Society and animals welfare - Greece
The shocking abuse of animals that happens every day in Greece is a sharp contrast to the image the government wishes to project to its tourists. Innocent animals are poisoned, abused, shot and left to starve on the streets with no hope in sight. With various animal charities leading the movement to uncover this ugly truth, awareness must be raised if this cruel practice can ever be stamped out.
“As long as a man decimates animals, he will fight and kill his fellowman. Indeed, when you bring death and pain you really can’t bring joy and love.” – Pythagoras (Ancient Greek philosopher) 852-807 B.C.
Welcome to Greece - An ancient mysterious land surrounded by azure blue waters gently lapping over soft, sandy beaches.
A glorious countryside dotted with picturesque villages nestled among lush green forests just waiting to be discovered.
Friendly locals are waiting to greet you upon arrival to ensure your stay in this magical country is full of wonder and delight as you sample the many pleasures of this warm and hospitable country. Sound familiar?
Of course, almost everyone has seen or read an advertisement for Greece and over 16 million tourists visit this popular holiday destination every year. But what the tourist offices won’t tell you about is the cruel and horrific practice carried out every day in a country which prides itself as ‘the cradle of civilization’.
As you step off the plane and make your way to your hotel, you will be greeted warmly by the locals. Packs of thin, starving dogs will be overjoyed to see you, fully aware that their survival rests mainly in the scraps of food and compassion given by the foreign visitors. Gaze out on the beautiful countryside and see the elderly abandoned donkeys struggling to walk after a lifetime tied to a tree with 3 feet of wire to prevent them from wandering off. More magical scenes for the holiday album include maggot-infested cats, poisoned dogs, and broken, exhausted horses carrying scores of fat, grinning tourists up and down the mountain paths. Welcome to Greece. Welcome to a barbaric, inhumane society that deals with stray dogs by feeding them rat poison and leaving them to die a slow and painful death.
“As long as a man decimates animals, he will fight and kill his fellowman. Indeed, when you bring death and pain you really can’t bring joy and love.” – Pythagoras (Ancient Greek philosopher) 852-807 B.C.
Welcome to Greece - An ancient mysterious land surrounded by azure blue waters gently lapping over soft, sandy beaches.
A glorious countryside dotted with picturesque villages nestled among lush green forests just waiting to be discovered.
Friendly locals are waiting to greet you upon arrival to ensure your stay in this magical country is full of wonder and delight as you sample the many pleasures of this warm and hospitable country. Sound familiar?
Of course, almost everyone has seen or read an advertisement for Greece and over 16 million tourists visit this popular holiday destination every year. But what the tourist offices won’t tell you about is the cruel and horrific practice carried out every day in a country which prides itself as ‘the cradle of civilization’.
As you step off the plane and make your way to your hotel, you will be greeted warmly by the locals. Packs of thin, starving dogs will be overjoyed to see you, fully aware that their survival rests mainly in the scraps of food and compassion given by the foreign visitors. Gaze out on the beautiful countryside and see the elderly abandoned donkeys struggling to walk after a lifetime tied to a tree with 3 feet of wire to prevent them from wandering off. More magical scenes for the holiday album include maggot-infested cats, poisoned dogs, and broken, exhausted horses carrying scores of fat, grinning tourists up and down the mountain paths. Welcome to Greece. Welcome to a barbaric, inhumane society that deals with stray dogs by feeding them rat poison and leaving them to die a slow and painful death.
How does this disgusting, immoral treatment of these innocent creatures continue in a country which has been a part of the European Union since 1981? While laws for the protection of companion and stray animals are in place they are rarely, if ever, enforced. The only help for these animals comes in the form of various animal welfare charities 80% of which are funded by foreign organizations. ‘Welfare for Animals Global’ is an American charity founded by Marijo Gills who has spent many years in Greece and witnessed first-hand the shocking treatment of its animals.
In spite of numerous protests, letters and even a petition signed by 80,000 people, the Greek Government have refused to acknowledge the problem and instead given what Mrs. Gills states as a “third finger salute”.
Many charities inside the country are running catch, neuter, and release programs, and appeal to families to provide temporary shelter and foster homes to sick and recovering animals.
As long as the Greek government continues to deny there is a problem, a solution will never be found. Many tourists are now taking to the decision to boycott Greece, a move supported by the animal charities as they believe the government will not take action until they see their income from tourism affected.
Greece is unquestionably a magnificent country with a natural beauty, mystique and charm that inspires all who visit. Its culture, hospitality, and cuisine is renowned all over the planet and its history has given birth to some of the greatest poets, philosophers and playwrights the world has ever known. When will this great society end the abuse of its smallest and weakest members?
The only crime these animals committed was to be born on Greek soil, a crime which led many to an early grave.
Source
In spite of numerous protests, letters and even a petition signed by 80,000 people, the Greek Government have refused to acknowledge the problem and instead given what Mrs. Gills states as a “third finger salute”.
Many charities inside the country are running catch, neuter, and release programs, and appeal to families to provide temporary shelter and foster homes to sick and recovering animals.
As long as the Greek government continues to deny there is a problem, a solution will never be found. Many tourists are now taking to the decision to boycott Greece, a move supported by the animal charities as they believe the government will not take action until they see their income from tourism affected.
Greece is unquestionably a magnificent country with a natural beauty, mystique and charm that inspires all who visit. Its culture, hospitality, and cuisine is renowned all over the planet and its history has given birth to some of the greatest poets, philosophers and playwrights the world has ever known. When will this great society end the abuse of its smallest and weakest members?
The only crime these animals committed was to be born on Greek soil, a crime which led many to an early grave.
Source
April 2011. Holiday in Greece: A Warning to Animal Lovers! Everything mentioned in this article was personally witnessed by Mum, during her recent tour of Greece.
Many animals live at the beck and call of adoring owners, who live to shower them in love and all things good, but not all animals live this way. Throughout the world, each country has its own struggle with stray and abandoned animals, and what to do with them.
Something to keep in mind when traveling, as you may be exposed to animal neglect or abuse you hadn’t planned on, and may not be in the position to help.
The last thing most people on holiday want to see are homeless or dying animals. Unfortunately, this goes with the territory in many areas of the world.
Homeless and abused humans is also a problem, of course, but here our focus is on animals. In Australia, where Mum lives, they have air conditioned “Pet Ambulances.” It is illegal to abandon an animal. Cruelty to animals is illegal. My own shelter, the (Animal Welfare League of Queensland(@AWLQ) takes all their dogs once a week for hours of swimming and playing at the official “Dog Beach.” AWLQ believes it helps the animal’s mind and therefore helps the animal be more adoptable. On return to the shelter, each dog receives a hydro-bath and blow dry. Each dog also receives obedience training several times a week. Healthy mind, healthy pet. Not all countries think like this — or have these resources. Culture clash can sometimes be painful.
Mum recently visited Greece, where she was shocked at the hundreds of abandoned and homeless pets in the streets. The official term used to describe these abandoned pets is “free roaming” or just “free.” My translation of “free” is “stray.”
There are animal rescue groups in Greece, but you might not think so, based on the all the hungry, sick and injured strays you see everywhere you go. In Queensland, if you see a stray dog, you immediately contact any animal shelter, any form of animal control, any vet, police officer, etc. and usually the animal will be in the safety of a shelter within hours. Throughout the length and breadth of Greece, at every tourist destination, Mum was confronted by multiple starving and dying dogs and cats again and again. She constantly carried hamburgers and boxes of dried cat food, giving food to every starving animal she met. This was a daily event! Read the whole article here
Many animals live at the beck and call of adoring owners, who live to shower them in love and all things good, but not all animals live this way. Throughout the world, each country has its own struggle with stray and abandoned animals, and what to do with them.
Something to keep in mind when traveling, as you may be exposed to animal neglect or abuse you hadn’t planned on, and may not be in the position to help.
The last thing most people on holiday want to see are homeless or dying animals. Unfortunately, this goes with the territory in many areas of the world.
Homeless and abused humans is also a problem, of course, but here our focus is on animals. In Australia, where Mum lives, they have air conditioned “Pet Ambulances.” It is illegal to abandon an animal. Cruelty to animals is illegal. My own shelter, the (Animal Welfare League of Queensland(@AWLQ) takes all their dogs once a week for hours of swimming and playing at the official “Dog Beach.” AWLQ believes it helps the animal’s mind and therefore helps the animal be more adoptable. On return to the shelter, each dog receives a hydro-bath and blow dry. Each dog also receives obedience training several times a week. Healthy mind, healthy pet. Not all countries think like this — or have these resources. Culture clash can sometimes be painful.
Mum recently visited Greece, where she was shocked at the hundreds of abandoned and homeless pets in the streets. The official term used to describe these abandoned pets is “free roaming” or just “free.” My translation of “free” is “stray.”
There are animal rescue groups in Greece, but you might not think so, based on the all the hungry, sick and injured strays you see everywhere you go. In Queensland, if you see a stray dog, you immediately contact any animal shelter, any form of animal control, any vet, police officer, etc. and usually the animal will be in the safety of a shelter within hours. Throughout the length and breadth of Greece, at every tourist destination, Mum was confronted by multiple starving and dying dogs and cats again and again. She constantly carried hamburgers and boxes of dried cat food, giving food to every starving animal she met. This was a daily event! Read the whole article here
In an effort to clean up the streets of Athens before the # Olympic Games in 2004, the Greek government is suspected of being involved in the poisoning of 80% of an estimated 30–50,000 stray dogs. Mass poisoning is a well-known practice all over Greece with many of the dogs belonging to a family. Imagine the horror of discovering your beloved pet in a pool of its own feces and vomit, its body bloated and contorted after taking a possible 3-4 days to die. Poisoning is not the only worry if you let your family pet run free, most of the strays are infested with fleas, maggots and ticks. Thousands of animals are also killed by cars each year with the drivers rarely stopping to assist an injured animal. For those with a strong stomach a Google search for ‘animal cruelty in Greece’ reveals a devastating list of stories about the fate of these poor creatures. After the Greek cup final in 2003 a riot broke out in the city of Thessaloniki after their team suffered a defeat by a rival team. Chosen because of the black and white color of its fur, a husky was doused in fuel and set on fire by the rioting mob. Two days before Christmas 2008, five puppies were spotted running free over farmland in Halkidiki.
Two hours later the same puppies were found dead after being stuffed into a rubbish sack and beaten to death. In January 2010 in the city of Olympia an ex-policeman chained a horse to the back of a car and drove for 2km before dumping the horse into a ditch. Still alive with two broken legs, its skin completely torn off and screaming in pain, the disemboweled horse was eventually put to sleep by a vet. After reporting the man to the police, eyewitnesses claimed the man merely laughed. The police decided to bring no charges against this man. These are not isolated incidents, these are just a few which have managed to gain media attention. An unimaginable amount of abuse goes on every day that we will never hear about.
Two hours later the same puppies were found dead after being stuffed into a rubbish sack and beaten to death. In January 2010 in the city of Olympia an ex-policeman chained a horse to the back of a car and drove for 2km before dumping the horse into a ditch. Still alive with two broken legs, its skin completely torn off and screaming in pain, the disemboweled horse was eventually put to sleep by a vet. After reporting the man to the police, eyewitnesses claimed the man merely laughed. The police decided to bring no charges against this man. These are not isolated incidents, these are just a few which have managed to gain media attention. An unimaginable amount of abuse goes on every day that we will never hear about.
Raid on a Puppy farm in Greece (the movie is easily view) - Up until recently, most of the puppies sold in Greek pet shops came from horrible puppy farms in Hungary. Often the pups are taken away from their mothers when just 4-5 weeks old. They are not properly vaccinated, many die before they even reach pet shops or shortly after they are 'put on display' in the windows, usually in glass boxes.
About an hour's drive from Athens, the quiet beautiful area of Alepochori hid a very ugly secret.... a hell-hole puppy farm where 58 dogs were found (and subsequently rescued from) a terrible situation. They were malnourished and dehydrated, lying on cold concrete floor, often in their own urine. Apart from dogs, there were several cats, 100 chickens (kept inside a smelly dark shed), a number of rabbits and even some fish and birds.
Dogs of many breeds, such as Rottweiler, Boxer, Pitbull, German Shepherd, Cocker Spaniel, Pug, Chihuahua, Pomeranian and Bobtail were imprisoned in these horrible kennels, knowing that the day of their salvation will only be the day of their death.
About an hour's drive from Athens, the quiet beautiful area of Alepochori hid a very ugly secret.... a hell-hole puppy farm where 58 dogs were found (and subsequently rescued from) a terrible situation. They were malnourished and dehydrated, lying on cold concrete floor, often in their own urine. Apart from dogs, there were several cats, 100 chickens (kept inside a smelly dark shed), a number of rabbits and even some fish and birds.
Dogs of many breeds, such as Rottweiler, Boxer, Pitbull, German Shepherd, Cocker Spaniel, Pug, Chihuahua, Pomeranian and Bobtail were imprisoned in these horrible kennels, knowing that the day of their salvation will only be the day of their death.
This video, shot in 2004, shows the hellish conditions too many dogs in Greece exist in when they fall into the hands of hoarders. This man, named Jimmy Samaras, keeps these dogs on his property near Thessaloniki. He was prosecuted, but despite his obvious sickness he prevailed and is still hoarding dogs here. And, he's not alone. Town after Greek town allows hoarders like Samaras to keep our furry friends in these hellish conditions, somehow believing it's better for them to suffer and die here than to find homes elsewhere. It's time for the government to properly enforce its laws and save thousands of pups from this horrendous and neglectful "life."