B.C.’s animal rescue community is grieving the death of a Sooke man who was killed in Ukraine Sunday.
Jesse Adams, co-founder of RainCoast Dog Rescue Society, was evacuating animals from Kramatorsk, a city in eastern Ukraine, when he was killed, according to Animal Rescue Kharkiv (ARK).
“An enemy FPV [first-person view] drone attacked our vehicle, which had just been loaded with rescued animals,” ARK said in a post on Facebook.
Adams, who volunteered with ARK as an animal rescue mission worker, was severely injured and taken to a local hospital.
“Tragically, despite their best efforts, they were unable to save his life,” ARK said.
Jesse Adams is seen at RainCoast Dog Rescue Society in 2021. (Submitted by Lori Kalef)
The organization said Adams had rescued hundreds of animals with them, calling him kind and compassionate.
“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.”
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Langford resident Chadalee Howie got her dog Winston from Adams in 2024, and said he was an amazing, kind-hearted person.
“He’s like a puppy angel on earth.”
She said Adams paid for the first bag of puppy food and gave her a gift certificate for groceries.
“To just run away to one of the world’s most dangerous places and start rescuing animals, that’s who he is.”
Adams is seen in 2018 with one of the cats at the rescue. He was in Ukraine rescuing animals. (Submitted by Lori Kalef)
Penny Stone, executive director of the Victoria Humane Society, said Adams was a “go-to guy” if they needed help.
“There was no animal too small, too big, too scary, too aggressive,” Stone said.
Even while in Ukraine, Adams was still doing adoptions and taking calls for RainCoast, Stone said.
“He loved animals, but he also loved people,” she said.
“He’ll be remembered as an animal rescuer, but he certainly had a lot more good qualities than just that.”
Adams was remembered for rescuing a large number of animals on Vancouver Island and in Ukraine. (Submitted by Lori Kalef)
Emma Hamill, regional manager of animal care services for the B.C. SPCA who worked with Adams in Victoria, described him as collaborative and open-minded.
She said he had a gift for reaching vulnerable people, particularly in remote areas where larger organizations can be limited.
“His power to build relationships and help people and animals together was such a big piece of his legacy,” Hamill said.
Lori Kalef, director of programs for SPCA International and Adams’ longtime friend, said she first met him in 2013 when rescuing a dog from Iraq.
“The dog was very, very difficult and had behavioural issues, so I was given Jesse’s name right away,” Kalef said.
Two hours later, Kalef said, he showed up and said, “no problem.”
He adopted the dog and called him Teddy, Kalef said.
She said Adams worked in rescues all over the world and at home.
Jesse Adams is seen with Lori Kalef of the SPCA in this image. (Submitted by Lori Kalef)
Kalef added that he was instrumental in helping evacuate almost 300 dogs and cats from Afghanistan in 2021 when the government collapsed and the Taliban took over.
Kalef said Adams connected various groups and planned a temporary makeshift shelter for the animals at Vancouver International Airport.
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Once Adams started working, Kalef said, there was no turning back.
“Every single animal was ‘muffin’ or ‘sweetheart.’ Every single dog that was blind or deaf, he handled with the utmost love, like they were his animals.”
RainCoast helped find homes for most of the dogs rescued from Afghanistan, Kalef said.
“He had a footprint — and a pawprint — in so many areas in the world.”
On Oct. 20, Adams shared a message on his Instagram account describing his travels to the “frontline city of Kramatorsk in Eastern Ukraine.”
He said the group helped evacuate 80 dogs and cats.
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“These poor animals do not understand war and are simply innocent victims of another country invading Ukraine,” wrote Adams last Tuesday. “Each day more and more innocent civilians and animals are injured or killed by drones, bombs, and missile attacks.”
“It breaks my heart that we even have to do this type of work, but it is my privilege and honor to be a small part of helping these animals reach a better life for themselves and their families, or to be adopted into new families.”
Stone said Adams died a hero and “doing what he loved to do.”
