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This is why it is so important for us to continue to our work in Greece. And the dogs that are pictured here are well off…there are so many more that are emaciated, sick or injured and need veterinary care. We are always accepting donations to help support our ongoing efforts with programs.

Special Dogster Report: Dogs of Greece Are Suffering Even More

Did you know that a recent survey showed 81% of employers offer annual paid time for employees to volunteer? Check with yours! You might get paid to volunteer on a Humanitourism adventure.

Did you make a New Year’s resolution to travel more? Give something back or make a difference? Maybe both? How about a Humanitourism™ adventure with Inside/Out in 2011?  Check out our 2011 opportunities on the website.

National Geographic Traveler recently contacted us for their 50 Trips of a Lifetime issue.  We are very excited about the trips we nominated, Nepal: Connecting People and Places in April 2011 and Greece: Zakynthos Sea Turtle Conservation in June 2011, for inclusion in this prestigious list.  Check out these fabulous new Humanitourism adventures for 2011 on our website!

A PET’S TEN COMMANDMENTS………

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.

10 On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can’t bear to watch. Don’t make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

Ironically there are many pet stores in Greece, yet thousands of street dogs and no shelters.  Often people will buy purebred dogs from these pet stores and later, when they find out the responsibility of being a pet owner or they go away on vacation, they will abandon these dogs into the streets.  I’d propose a tax on the animals pet stores sell that would fund sterilization and shelters that are necessary to address the issues that arise as a result.  The U.S. would benefit from such a tax as well.

Tomorrow is the official start of our Humanitourism adventure in Greece to help the dogs and cats and the people here who are trying to make a difference for them.  Our help for Greece overall, however, began immediately.  Just by traveling here, spending money locally, supporting locally owned businesses and the Greek economy, we are making a difference for Greece as a country, while we are helping the animals here.

Many people have cancelled plans to come to Greece because of the recent demonstrations in Athens that have been so highly publicized.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37231620/ns/travel-destinations/

But as this article states, so much of Greece’s economy depends on tourism.  So if Greece has any hope of recovery, it will be through its tourism industry.  Because of this, now may be the best time to express your thoughts on the treatment of animals here.  In the past, some people have called for boycotts on travel to Greece or themselves have not traveled here to protest the inhumane treatment of animals and the lack of appropriate animal welfare education and enforcement.  This has fallen on deaf ears previously.  Perhaps now, with so much at stake, your voice will be heard.

You can contact the department of tourism by email:  info_central@gnto.gr and info@gnto.gr.

Please consider being a voice for the animals here and write a polite note to tourism officials requesting a change in animal welfare before committing tourism dollars to Greece.  I’d suggest sending to both email addresses.  One is the tourism contact and one is the central office contact.

You can find background on the animal welfare crisis on our website at the bottom of this page:  http://www.theinsideandout.com/animal_welfare_greece_may_2010.html as well as on several group pages on Facebook and the Greek Animal Rescue and Greek Animal Welfare Fund websites.

Please help us support our local humane society doing some incredible work.  They have been able to find permanent homes for 84% of the animals taken in. This is an amazing statistic. It is not possible without the generosity of people who care about animals. Even if you don’t live locally consider supporting them. They are a model for shelters everywhere with the incredible work they do.

1+1=67,000.  One female dog and one male dog and their offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in 6 years.  This does not even take into account how many female dogs one male dog can fertilize.  It is easy to see why the problem of stray dogs worldwide is so overwhelming.  Within 6 months, stray populations can be reduced by 20% with effective spay/neuter programs.  The only solution to the problem of pet overpopulation is sterilization.  It is a realistic, achievable and humane goal.

More than 20 dogs and cats were the victims of poisoning last Thursday night in Arachova, Greece. The apathetic mayor apparently was reminded a year ago about his responsibilites and asked to launch a sterilization program (according to law 3170/2003) but his response was that the dogs are living just fine in their natural environment. Please write and protest politely about this and remind him of his responsibilities for stray animals and ask that this awful poisoning incident be investigated and the culprit punished. This is the mayor’s details: Georgios-Leontios Andreou, email address: arachova@otenet.gr , fax number 22673-50250, address Arachova, 32004, Voiotia, Greece. For the ones who want to complain by phone from Greece: 22673-50200