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Happy memories of a holiday in Greece??
If the answer is NO, please write to the Greek authorities and let them know what you thought about your holiday in Greece
Millions of people from around the world are seduced by the beautiful pictures seen in Greek holiday brochure, but for animal lovers, a holiday to Greece can turn into a nightmare. They will come across depressing sights - most commonly stray dogs and cats, chained 'guard dogs', skinny cats and sick kittens, hobbled and/or tethered donkeys, horses, goats etc, often with little if any shade, or water to quench their thirst ..... certainly not the sort of holiday memories you thought you would come back home with.
This year the Greek Tourist Organisation web page has a new form, which is to be used by tourists to complain about any aspects of Greece they did not like. The form also includes maltreatment of animals. It is available in several languages and below is the form in English. For other languages, you simply go to the web page: http://www.gnto.gr/pages.php?pageID=921&langID=2
.... and click on the appropriate flag.
It is important that you fill in and send this form, together with any photos of the animals you have seen and wish to complain about. I have added the GNTO email address to the enclosed form, but it would also be useful if you could send your complaints to the Ministry of Agriculture (Mr A. Kontos and Mrs C. Dile) and to the Minister for Tourism, Mrs P. Palli-Petralia as well:
Request a reply to your letter and if you do not receive one, write again .... please also send to GAR a copy of your letter and any reply you may receive: info@greekanimalrescue.com |
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A HOLIDAY IN GREECE?
A tempting idea, but if you are an
animal lover ... |
Poisoning of stray - and owned - dogs and cats
is widespread throughout Greece and it occurs on a daily basis.
Those responsible for spreading around poisoned bait are rarely caught
in the act and usually the bodies of their victims are picked up
by garbage collectors in the early hours of the morning. The poisoning
is often excused as a necessary and cheap clearing up operation of
the large numbers of stray dogs and cats which are seen as a problem.
Some people fear the strays would ‘spread disease’, others
consider them a nuisance, especially when their numbers increase.
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Sterilisation is not common for household
companion animals, because it is regarded as a negative intervention
in the animals’ nature, but their owners refuse to take responsibility
for the unwanted litters of puppies and kittens, which are usually
abandoned. In short, many people seem to view poisoning as a ‘fact
of life’. The poison used can be anything from strychnine and
rat poison to farm pesticides and herbicides; even crushed glass.
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WHEN THE TOURISTS LEAVE ...
The average life-span of a stray dog in Greece is less than two
years, as most of them perish during the winter months, if
not shortly after the holiday season comes to an end. The last
charter flights depart from the islands at the end of October,
by which time most of the hotels and tavernas have closed down
for the winter.
The strays, so dependent on the tourists for food during the summer, are
left to fend for themselves, not knowing where their next meal would be
coming from ... poisoned bait may be their last morsel, if they are not
shot, or hit by a car, or hanged first ...
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Millions of tourists from all over the world visit Greece every
year and many are shocked by the sights of animals in distress.
They often befriend and feed the strays, who are generally very
friendly and loving ... they just want to 'belong' and they try
very hard to find somebody to adopt them ... the lucky few succeed.
YOU TOO COULD ADOPT A GREEK STRAY
... and give
him/her a chance of a happy and secure future |
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THE
KILLING MUST STOP!
Even rampant poisoning is not recognised as an official problem! There
are hardly any reports made to the police. And despite their anger
and sorrow, the somewhat cynical and lax response from the owners
of animals poisoned to death shows that they do not trust the judicial
system; some even fear it. So it appears that poisoning will long
remain acceptable within the Greek culture, as long as the authorities
themselves show total indifference to the problem.
ANIMAL PROTECTION LAWS
Greece has adequate animal protection laws, but in general, they
are not enforced! We can all try to ensure that they are enforced
whenever possible. If you happen to witness a cruelty case, please
report it to the police and the municipalities - which bear the
responsibility for the stray animals. Article 2 of Greek law 1197
states:"Whoever kills, harasses, or ill-treats animals covered
by the present legislation, or abandons them, is punishable by
article 8 of the present penal code."
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Animal suffering knows no boundaries,
language or creed, but ... 'all the darkness in the world
can't put out the light of one small candle'
THANK YOU FOR CARING
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