ATTENTION GO SLOW
COLLECTING DEAD ANIMALS

While concerned citizens in both Gouves and Malia Townships press on with petitions to establish an animal welfare facility in the local area, pleas for help to town officials have thus far fallen on deaf ears.

At the same time, national organizations have declared outrage over the “tragic situation” of stray animals throughout the country

Locally, Niki Papathaki of Kokkini Hani said: “We will continue to collect signatures until our officials realize that many local residents – and voters – endorse the establishment of some sort of animal welfare facility,” and added “Something must be done – and done soon.”

Mrs. Papathaki, who displayed a petition at her Ταβέρνα Το Κύμα, said, in addition to local residents, many tourists offered their signatures after witnessing packs of stray dogs roaming the streets and numerous roadside kills.

To date, more than 1,000 people have signed the petition in Gouves Township; Malia has more than 2,000.

Gayner Vlastou, director of Malia’s Cretan Animal Welfare Group (CAWG) and long-time advocate for animal rights, states: “The law, 3170/03, clearly states that strays and unwanted animals are the responsibility of the municipality. The town is supposed to propose an acceptable programme, such as a shelter or catch-neuter-release scheme.”

In her ongoing efforts to deal with the problem of strays, Mrs. Vlastou has announced an offer to dog owners from her organization, also known as The Haven.

“We are planning a small event in Iraklion to promote our Subsidized Neutering of Owned Dogs Programme, and also to celebrate this month’s World Animal Day,” she said.  “We shall be gathering signatures for the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare and we will cover 50 percent of the expenses for neutering and 100 percent for the microchip.”

 Mrs. Vlastou said the offer is valid until October 15 and people wanting more information should call her at 6993-023797.

Meanwhile, on the national level, the animal welfare issue has also picked up momentum with members of the 123 Friends of Animals Associations around Greece reporting on the tragic situation of stray animals in this country.

They denounced the responsible Ministry of Agro Development for non-existence of policy or deeds on the subject, as well as for mocking the Greek people.

They appealed to Parliament Member Manolis Stratakis, who pointed out the appalling conditions the strays experience, and he expanded on the subject of his question to the Minister of Agro Development Alexandros Kontos. 

“Due to a press announcement appearing on the Ministry of Agro Development web page which presents a ‘seriously retouched’ picture of the stray situation in Greece, the animal associations indignantly talked about an ostrich syndrome, positions not associated with reality, as the stray reality is far from the picture of ‘the happy strays’ the ministry tries to peddle,” Mr. Stratakis said.

He continued: “The friends of animals point out the enormous responsibility the Ministry of Agro Development bears on this matter as well as the dis-advertisement  of Greece to the eyes of our visitors who view the hideous spectacle of abandoned, wounded, poisoned  and pulped strays on the streets, perhaps resulting in their not coming back.”

At the same time, a group of 50 Italian tourists from Rome, Florence, Peskara, Verona, Spela, Bologna, Trieste, Portofino and Vitsentza signed a protest letter regarding the strays which was published in the national newspaper Eleftherotypia.

It stated: “The poisoning of stray cats and dogs becomes often acceptable as the necessary and henceforth economic way for their extermination, as these animals are considered a problem. Each year millions of tourists from all over the world visit Greece and they are upset viewing the suffering of these animals. For this reason, many boycott Greece as a destination.

“We ask: That motive is given for sterilization programs to maintain the population under control. For the Greek authorities to take immediate action with serious sanctions for those who break the laws for the protection and safety of animals. It is feasible for the animals to stop suffering if we have them neutered.”