theinsideandout.com

A friend of mine who does animal welfare work on Crete in Greece recently posted the following:  “In Greece one is more free, but then people do whatever they want and no one cares. I find that most Greek people have little or no sense of responsibility. They have the attitude; I want to do it so I will and I don’t care what my actions do to you.”

Unfortunately, this attitude seems to extend to animals too, which may be part of the reason for such tragic conditions for animals in Greece, all animals — dogs, cats, horses, donkeys.  They are suffering from all types of impacts of this, including inhumane treatment, neglect, abuse, abandonment and apathy.

I also notice this in the way litter and garbage are so prominent in the countryside, and even in the cities, in Greece.

Is irresponsibility a price of freedom?

We have an exciting new partnership for Humanitourism™ in Greece! Students from the university in Ioannina, where we will be continuing our animal welfare education program started last year, want to join with us in our efforts. This is so exciting because young people are the hope for change in Greece. Work side-by-side with these students who are making change in their own country. This is where the difference will be made. Consider joining us in this historic partnership in May.

We received a warm note of thanks from the folks at Nine Lives cat rescue in Greece.  Recently we obtained a donation of some flea & tick medication, which is always needed for both cats and dogs in Greece, and sent it over to the organization Nine Lives.  They are a wonderful group based in Athens Greece doing some great work with cats there.  We also had received some monetary donations to help us send it over.  A big thanks from all of us and the cats for the donations!

Dear Zoe
Yesterday i received the advantage multi for cats that you’ve sent us. Thank you so much, it s a great help to us and we ll use it immediately. Whenever you can sent us any kind of treatment we and our cats will really appreciate it.
Many thanks
Eleni Kefalopoulou
Nine Lives http://www.ninelivesgreece.com/

Update in the case of the puppy beaten in Ioannina Greece: The hospital president finally testified and the file goes to the district attorney for further prosecution on Wednesday. The eye-witnesses have given the name of the watchman who committed the beating. Local groups are pressuring for a harsh punishment. This case has gotten a lot of attention, including coverage on Greek tv, in part due to our Humanitourism™ partners in Ioannina. They are doing great work and deserve our support.

Got a nice pick up on our press release on our Zakynthos Humanitourism™ adventure with sea turtles in Greece in June.

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-16242-Raleigh-International-Travel-Examiner~y2010m3d17-Volunteer-sea-turtle-conservation-project-on-Greek-island-of-Zakynthos?cid=sharing_twitter:16242

Update on the Ioannina puppy:  She is improving slightly and able to walk a little bit. A nurse and registrar have apparently come forward as witnesses, so the perpetrator may actually be charged. The story also ran on a Greek tv program, which is good because it means they determined it newsworthy.  Pressure from the outside is forcing the police in Ioannina to find and prosecute this animal abuser.

We’ve received a report from one of our Humanitourism™ partners who is caring for the surviving puppy of the hospital beatings in Ioannina.  The swelling in her head is starting to subside. She has a good appetite and if the bowl is held for her she can lap up some liquid food and swallow it. She is still very dazed and not in full control of her senses, though. She can stand and take a few steps but without much control of what she is doing. Just as when a person has a concussion, it will take a while before all the bruising in her brain subsides.  Despite everything she wants human company and to be held.

It was a tragic weekend for the stray animals in Greece. In addition to the terrible beating of the two puppies I reported earlier, there were numerous poisonings of both dogs and cats in another village. Sadly, this is a continuing reality in Greece, which is why we are working with local Greek animal advocates to educate the population on this cruel practice, as well as sterilization and humane treatment.

On Saturday 6th March, 3 cats were poisoned and died in Kapodistriou Street, prior to that 4 more cats poisoned in Pronia, 2 cats found poisoned behind the hospital and 2 dogs died together, both poisoned, in the old town of Nafplion. This is just an example of crimes committed in the last week. Please write, politely, to the Mayor of Nafplion, Mr. Panagiotis Anagnostaras expressing your concern and disgust as these are not isolated incidents, in fact becoming quite common place in his Municipality now. You might also point out that this may likely have a negative impact on tourism. His email address is nafpldim@otenet.gr

Two puppies in Ioannina Greece were found beaten with wood on March 6. The perpetrator is said to be one of the night watchmen at the local hospital and because of the screams of the puppies and the proximity to some of the hospital wards, the incident was witnessed by members of staff and hospital visitors. The police were called. Nothing happened and none of the supposed witnesses will come forward to say who committed the crime. One puppy was killed. The other was left half dead with serious head injuries. Her cries could be heard all over the hospital grounds. Despite this, no efforts had been made to help her apart from some milk and bread being left by nurses. The puppy is semi conscious, unable to eat or drink and was found curled up on top of her dead brother. She is about 3 months old. It has been snowing, cold and rainy. She is warm tonight
thanks to rescuers but whether she will live remains to be seen.

Ioannina is one of the areas where inside/out is concentrating our educational work to help stop these kinds of tragic events from happening. Please consider joining us in Greece in May on our Humanitourism™ adventure in Greece. Be a part of changing the tragic lives of these dogs.

26 June 2009

We have arranged with another local rescuer to pick up an abandoned puppy near the village of Tripoli, approximately 2 1/2 hours form Athens.  This is a town in the center of the Peloponnese which also happens to be very near the small village where my great grandfather raised his family and my grandfather, and the old home still exists.  So we decide to venture down, pick up the puppy, visit another dog that had been adopted through Anastasia and the local animal welfare organization she belongs to in Patras, and visit the old family home site.

The home is very old and no one has lived there for some time, so there is a local couple who has been keeping an eye on it and has been somewhat of a caretaker for the property.  So, we’ve needed to make arrangements with them to see the house in advance and were able to coordinate the rescue of this puppy and the home visit at the same time.

When we arrive in Tripoli, Maria, the woman who has rescued the puppy, meets us to guide us into the village of Partheni, which is a few km away.  We arrive there shortly and Christofilis, the caretaker, is waiting at the bottom of the village for us.  It is an idyllic scene, this small village nestled in the hillside and the old man standing at the road.  It is difficult to think that these places are so often the ones where much of the animal welfare issues are so grave.

Maria transfers the rescued puppy to us, we thank her and say goodbye and follow Christofilis into the village for a glimpse of my family heritage.  After a visit to the home, we sit for coffee with Chrisofliis and his wife Kouila at their home, hear some neat stories and memories about my family from them, and also talk about why I am in Greece now.  It seems that the concept of animal welfare is lost on them, even though they are dear, sweet, caring people.  This is common with the older generations of Greeks.  Hope lies with the young people of Greece, but even so, we distributed some educational literature about positive health impacts of living with dogs that will hopefully reach the minds and hearts of older folks as well.

We head up to the other side of Partheni to a village called Steno to visit Chili, a German Shepherd mix adopted out last year to a couple in the village.  Adoption to Greek families is rare, most dogs are rehomed overseas, to Germany and the UK primarily, so this is an exceptional experience.  The little puppy we have will be on her way to a home in Germany on Tuesday.

Chili is doing great and has another shepherd mix named Gina as a sibling.  They have a wonderful fenced area and a young couple who seems to take really great care of them.  This is a heartwarming scene, one of the success stories that gives me hope for change in Greece.