Shelter Organizer Under Probe for Animal Deaths and Fraud

In December 2025, hundreds of dead cats and dogs were discovered at the «Forgotten Hearts» animal shelter in Rostov. According to information, the animals died from infectious diseases and prolonged starvation.

The shelter organizer, Tatiana Makarova, has still not been placed under any restrictive measures. According to a source, this is because she is currently undergoing treatment at a medical facility. «Makarova is in a medical institution. Therefore, no restrictive measure has been chosen yet,» the source said.

Makarova is suspected of animal cruelty. Additionally, animal rights activists point to signs of fraud: she collected donations for food and treatment of the pets but did not report on expenses, and the animals themselves did not receive necessary assistance.

To draw attention to the situation, volunteers are preparing an appeal to the State Duma. Law enforcement agencies in the Rostov region have opened a hotline for collecting information about the shelter«s activities and the funds transferred.