These dogs are just two of TWELVE dogs poisoned
in one area last week.
They had been looked after for the past five years by a colleague,
they were all sterilized, vaccinated, fed regularly and were no
trouble at all. THIS ACT IS ILLEGAL IN GREECE, but no one cares and
the authorities try to turn a blind eye.We are contacting the Greek Embassy in London to complain so
please, if you can, email them your distain also.Unless we shout about it nothing will change.Greece gives a whole new meaning to 'street cleaning'
and tourists should be aware of what goes on
At the beginning of this year, 6 tiny pups were bundled into a crate
in Aegina and tossed into a wooded ravine on a cold, wet night.Fortunately, their squeals were heard and, after several
hours of searching, they were all found and taken into care.Here are 3 of them and they are all fine and looking for
loving homes!
'Did these 2 Greek Dogs win the Lottery?'
'No, Dennis and Ruby just found a great home in the UK!
What's Happening In Greece.
Old Bill was taken to a vet near Athens and the owner never came
back for him.Hence, he was
left in a cage for weeks.He
is very arthritic and just needs a bit of love.
ANOTHER POOR SOUL FOUND WANDERING IN AEGINA.
Two dogs were thrown onto the streets in Aegina last summer and one
was lucky enough to be taken into care by colleagues after a couple
of months and has now made a full recovery.However, his brother was not so lucky and was lost for more
than 6 months. He was
captured in the middle of March
2013 (still with the string attached to his
neck) and reunited with his brother, they were very happy to see
each other. Let's hope he makes a recovery also.
We recently organized and funded another cat
neutering campaign but the volunteers' car broke down.They didn't give up, they used their bikes instead!
For the very first time in Greece, a man has
been sentenced and fined for instigating (and not perpetrating)
animal abuse.On 1 Oct,
a dog owner was sentenced in court to one year imprisonment (
suspended for 3 yrs) and a fine of 5000 Euros, for ordering a worker
to chain his dog to his car and drag it until 'it melted away'.
Perhaps this shows a glimmer of hope for animal welfare in Greece as
many people reported the incident.As a result, the court case was heard and the dog has
survived.
NAMED AND SHAMED IN 2012
Pika was found on the mountainside in Zakynthos where she had been
dumped in a starved, neglected condition and with dreadful sores.She is now in care and such a sweet, trusting dog despite her
experience and hopefully she will recover.
Three years ago my wife and I retired to a
wonderful spot in Greece. We have been shocked to find lots of pups
discarded wet and hungry in dustbins. So far we have taken in about
15. The locals think we are crazy interfering with the normal way of
things.
Yesterday some kind soul fed poisoned food to our dogs, four had to
be taken to the vet, hopefully they will recover. This type of thing
needs to be given much more attention in the media. Greece needs
tourists but this type of thing will put them off coming here.
The law in Greece 4039/2012 states that a dog'MUST LIVE IN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT ADAPTED TO HIS NEEDS'.When visiting Greece it is inevitable that you will see dogs
on a very short chain, usually with no shelter, food or water so
PLEASE COMPLAIN TO THE POLICE as this is illegal and you are within
your rights to try and do something about it.The misery of chained dogs is poignantly described in this
prose written by a Greek animal lover so please don't ignore them.
CREATURES OF THE METRE
Here I am I
am not sure where that is, but I am not alone,
There are many of us,
If I could
count, then I could tell you how many, but I don’t know how and I
don’t understand
But one thing
I know is that this is a good place,
I am warm I am
free to run, to roll, to cuddle up and sleep with the others here
like me.
These are
happy times, of this I am sure.
Then, one day
I was taken from there, away from the others, I was afraid.
I was not very
big, how big I do not know.
I was taken to
a place, a rope was placed around my neck and the other end to a
tree.
I do not know
how long the rope is because I don’t know these things,
But I do know
that when I jump, it just pulls me back in mid-air.
My neck lunges
backward and my feet leave the floor.
I do this
every time someone passes by, I hope that one day someone will
realize that I am not happy on my rope.
I do not know
what my purpose is, here beneath the tree
I have to do
my daily business where I am and sometimes it is beneath my feet
where I sleep.
I am not the
only Creature of the Metre.
I talk all
night to the other Creatures of the Metre that also have a small
space of freedom.
Sometimes
others join in, Creatures without Borders, as we Creatures of the
Metre call them.
They tell
strange stories of how they go for runs in the big forest, swim in
the huge water called the sea, they even say they ride in cars.
They say they
are not on a rope but free, that man loves them,
Now that I
know what love is, I do not understand such things, but we Creatures
of the Metre do not believe these tales from the Creatures without
Borders
How could they be true?
But, every day as I try to catch the eye of man, I would pray if I
know how, that one day I will become a Creature without Borders.
One night while driving home from a back road we saw a starving
puppy in the corner of a neighbour's driveway. The next day we left
for a trip. One week later I took a walk and saw the puppy still
there. I brought him food and water. He was too weak to walk but
managed. The next two days we fed her and she began to get stronger
and even began wagging her tail when she saw us. The neighbours
caught us feeding her and told us they had called the 'demo' to
collect her. They never came. They gave my fiancé' the number and we
called the next day.
An animal control man picked up the dog the next day and told us she
would be examined, vaccinated, and sterilized. We called the next
day and were told she was healthy and was too young to be sterilized
so they would keep her until she was.
A week later we called and asked to see the dog and was told later
that we could not because she was not "an exhibit". We were assured
she was doing fine. A few days later we called again to ask to see
the dog because we wanted to take her with us. We were referred to
the Dimarxio for any information and a "program".
We went and spoke to a woman on the 3rd floor who told us the dogs
are kept in Perithori outside of Tripoli for adoption. I made a
comment that I was concerned about animals because I'm an foreigner
and not Greek citizen. She apparently took offence and told me the
stray dog problem is due to British citizens buying dogs for
protection and abandon them. I told her I didn't believe her. She
became agitated and stated the EU passed a law that will require all
sheltered animals be released, that Greeks will have to release the
dogs into the streets. They don't want to do it but will have to. I
told her I thought that sounded odd but she assured me it was true.
My fiance' took me by the hand and led me out before I could send
her and her entire family to hell.
We called the number she gave us and was told by the same man, Mr.
Mariolas, that we could not visit the compound where the dogs were.
He asked us what kind of dog we wanted, guard dog, shepherd dog etc.
We told him we were interested in a house dog. He said he had two
young white puppies that had not been sterilized and he would bring
them to us. He refused to have us go see the dogs or tell us where
they were kept. He told us he would get the dogs and bring them to a
location and he would tell us where when he called us later that
day. He never called. We called that evening and again the next day
but no one answered.
According to my fiance' every time he called it was the same man who
answered the phone, Mr. Mariolas, 694-549-0250.
I'm leaving Tues with a resolved determination to help and spread
the word.
Ellen (USA)
We were on holiday in Rhodes island in this July
and we are horrified how much there were cats and dogs without
home!!! Terrible!!! I have never seen that kind of situation before.
I will never travel to Greece again, I just can't. My heart is
broken. Can I do something to help those poor animals, I live in
Finland? I'm so happy here in Finland we don't have strays at all.
Please tell me what can I do, I'm sure all help is welcome.
DOG SHELTER IN CORFU
This disgusting shelter is supported by the
Municipality of Kerkyra - they just want to get the dogs off the
streets so the tourists don't see them!
The local authorities don't care as long as the tourists are happy.Help us to close it down. More information on
http://www.corfudogs.org/crises.htm
We have never seen such a
tortured little dog. Only a 5 kilo little boy.
Your eyes blind with dry blood on them. Your
body hairless and full of wounds. Your nails so huge that got into
your flesh... You must have not walked for years. You were abandoned
long before they left you tied in a cardboard next to a tree being
eaten alive by ants.
We took you immediately to the vet. Kalazaar (leismania)
and mange were the initial diagnosis. You devoured your food until
your last breath. Your photos on the Internet touched so many
people. Many people offered fostering and donated money for your
treatment, even a British Organization kindly offered to re-home you
in England where you would find your own loving family.
Ten days ago a Greek lady
offered you a home here in Athens and she has been expecting you
with her hug open widely. You would finally meet love, petting,
safety. As soon as you would come back from the vet, where you were
also diagnosed with hypothyroidism, she would take you home.
But you did not know. And your heart tortured by
such a neglect and suffering chose to fly away. You will be safe and
painless in dog's heavens now. We cannot believe how sudden you left
us, you have not prepared us. We will remember you with love and we
hope you felt our care as long as you lived near us.
Farewell our Dear Tom.''
Kiki Karathanassi, Friends of Animals Shelter
President.
This poor, very neglected little dog was found
by a volunteer in Aegina recently.She was taken to the dog shelter, shaved and cared for.She now looks totally different without her parasite
infested, matted coat.
This is a photo of a really badly matted dog and another photo of
her shaved - she now has a loving home in the UK.
This was Dionysis when his owners were reported
for neglect in Aegina earlier this year.Permission was gained to take him and he was cut free and
taken to the local dog shelter where he has been well cared for and
is now fully recovered.
Doesn't look like the same dog!
Cats
are routinely dumped in dustbins and these were found last week in
Skiathos.The bin bag was
securely tied but they were very much alive
Also,
in Skiathos last week, this poor soul was found at a feeding
station.She is totally
blind having either been hit by a car (although there are no other
injuries) or kicked in the face.
All currently in care with Skiathos Cat Rescue
The ‘owners’ of these poor animals have been identified on
Aegina
and will hopefully face prosecution for animal neglect.However, these photos could have been taken anywhere in
Greece
as this type of abuse is common place.
Dogs in Trikala have new kennels but not enough for everyone.If you would like to donate one for another lucky dog then
£80 will cover the cost.
VICTIMS OF THE GREEK FINANCIAL CRISIS
There has been plenty of publicity about
this over the past few months but there has been no mention of
the innocent victims - the animals.Here are some photos showing the level of neglect, abuse
and abandonment - all taken in the last few weeks.
LATEST VICTIMS OF THE EURO DEBT CRISIS
In the hills just outside the busy port
town of Rafina about twenty miles north east of Athens, Vasilis
Papandoniou has been running a successful rescue centre that
accommodates something in the order of one hundred and fifty
dogs. They range from mutts of all shapes and sizes to pedigree
Alsatians and Labradors. All these dogs have had the great
fortune to have been rescued from the streets of Rafina by
Vasilis and his small car.
In addition to his day job with the local authority Vasilis 49,
has volunteered his services to run the centre entirely on his
own, devoting hours of his free time.
Until last week the Rafina Council has provided funds for
the dogs feed in addition to vet nary costs. Without notice or
warning the axe has now fallen on this happy canine community.
No more money = NO MORE FOOD.
Vasilis, who has devoted most of his life to the care of dogs,
is devastated and stricken with panic. All his appeals to the
Rafina authorities have fallen on deaf ears.
"I'm desperate" says Vasilis, "It is not the fault of the local
authority, it's the whole economic mess.....every time I see the
dogs looking up at me, I can't think that they may all be
starving very soon."
Current food supplies are due to run out in the middle of
September. The food comes as a dry mix in twenty kilo sacks.
Each sack costs 11.75 Euros and the hungry dogs munch their way
through approximately eighty kilos a day.
George Christopoulos, the Mayor of Rafina confesses " It's true,
money is drying up all round and what was laid aside for the
dogs' food has run out until the beginning of next year when
there will be a new budget. We will then be joining up with our neighboring
local authority at Pikermi cutting administration costs. This
will provide more for local needs but for now my hands are tied.
There is nothing I can do for the dogs."
Friends and private individuals who know of ,Vasilis' brave work
with the dogs are all doing something to chip in, but this is in
no way enough. Vasilis is now appealing worldwide. At present,
most of the dogs are in good shape, neutered, vaccinated and
waiting to be adopted but food is the main priority for now.
' Friends of the Strays of Greece' have learnt of the dogs'
plight and are offering to channel any donations marked (Rafina
Strays) directly to providing the urgently needed food.
From: PHILIP WALKER. ATHENS
As a result of Strays of Greece fundraising dog walk recently,
we were able to organise a delivery of 2000 kilos of food to
this dog shelter.
Thank you to all concerned.
Unbelievable but 'normal' in Greece
This is how so many 'owned' Greek
dogs are kept.Chained in squalid conditions, starved
and neglected.Sadly, this is not unusual.The option is that the dog stays on the streets
and waits to be poisoned or shot - not much of a choice is it?This one only had clean water because the kind
person who took the photo gave it to her with some food.
MORE POISONINGS IN ATHENS
On
10 February 2011 someone spread a large quantity of poisoned
meat throughout the National Gardens in Athens.This area is 'home' to hundreds of cats
and many dogs that are dumped when their, so called, owners no
longer want them.The animals are sterilised, fed and generally
cared for by various voluntary groups and the animals pose no
threat to people.To her despair, one volunteer this
morning found the poison and 3 dogs were dead and numerous cats
dying.Someone must know who carried out this despicable
act and we would be very keen to prosecute this person for this
illegal action.Any information will be dealt with
confidentially. We cannot ignore this practice.
DOGS KEPT ON CHAINS
This barbaric way of life is still
common in Greece.
Thousands of dogs are still kept
chained up all their lives.This one managed to escape and was rescued by people who
care.The chain was imbedded so deeply into his neck
that he needed surgery to remove it (in the photo the chain is
on the operating table).Whilst we have seen this on many occasions, this is
clearly the worst example we have experienced.The dog was probably chained as a puppy but no
one bothered with him when he grew big - the chain stayed the
same size.Unbelievable but, sadly, true.
In September and October
we organised welfare visits to Greece.As a result, more than 200 animals received
essential veterinary treatment.Here are photos of some of the animals we
helped
PROTEST AGAINST ANIMAL POISONING IN GREECE
On Saturday 26 June at 8pm, protests
against dog and cat poisoning were held concurrently all over
Greece.We received reports from many supporters
saying how well their particular protest march went.The photo was taken in Aegina and
meetings were held with the local authorities and the police
during the following week in order to discuss the problem
further.Let's hope that this is the first very
important step for the law against poisoning to actually be
imposed and not ignored.
An Example of what we receive on a daily basis.
This
little dog was found on Friday.The house in Athens was empty - everyone had
moved out but they didn't take the little dog. Just left
him chained up to die on the end of a chain.Fortunately, a kind person heard him whimpering
and a colleague climbed the wall and rescued him.He was, as you can see, badly matted and starving
but is now doing well
Latest Victims of Poisoning in Halkidiki
Although the practice of poisoning animals is meant to be
illegal in Greece, the authorities are not interested in
following up such incidents – so the pain and suffering
continues.
Last week, these 3 dogs were found immediately their plight
became evident and they were saved by a local group.
Death by poisoning is horrific and unnecessary and we urge
people to report those responsible for such appalling acts.
Last week we received this
horrific photograph from a colleague in Crete. She had
organised some of the local stray cats to be sterilised.
The day after her operation, this poor soul was poisoned and
died a long and painful death. What is the point of
such barbaric actions? We must report people who do
this. It is unnecessary and illegal.
Subject:
STRAY DOGS IN ZANTE - URGENT PLEASE HELP!!!
Hi, we
have just returned from Zante – the stray dog situation there
was very very upsetting to us and I was wondering if you could
advise of a Centre/shelter or Organisation that I could contact
to try and help these poor dogs out please. They are the most
wonderful friendly dogs, none of them are spayed so all
reproducing obviously making the situation worse and worse. The
Hotel we were in was The Caravel in Zante and they are living
just down the road from this entrance in a wooden hut, the
tourists feed them at the moment, but we caught one of the
Restaurant owners kicking one of the dogs, and they are all out
in the road, it is an accident waiting to happen – some are
limping and all are thin – it is heart breaking, they still have
the good nature to come up to you with their tail wagging
hopeful of something to eat. There is a one year old amongst
them who has already had a litter of pups, the situation is so
dreadful to watch – could you please advise who I could contact
to see if I can help these poor dogs please – IS THERE AN
ORGANISATION IN GREECE TO HELP THESE POOR WONDERFUL KIND DOGS –
IT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE THEY ARE KIND LOVING DOGS LOOKING FOR
A HOME – PLEASE PLEASE HELP!
Many thanks
Suzanne Darby
Trying
to get a drink from the stand of an umbrella stand, and
we saw this dog being kicked by the waiter of the Indian
restaurant next to where this dog is lying – we went
absolutely mad with him – he may have been poisoned!.
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