in Dnipro to warm up. However, a security guard refused to let the animal in and, every time it tried to enter the premises, forced it back out onto the street. Following this, representatives of “ATB-Market” published photos of stray animals in their stores and announced that they were “updating internal protocols.”
In Ukraine, the rights and responsibilities of dog owners are regulated by the Law “On the Protection of Animals from Cruel Treatment” and local public order regulations. The owner is required to: provide the animal with food, veterinary care, and vaccinations; and prevent the animal from roaming freely or posing a threat to people or other animals. Whether a dog is allowed into a store or other public facility is determined solely by the management.
