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Cats and Dogs being poisoned in Kavala I was very saddened and angered by yet another report of mass poisoning, this time in Kavala, Northern Greece. Members of 'Aesop' animal welfare society in Kavala are working tirelessly to help stray dogs and cats, by sterilising and finding them homes (mostly abroad!) for as many as they are able to. Many of these strays are being taken care of on a daily basis by a few kind people, who make sure they are fed, but for various reasons they are not able to take them into their homes. 18 of these strays and two owned dogs (along with an unknown number of cats) lost their lives during the night of 8th - 9th January 2009. Is it a coincidence that most of the bodies were collected by garbage men before daylight (they were seen by a couple of individuals), as if they knew they would be there? Below is a letter received from a member of 'Aesop' following the poisoning and details of what you can do to help! |
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I called the local radio station and I was on the air talking about the 3 poisoned dogs. What I did not know at the time was that
many more were poisoned on the same night and their bodies were quickly picked up by a garbage truck. Many dogs that were rescued by us and were usually fed far from the town,
have disappeared and were not seen again, or their dead bodies found. Two more that belonged to people died in front of their eyes. What happened was a concerted and planned slaughter, extending 10 km from the ruins of the castle (near a sewage treatment plant),
winding all the way through town and out to the port - we have a good reason to believe that the poisoning was planned and carried out following several
complaints to the local municipality about the strays. The fact that the dead corpses were collected before dawn (though somebody witnessed two bodies
being picked up by garbage men), it was clear that the poisoning wasn’t random. The following day,‘Aesop’ received a number of calls from distressed people who noticed the dogs and cats had gone missing.
From past experience they knew the reason for such ‘disappearances’. Without witnesses, it is impossible to prove who was responsible for the poisoning, but even if there were witnesses,
they would be too scared to name the perpetrator(s)for fear of reprisal. Nevertheless, ‘Aesop’ are going to offer a reward for any and
all information regarding this barbaric slaughter.”
L.S. HOW YOU CAN HELP! Aesop are requesting that as many people as possible write emails and send faxes to the municipality where the poisoning took place,
protesting the savage cruelty, although there is insufficient evidence to prove who is responsible. However, it would be worth pointing out to them that
such news doesn’t remain a ‘local secret’, but becomes widely known, thanks to our ‘good friend – the internet’!! For those who speak Greek, the website of the municipality is
www.dimoseleftheron.gr and their email is
d-elefth@otenet.gr
However, if at all possible, please also send a fax: 00 30 25943 50002. In addition, please CC your emails/faxes to the following: Minister for Tourism: Mr Aris Spiliotopoulos:
arissp@altecnet.gr
Fax: +30 210 8707 626
President of the Greek National Tourism Organisation: Mr Athanasios Oikonomou:
aoikono@gnto.gr
Fax: +30 210 6442 926
Minister of Agriculture: Mr Alexandros Kontos:
akontos@minagric.gr or ax2u050@minagric.gr
Fax: +30 210 5230 955
Veterinary Department of Ministry of Agriculture:Mrs Chryssa Dile:
ka6u016@minagric.gr
Fax: +30 210 8231 267
MY LETTER TO THE MAYOR OF ELEFTHERON This will give you an idea of what to write, but PLEASE use your own wording. 19 January 2009 Dear Sir, Over the past few days, we have received a number of reports about poisoning of stray dogs and cats in various parts of Greece,
including your municipality of Eleftheron. As you are I'm sure aware, poisoning or abuse of animals is a criminal offence. It was with great dismay that we learned about the poisoning of at least 20 dogs (3 of them owned) and an unknown number of cats
in your municipality on the night of the 8th January. Most of the dogs had been vaccinated and sterilised (and were being fed by a few kind locals),
though not by your municipality, as required under the law 3170/03. Thanks to the internet, the news - good or bad - spreads fast. This is not the first time that poisoned bait
(or fola, as would be referred to in Greece) has been spread around in Kavala, including your municipality, but is it a coincidence that such
crimes are never investigated by the local authorities?? Is it because they may have been responsible for it in the first place or because the
welfare of strays is hardly considered a matter worthy of their attention? We would dearly love to hear that you too are outraged about the poisoning of strays in your municipality and are determined to find
the culprit(s). This kind of news is not what visitors to Greece like to hear, but sadly such reports, often accompanied by distressing photographs,
are coming out of Greece all too frequently. I await your reply in anticipation. Yours sincerely,
Vesna Jones (Founder of GAR) ANOTHER VICTIM OF THE POISONINGS IN KAVALA! On the 18th January 2009, another dog was found poisoned in Kavala. Three legged Homer, who had been rescued 2 years ago and was eventually
adopted by the vet who amputated his leg (after a horrible accident). Homer was near the vet's surgery when he ate poisoned bait ...
was it left there deliberately for him?? |
“….On Thursday 8 January, a neighbour who takes care of 4 stray sheep dogs and many cats called me to tell me that 3 of his stray friends were poisoned. 