The huge subject of training dogs and the methods used – particularly by hunters – has been ignored by the government, despite the fact that the methods chosen amount to nothing short of animal torture. Several of the methods are described below – exactly as described by the hunters themselves in their internet chat sessions:

“ The best way to stop a dog picking up food from the ground is to use the ‘spark plug” method (Yes! You did read that correctly!). We attach a length of cable about 30 metres in length to a car spark plug. At the other end of the cable we attach a piece of meat ( a good idea is to change the type of meat each time – chicken, tinned food etc). We start up the car and let the dog free. He will soon find the meat and as a result receives a strong electric shock ...”

“ … another solution is the electric collar. Give the dog a shock the moment he takes the food rather than just telling him NO…”

“ ... listen, start from the basics in obedience training – kick him if he doesn’t obey ..."

“ ... in regard to the kicking, it will probably have completely the opposite effect because afterwards the dog wont come anywhere near you (I’ve tried it many times!) ...”

“… For two months now I have been taking a dog out in the mountains in a partridge hunting area ..... he finds it very difficult to walk in the mountainous terrain; ... his feet hurt continually ... he returns home and is exhausted for two days…”

“ ... the problem can be fixed like this: dip the dog’s paws in
a mixture of tar diluted with oil) which all the paint shops have . Do this once a day for four days. Once it dries, it doesn’t show.”

“ .. I’ll play doctor as well and tell you another excellent cure. Mix half a litre water, half a litre strong vinegar, 200g copper sulphate and soak the feet. It is very effective. Do it for 6-10 days and then again if the feet are torn!. The problem is this particular dog… It won’t settle down…”

“ Come on Kosta, after all this medical advice… and from the dermatologist as well and you still say it won’t settle down. Look, don’t you get it yet!. The dog is missing his homeland. Send him back to Italy and see if he doesn’t settle down!”

“ ... It’s a shame we go to all the trouble to raise a dog and at the end you have to get rid of him simply because we don’t understand our dog’s character early enough ...”

“ ... In all the most frequented areas, we have wire traps laid down, supposedly for foxes, but in reality, for the food of the day, which goes by the name of …hare. Of course the dog who isn’t careful may also become a ‘hare’, as happened recently in a village on the island ( a photograph of a strangled dog was published in the local press) and by coincidence, the culprit was caught and prosecuted. We don’t know what’s going to happen yet, but if it ends up in court, well ...

Transport to the hunt

On 13 Aug 2003 the newspaper ‘Elefthyros Typos” published three questions, the answers to which were given by a professional dog trainer:

The first question related to dealing with continuous barking of a dog while transporting it to the hunting grounds. The expert replied: “The most effective method is a little painful for the dog but necessary. It involves putting an anti-barking collar on the dog’s neck. As soon as the dog barks he experiences a small electric shock on the neck and automatically stops barking.”

(probably in vain) to explain what exactly a dog suffers at the hands of those who in accordance with the law are responsible for the animals’ welfare. And a little veterinary advice. The internet discussions indicate that there are many roles played by the participants. Perhaps the most important is that of vet, as we observed from the following conversations:

“ …. Unfortunately your dog is one of among thousands in our country who has fallen victim to a serious illness. The transmitters and carriers of Kalazaar are the thousands of stray animals who live in our towns and villages and who receive no medical treatment….”

“ …. The worst thing is that these strays who circulate uncontrolled on the roads, they take them, they sterilize them and afterwards they return them to the roads, these so-called animal welfare groups. That’s fine but when it comes to illnesses such as Kalazaar etc who checks them for it, who treats the infected dogs….. The infected animals circulate like loaded mines and transmit the disease to other strays and eventually to our dogs…”

Scientific opinions

We can put the hunters’ opinionated views on Leishmaniasis (Kalazaar) and its transmission into context by comparing them with those of Professor S Charalambidi from the Veterinary School, University of Thessaloniki who says: “Leishmanisasis will continue to constitute a danger to the health of both people and animals in Greece as long as the public is not correctly informed and while they continue to incriminate dogs, an opinion which has no scientific basis and reveals both ignorance and prejudice”. For the hunting fraternity, however, the internet has arisen as the source of all information and those provide the advice are regarded as evangelists.

In regard to the electric collar, the representatives of the Greek Veterinary Association regard their opposition to its use as self evident. In a recent decision, the Executive Council of the Epirus Branch has already condemned the use of electric collars and the trailers used to transport dogs. We quote the views of veterinary surgeon, Dr Panos Zois who said, “The use of the electric collar is nothing short of torture. Its use converts the animal into a docile instrument first of all for the benefit of the trainer and afterwards the owner. It is a method of torture which attempts to eliminate the natural instincts of the animal, to obliterate his character and may cause irreversible damage to his personality. Those who put such methods into practice and those who accept such methods are torturers and must be punished”.

With the recent passing of the animal welfare law, the government attempted to put a humane face on the treatment of animals. In regard to the subjects discussed above, the torture of animals is a punishable offence and abandon-ment and mistreatment are fineable offences. All the evidence is there and available to anybody who wants to find it. Perhaps it is time for government representatives and animal welfare organisations to occupy themselves with hunting dogs, who although not the quarry, are the indirect victims of the ‘sport’ and despite gaps in the law, these animals are protected by both national and European law.

HUNTING DOGS ... used, abused and ‘disposed of’

Found Hanged....