A dog-loving Ukrainian refugee is facing living on the streets with her four pet pooches as she claims she can't find anyone to take her in - after she claimed her current host family asked her to move on.
Anfisa Vlasova and her four Yorkshire Terriers moved in with a couple and their two dogs after fleeing war torn eastern city Kharkiv in May.
She was rehomed as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, where people in the UK volunteered to host Ukrainian refugees to live in their own homes for a minimum of six months.
Since then, she’s been living in the a village with a child-free retired couple and two of their own dogs.
But with the scheme on the brink of expiry, the couple asked her to move on with her four Yorkshire terriers Nora, Betty, Daisy and Teddy.
She told the Oxford Mail: "I’ve been living with a host family.
“They’ve accommodated me for the six months but they’re not willing to keep me there.
“It depends on the people. Some people would like to extend one year, unfortunately my host is not willing.”
Remarkably, Ms Vlasova has fled war twice, once from Donetsk in 2014, and again from Kharkiv this year.
In 2014, she fled when the Donetsk People’s Republic was declared, which sparked an occupation of the area by Russian forces and skirmishes between the Russian army, separatists, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
She said: “In 2014 I simply escaped from occupation. In Kharkiv there was very heavy shelling in the area where I rented my flat.
“I was expecting this war to finish, I didn’t expect it to get worse.”
As things stand, Anfisa and her pets must be out the house on Thursday, November 10.
She claims she has tried everything to find something in the vicinity, including reaching out on Facebook posts - but has become so desperate she's even contacted local churches.
She said: “I would like to stay in Reading, because I already know this place. It’s so difficult to adjust. I have managed to adjust so I would like to stay here.
“I’m looking for another host family or a pet-friendly landlord to rent from.
“It can be shared, as I know other Ukrainians who need housing so we can share together.
“I’m up for any of these options as long as it’s in Reading.”
But she said: “From my side I’ve already visited all the churches, left my contact details with the priests and have got in touch with agencies.
“I’ve also made posts on all Facebook groups I can get on.
“From my side it’s been a huge job but I still haven’t had any success yet.”
The Homes for Ukraine Scheme is still open and the council claim they are doing all they can to help Anfisa.
A spokesperson for South Oxfordshire District Council said: “We have been working closely with partner organisations, including other councils and the voluntary sector in assisting Mrs Vlasova to find suitable accommodation for her to move into from November.
“We continue to discuss the housing options and financial support available for Mrs Vlasova and will do what we can to find her and her dogs another home.”
