A special programme to provide much-needed welfare and care for the island's hard working equines has been inaugurated by Malia's Cretan Animal Welfare Group (CAWG).

The aim is to provide working equines, and their often elderly owners, with a service essential to the animals' welfare and the peoples' livelihoods, as these animals are often used for carrying goods, working in the fields or used for transport.

When the programme was first started last April, a team of specialist volunteers visited remote areas of the island, caring for the animals. Also, they provided advice for the owners on how to improve the welfare of their animals by making small changes, such as recommending a donkey be fastened by a halter and not by a rope around its leg.

The donkeys were checked by the dentist, which their owners find quite funny, as they are often in desperate need of seeing a dentist themselves. A donkey with dental problems finds it difficult to chew, resulting in general health problems. As donkeys' teeth grow continuously, and if not worn down evenly, they can result in sharp discomforting edges. The dentist rasps their teeth improving their ability to chew which has a positive influence on their health and well-being! 

Also, a farrier checked their hooves and cut down what is necessary. Unfortunately some have very bad hooves which have grown twisted, are too long and turn up like Turkish shoes, or have split and are broken in places, causing terrible suffering when the animal walks. It is important for the farrier to return regularly and gradually improve the hooves, otherwise the donkey's muscles and tendons are not used to the new posture, and this can cause further problems.

In all, 61 animals (equines and goats) have been treated thus far, all free of charge. It is not only difficult for owners to find these services on Crete, it is also very expensive.

During many of the treatments in the villages, the volunteers were joined by interested groups of onlookers, never more so than in Kritsa. One man even came out in his pyjamas to watch, while another neighbour brought candies for the donkey to eat. This is not good for the donkey, but as she was about 40 years old, no one stopped her from having her treat!

At another location, an elderly man was riding his donkey to the fields with his goat following a volunteer stopped him and offered the services. He happily agreed, and both donkey and goat were treated while the man spoke calmly and lovingly to them, reassuring them about what we were doing.

A CAWG spokesperson said a database has been kept with information about the donkeys treated and contact details for their owners. This enables CAWG to contact them easily for the follow-up visit.

"All these services cost CAWG no more than 23 euros per animal thanks to our hard working volunteers and enthusiastic supporters," the spokesperson said. "We are busy planning the next visit for October. We will be expanding our area, so if anyone knows of an equine in need of treatment please contact us at: info@CretanAnimalWelfare.org."