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Mass poisoning of dogs and cats in Ioannina
On Saturday 31st January 2009, a friend in Ioannina (Northern Greece) sent me the email below detailing yet another shocking report of poisoning. This is one of many received in the past couple of weeks. At the end of the report is the mayor's name and contact details.
PLEASE write to him, expressing your disgust, but please keep your letter as polite as you can (yes, I know, not easy!).
On Wednesday evening, 28 January 2009, 5 dogs were found poisoned in the central square of Ioannina. |
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All dogs were alive when found, but only one was saved. It was no coincidence that Wednesday night was chosen, a day when the shops are closed and the town is relatively empty and the 28th was the first fine day in a month of so much rain that the attempts of even the most persistent poisoner would have been thwarted.
There is always a reaction by a small group of citizens when animals are deliberately poisoned, but this time the reaction in Ioannina has been intense. The poisoning was covered by two local television channels, who didn't hesitate to show dogs convulsing as they slowly died an agonising death. Two local newspapers covered the incident and printed letters in which citizens expressed their disgust. Students reacted quickly by calling a meeting to prepare posters and leaflets condemning the incident. Another open meeting will be held on Thursday 5 February at 7.30pm. For those of us who witness poisoning all too often, it is a relief to have this support and in many cases from people who are not necessarily animal lovers, but who condemn poisoning for the violent, barbaric crime it is. However, we also know that somewhere in the Town Hall, 'they' are smiling to themselves, because despite all our reactions, they have achieved what they wanted to achieve.
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The Deputy Mayor didn't waste time in publicly condemning the poisoning as a random act by an insensitive, callous citizen.
Perhaps, but the following day revealed 11 more dogs poisoned at another park in the city and all over the city those who feed
stray animals are reporting missing dogs. One can't help but remember election time 2004. Two days before the leader of a major
Greek political party was to address a public meeting in the central square it was the same scenario. The same local authority,
the same Mayor, the same easy solution. 13 dogs poisoned in the central square of Ioannina.
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For those of you who also want to express your disgust that these crimes continue to occur on a daily basis in Greece, please write to the Mayor of Ioannina. The culprits, public or private, are never prosecuted for poisoning, as is the case with those who abandon their animals to this fate with a clear conscience and the surety that they will never be investigated or apprehended. In similar fashion, the local authorities responsible for animal welfare in Greece ignore their responsibilities, relying on the generosity of other Europeans and unpaid volunteers to undertake the care of Greece's hundreds and thousands of stray animals. PLEASE EMAIL THE MAYOR AND EXPRESS YOUR DISGUST! Nikolaos Gontas Mayor of Ioannina Town Hall Plateai A. Papandreou 5 Ioannina 45221 Greece FAX: + 30 26510 01010 EMAIL: mayor@ioannina.gr NEWS REPORT ON THE POISONINGS The footage below is news coverage of the poisonings which appeared on Greek television.
We are also asking that you leave comments regarding the poisonings in Ionnina on You Tube by
CLICKING HERE . The comments will be printed and shown to the Mayor of Ioannina.
UPDATE!PROTEST ABOUT THE RECENT POISONING IN IOANNINA Over 70 people braved the cold on Tues 3rd February to demonstrate against the poisoning of stray animals in Ioannina. What started as a small gathering to give out leaflets on poisoning and to make citizens aware of what had happened in the city on 28 January quickly evolved into a peaceful demonstration that marched from the town hall to the nomarcheia (government offices). A banner expressing anger at the poisoning of animals led the procession and was posted outside the nomarcheia at the end of the march. Many people brought their own adopted strays with them and some wore placards with slogans such as 'We are protesting at the murder of our friends. We were once strays too'. The protest was covered by local tv and radio and a larger meeting is to be held on Thursday evening. It was a surprise to see such a response to an event that was not advertised but somehow people knew and wanted to express their anger and disgust, not only at the poisoners but also at the owners who abandon animals to this cruel fate.
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