Several employees of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research on the old base in Gournes have registered their complaints about the brutal killings of animals, mostly dogs, on the grounds surrounding the institute (see Letters to the Editor).

This report follows on the heels of numerous instances of poisoning of stray cats, which, following a season of being fed by restaurant customers, are now left to fend for themselves as tavernas close for the season.

"For several years now we have taken care of three dogs," said institute workers Jon Kristoffersen, Yolanda Koulouri and Wanda Plaiti in a joint statement. "One was pregnant, and we managed to find new homes for all her puppies. But we took care of all three, with many of our co-workers bringing leftovers from home to feed them."

The workers reported that recently one of the dogs showed signs of poisoning, and the other two went missing.

"After searching the property for hours we found two of the dogs dead, one of which was in a big bag in a field strewn with plastic bags with the remains of cats and dogs," they reported.  "All three dogs were wearing collars; they had all the necessary vaccinations and medical papers, and two were even sterilized."

Meanwhile, throughout our four townships hundreds of cats are being poisoned as they scavenge for food after hundreds of seasonal tavernas close for the winter.

The practice is so wide spread, in other islands as well as Crete, that it caught the attention of the international news media, which, when reporting the situation, asked a waitress what happens to all these cats.

"You do not want to know," the waitress, who asked not to be identified, replied." When questioned further she admitted that they were poisoned and that they were not supposed to talk about it.

"Neutering is against the macho image of many local residents so they poison them instead," she said.

 
One of several poisoned dogs found in Gournes

As this tourism season got underway last spring, the Cretan Animal Welfare Group (CAWG) issued a notice regarding the problems resulting in feeding stray restaurant cats, with the message: If you really care please Stop, Think and Do Not Feed them.

''Research has shown that an increase in food supply (such as restaurant left overs and food from visitors) leads to a healthier and therefore more fertile cat population," Kerenza Vlastou, CAWG spokesperson said. "Unfortunately, an increase in the stray cat population leads to human-animal conflict and inhumane methods of controlling it. Please think before feeding un-neutered stray cats which must find food during the difficult winter months."