My journey with collies began in school, when the first show dog entered our home in 1996. By 2005, I had officially registered the kennel Top Less, and that same year we proudly celebrated our first national champion. What began as a childhood passion soon became my life’s work, shared with my husband, who loved dogs as deeply as I did. Together we bred healthy collies, showed them across Ukraine and abroad, and organized grooming projects and collie gatherings in our hometown of Luhansk. But in 2014, war came to our door. Soldiers stormed our house; I was beaten and left alone with our young daughter and our dogs, while my husband narrowly escaped. We fled with almost nothing but hope, moving from city to city, trying to build a safe life for our child and animals. We lost our home forever, but not our spirit. Then came February 24, 2022. Explosions shook us awake. My husband immediately joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and once again I was left with Maria, my mother, and more than a dozen dogs. Food was scarce, fear constant—yet kindness poured in from collie lovers around the world. Donations, food, medicine, even toys for Maria arrived, giving us strength to go on. Through all the chaos, the dogs remained my anchor. One of my collies, Suri, was sent to safety in the Czech Republic, where she gave birth to healthy puppies—a small light in the darkness. Later, in Western Ukraine, we built a modest new life: fencing paddocks, finding electricity, and enduring endless blackouts. We survived through community, resilience, and love. Today, in war-torn Mykolaiv, life is still difficult. The taps run dry, air raids are daily, and many families live with grief and fear. Yet I continue to care for my dogs, now with the addition of a small grooming studio. I listen to the stories of others who, like me, carry both pain and courage. My dogs are my joy, my duty, and my comfort. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but we continue to dream. One day, I hope to walk into Crufts—a dream I have carried for years. Until then, I remain grateful: for the kindness of collie friends around the world, for the support of Collies Without Borders, and for the solidarity of people who believe in peace and goodness. With love and hope,
 Nataly Shmatko