TRIP DETAILS:
See our trip blog from our 2009 Humanitourism™ adventure on FetchDog at: FetchDog Blog
and on Matador Travel at: Matador Blog
Trip Photos on Facebook: Greece Humanitourism™ Adventure June 2009
GREECE: May 21-31, 2010
$2795
This trip is a rewarding hands-on experience in making a difference in the lives of animals and the people who help them. Despite the conditions that exist for dogs in Greece, you will be uplifted by the tangible opportunity to make an impact. You will spend the first part of your trip volunteering together with locals at KAZ, an incredible animal shelter and rehabilitation facility near Athens, working on shelter improvements, and then travel to Ioannina in northern Greece to continue the educational work we began in 2009. Efforts in Ioannina will be focused on a leaflet campaign with the local university population but may also include other assistance work, such as spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping, care for sick or injured dogs and feeding programs.
Our contacts all speak English so there is no need to be concerned about a language barrier. No special skills or knowledge
are required for the assistance projects. Anyone who has a desire to
help is welcome. If you do have special skills in any of these areas,
we can find
additional ways of incorporating those into the project.
Following our work in Ioannina, we will
embark on an adventure tour of the beautiful mountainous region,
sampling activities in the local area, ripe with opportunities in
trekking, rafting, sea kayaking/canoeing, culture and history. The area is known for its rich history, geographic variety and spectacular scenery. Historic regions offer a rare glimpse of life in ancient Greece. We will be joined on our adventure by local guides who have explored the area extensively throughout their lives and have an intimate knowledge of the landscape.
Ioannina is in the Zagoria region, a magnificently beautiful part of the country. While foreigners vacation in the islands, the Greeks vacation in Zagoria. It is an amazingly beautiful part of the country and offers a different perspective on Greece than the highly touristed areas.
When we return to Athens, we will have an amazing group dinner with animal welfare advocates in the Athens region to be inspired by their commitment and ongoing tireless efforts to make change in their own country.
You may also have the opportunity to adopt a dog from Greece or to transport rescue dogs to homes in your country of residence.
A portion of proceeds from the trip will also be
earmarked for the projects. We also welcome donations below. We've been able to donate veterinary supplies with past donations and continue to work toward providing additional veterinary supplies and other desperately needed items.
Reserve your spot on this trip by registering now. Limit
of 12 participants, so register early. Slots are filled on a first come
first served basis. A $500 deposit is required for registration.
Pay your deposit securely and easily using Amazon Payments. You can use your existing Amazon.com account if you have one. You can also use your PayPal account and send payment to payments @ theinsideandout.com.
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ITINERARY
FRI 5/21/10 -- Arrive in Athens, meet local animal
welfare advocates and visit KAZ shelter
Overnight in Porto Rafti district of Marcopoulo near Athens
SAT 5/22/10 -- Participate in Project at KAZ shelter
Overnight in Porto Rafti district of Marcopoulo near Athens
SUN 5/23/10 -- Participate in Project at KAZ shelter
Overnight in Porto Rafti district of Marcopoulo near Athens
MON 5/24/10 -- Participate in Project at KAZ shelter
Overnight in Porto Rafti district of Marcopoulo near Athens
TUE 5/25/10 -- Travel to Ioannina, meet animal welfare workers
Overnight in Kastro district of Ioannina
WED 5/26/10 -- Participate in Project in Ioannina, doing educational and informational work
Overnight in Kastro district of Ioannina
THU 5/27/10 -- Flat water kayak in Lake Pamvotida (brief lesson provided prior) with lunch on an island and a monastery visit
Leaflet distribution at university
Overnight in Kastro district of Ioannina
FRI 5/28/10 -- 1/2 day Rafting on Voidomatis River
Short trek from Ano Kildonia to Papingo
Overnight in Papingo
SAT 5/29/10 -- Trek from Papingo to Vikos, soak in mineral pools
Overnight in Papingo
SUN 5/30/10 -- Travel to Athens, Dinner in Athens with animal welfare workers in the Athens and surrounding areas
Overnight in Athens
MON 5/31/10 -- Send off or extra day in Athens
Background
The Greek government provides little or no enforcement of laws for the protection of
animals against cruelty, and there are few facilities to provide
shelter, food and care for the thousands of stray and abandoned dogs
roaming both the cities and villages. Spaying and neutering have only recently been introduced
and are infrequent practices. Many Greek vets are not trained for the
surgeries and of those that are, most are not inclined to provide any volunteer services for stray and street animals. It is also difficult for vets from other countries to be allowed to provide volunteer services.
People often ignore sick or injured animals, or shoot or
poison them. The healthy ones are also at risk. Those that are
considered a nuisance, which are many, are poisoned with pesticides,
rat poison or ground glass, all horribly inhumane and painful deaths.
Some of these "exterminations" are done by the local municipalities.
Recently, there have been dogs found hanged in trees, an equally
unconscionable death.
A very few dogs are lucky enough to be rescued by
volunteers from the few ad-hoc animal welfare groups in Greece, people
who love them and hope to find them homes in Germany, the United
Kingdom and the United States. But funding is scarce and support from
the government is non-existent.
The KAZ Shelter is an incredible facility south of Athens with dedicated volunteers who work to rescue, treat and rehabilitate countless animals. With much struggle and sacrifice KAZ acquired 2.5 acres of land, where a shelter and surgical facility has been partially constructed. Today the first wing of the shelter is ready and in use, with permanently built pens for the animals who are housed there.
The intention of KAZ was to be a temporary halfway house, if you will, for sick and injurend rescued animals, however, with the abundance of strays and the resulting maladies, the facility has had to take on a role as a sanctuary as well. KAZ is in need of improvements to fulfill this role, and we will be helping them to accomplish this. Local animal rescuers will come to join us to work hand-in-hand on this project so that you will be able to interact with them during your time on the project. Most are english-speaking.
Check out some of KAZ's success stories here: KAZ Successes
And some of the amazing work they have done rescuing and rehabilitating their current residents: KAZ Adoptions
Mary O'Connor and a handful of other local animal
advocates care for dogs that are living on the streets or in the dumps
in Ioannina, located in the beautiful mountainous region of Zagoria on
the central mainland. They have no land to provide a shelter, but work
tirelessly making rounds to feed, care for and love all of the homeless
dogs in the area. She provides help in getting some spayed and
neutered. Mary and her friends have personally adopted and fostered
numerous dogs. They work with Greek Animal Rescue and other groups to
place the dogs in homes in other countries. There are few opportunities
for adoption within Greece.
Please consider a donation of any amount to help us fund this project and cause. Your donation can help provide food, shelter, veterinary treatment, rehoming and a change of destiny for dogs in Greece.
You can also join our Cause on Facebook.
To find out more about the following
organizations, click on the logos.
 Please
visit the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation website to read the prologue in
this Greek Tragedy and support their mission to promote the
health and welfare of dogs worldwide, focusing on homing, health issues
and humane treatment. Special thanks to everyone at Camp Bow Wow and
the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation for their work in uncovering this
overlooked atrocity that continues in Greece and connecting us with
these amazing people.
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