'Puppy angel on earth': B.C. man killed while on volunteer animal rescue mission in Ukraine

B.C.'s animal rescue community is grieving the death of a Sooke man who was killed in Ukraine Sunday.

Jesse Adams, co-founder of RainCoast Dog Rescue Society, was evacuating animals from Kramatorsk, a city in eastern Ukraine, when he was killed, according to Animal Rescue Kharkiv (ARK).

"An enemy FPV [first-person view] drone attacked our vehicle, which had just been loaded with rescued animals," ARK said in a post on Facebook.

Adams, who volunteered with ARK as an animal rescue mission worker, was severely injured and taken to a local hospital.

"Tragically, despite their best efforts, they were unable to save his life," ARK said.

The organization said Adams had rescued hundreds of animals with them, calling him kind and compassionate.

"When someone travels halfway around the world and chooses to work beside you in some of the most difficult conditions, it means more than words can say."

This B.C. man was rejected from military service in Ukraine. Now, he's saving pets hurt and abandoned by war

Langford resident Chadalee Howie got her dog Winston from Adams in 2024, and said he was an amazing, kind-hearted person.

She said Adams paid for the first bag of puppy food and gave her a gift certificate for groceries.

"To just run away to one of the world's most dangerous places and start rescuing animals, that's who he is."

Penny Stone, executive director of the Victoria Humane Society, said Adams was a "go-to guy" if they needed help.

"There was no animal too small, too big, too scary, too aggressive," Stone said.

Even while in Ukraine, Adams was still doing adoptions and taking calls for RainCoast, Stone said.

"He loved animals, but he also loved people," she said.

"He'll be remembered as an animal rescuer, but he certainly had a lot more good qualities than just that."

Emma Hamill, regional manager of animal care services for the B.C. SPCA who worked with Adams in Victoria, described him as collaborative and open-minded.

She said he had a gift for reaching vulnerable people, particularly in remote areas where larger organizations can be limited.

"His power to build relationships and help people and animals together was such a big piece of his legacy," Hamill said.

Rescues with international reach

Lori Kalef, director of programs for SPCA International and Adams' longtime friend, said she first met him in 2013 when rescuing a dog from Iraq.

"The dog was very, very difficult and had behavioural issues, so I was given Jesse's name right away," Kalef said.

Two hours later, Kalef said, he showed up and said, "no problem."

He adopted the dog and called him Teddy, Kalef said.

She said Adams worked in rescues all over the world and at home.

Kalef added that he was instrumental in helping evacuate almost 300 dogs and cats from Afghanistan in 2021 when the government collapsed and the Taliban took over.

Kalef said Adams connected various groups and planned a temporary makeshift shelter for the animals at Vancouver International Airport.

Planeload of abandoned dogs and cats from Afghanistan arrives in Vancouver

Once Adams started working, Kalef said, there was no turning back.

"Every single animal was 'muffin' or 'sweetheart.' Every single dog that was blind or deaf, he handled with the utmost love, like they were his animals."

RainCoast helped find homes for most of the dogs rescued from Afghanistan, Kalef said.

"He had a footprint — and a pawprint — in so many areas in the world."

On Oct. 20, Adams shared a message on his Instagram account describing his travels to the "frontline city of Kramatorsk in Eastern Ukraine."

He said the group helped evacuate 80 dogs and cats.

A week after war broke out in Ukraine, these volunteers started to rescue pets trapped in apartments

"These poor animals do not understand war and are simply innocent victims of another country invading Ukraine," wrote Adams last Tuesday. "Each day more and more innocent civilians and animals are injured or killed by drones, bombs, and missile attacks."

"It breaks my heart that we even have to do this type of work, but it is my privilege and honor to be a small part of helping these animals reach a better life for themselves and their families, or to be adopted into new families."

Stone said Adams died a hero and "doing what he loved to do."