Rostov animal activist free as shelter death toll mounts
In December, residents of Rostov were shocked by what was happening at the «Forgotten Hearts» animal shelter.
No restraining measure has yet been imposed on Tatiana Makarova, the organizer of the animal shelter «Forgotten Hearts,» a source told 161.RU. In December, hundreds of dead animals were found in the shelter. Cats and dogs died from diseases and starvation.
According to the source, a restraining measure cannot yet be imposed on Makarova. She is in the hospital.
«Makarova is in a medical facility. Therefore, no restraining measure has been imposed yet,» the source told 161.RU.
For now, the head of «Forgotten Hearts» is suspected only of animal cruelty. At the end of 2025, volunteers entered the shelter and found hundreds of corpses of cats and dogs. The animals died from starvation and infections. Some of them were rescued by animal rights activists.
Volunteers told 161.RU that against Makarova a fraud case might also be opened. She collected funds for medicine and food for the animals. However, according to animal rights activists, she provided no accounting. And the animals themselves did not receive treatment or food. Now, to highlight the situation, volunteers are preparing an appeal to the State Duma.
Police in Rostov Oblast have opened a hotline for those who can provide information about the shelter. Law enforcement agencies are collecting data on donations to Makarova and on animals that she took in for fostering.
