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A Ukraine-based animal rescue organization says a Canadian volunteer in the war-torn country has been killed in a drone attack.
Animal Rescue Kharkiv said Jesse Adams, founder of RainCoast Dog Rescue Society on Vancouver Island, died on Sunday after the “enemy drone” struck his vehicle as it was evacuating animals from Kramatorsk, close to the front line in the war with Russia.
A separate news release from SPCA International said Adams died while working to protect animals in one of the most dangerous regions in Ukraine.
It calls Adams a “hero to animals,” and says he had “endless energy, enthusiasm and compassion for making the world a kinder place.”
Animal Rescue Kharkiv said Adams was taken to hospital for emergency surgery but could not be saved.
The organization said it was an honour to work alongside Adams.
“Jesse joined our teams at Animal Rescue Kharkiv, travelling to front-line communities to save animals and help people,” it said in a social media post on Monday.
“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. There are hundreds of animals alive today because of him.”
In 2014, Adams co-founded the RainCoast Dog Rescue Society, a charity run by volunteers to help animals across Canada and abroad.
Canadian animal welfare groups have shared condolences.
The BC Animal Law Reform Coalition said in a statement that Adams had “selfless determination and energy” to save dogs from all corners of B.C., often in “dire circumstances.”
Northern Hope Dog Rescue Society said that Adams was their friend and “brother in rescue.”
It said Adams was the person “you could call when you needed help on a mission (who would) share the burden or simply be a shoulder to lean on when the weight of the work became too much.”
In a social media post dated Oct. 23, Adams said he was involved in an evacuation mission at a small village outside Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine, “super close to the front line of the war.”
Adams said he was helping a family to evacuate their animals from an area that was being hit daily by drones, bombs and missiles.
He said that when they arrived and started to load cows, dogs, cats and a pig into a van, a drone hit a nearby house.
SPCA International said they were fortunate to call Adams their friend and to have worked alongside him on animal rescue efforts around the world.
“There was never an animal who Jesse would refuse to save, no matter the circumstances,” their statement said. “We will never forget the hope he brought to animals and people facing their darkest moments.”
Michelle Singleton, founder of A Home for Hooves Farm Sanctuary near Duncan, B.C., said she has known Adams for at least seven years and their paths crossed again four years ago when he reached out to her about three male runner ducks that were at risk of being euthanized due to their history of aggression.
Singleton said Adams knew the ducks could be rehabilitated if they were placed in the “right situation.”
The ducks, named Kenzo, Kane and Idris, have been living at her sanctuary ever since, and anyone who meets them loves their “nonstop chattering and their unmistakable personalities.”
“He’s helped hundreds of animals and a lot of very difficult cases where the animal is incredibly sick, or they’ve been abused heavily, like he takes that on,” said Singleton.
“He had amazing relationships all over the world, but on Vancouver Island, he had a lot of really amazing relationships with different Indigenous communities,” said Singleton.
“He did everything he could to help animals in need.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27, 2026.
Nono Shen, The Canadian Press
