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Letters from visitors to Greece 2008 31st October, 2008 Hello
I don't usually email groups, but this is something that I feel so strongly about.
I actually live in Rhodes in Greece and am totally appalled at the way the Greeks, not all Greeks but most of them,
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have so much disrespect and disregard for animal welfare. I myself have 2 dogs, one that we brought with us from the UK and one,
a Greek 'hunting' dog as they call him, who at about 2 months old had been left at a hotel in Faliraki, thankfully all the tour operators
decided to do a charity day at this particular hotel and the compere asked if anyone would like the puppy that was running around, and before
he could finish his sentence my husband said we'd have him, he is such a joy to have around but is so frightened of men, he is just starting to
trust my husband although we've had him for over a year now. |
But getting back to the cruelty, we live above some shops and one of the owners has a dog here (it is a huge huge dog like a german
shepherd but black and taller),they tie him up at the back of the shop in the summer and then in the winter put him, still tied up, in the annexe at the side of the shop, which only has a plastic roof (so when it rains he is
literally sleeping in about 2 inches of water), they come and feed him in
the winter maybe every 3 days if he's lucky, but because he is in the annexe and tied up he tends to get his chain wrapped around the shelving, so
cannot get to his water, if he has any that is! At the moment he is still tied up outside at the back of the shop, I give him water and food, but the
other day he attacked me as I was giving him some food, it's not his fault he is just so hungry that he must have thought I was going to take it off him,
bless him, the other problem is that once he is put in the annexe I can no longer get food to him as he is caged in.
I came home from work one night and there was a little black puppy dumped outside and before I could say anything my husband had
picked her up and brought her upstairs and showered her, she ended up being a golden labrador not a black dog as we originally thought, she was just
absolutely filthy, but she couldn't stand up, we took her to our vets (who are absolutely fantastic with animals) but they were closing and asked us to
take her back in the morning, so we took her and left her there. I phoned the vets at 1pm and asked them if she was ok and what was going to happen to her,
and the receptionist, knowing me and how much I love animals seemed a bit panicky and said the vet would talk to us when we called in to pick her up.
When we got there he said he had taken x-rays and that both her back legs were broken, one was repairable but the other was broken in 4 places and the
stray bones had actually gone into her muscle, he seemed to think that she had been run over, we asked what could be done, and he said we could fly her
There's a travel company opposite our apartment, and the owner George came running over when we found this puppy and asked where
it was, we said we had her up here so he came up with his wife, Sevi and their young daughter and Sevi was crying and thanking me for taking her in
So after this long long email (I am really sorry if I have gone on a bit, but I just hate it) what I really wanted from you was if you could give us some pointers on where to start, who to get in touch with Government wise, the EU rules on Animal Rights not just strays but pets too. What can be done legally to the owners who just tie their dogs up and leave them to starve for 2-3 days at a time, and if anything can be done who do we report them to? Anything you have would be of so much help. Many thanks for taking the time to read my email and I look forward to your response. Kind regards and keep up the good work that you are doing Lynda 20th October, 2008 Hello My daughter and I returned a week ago from a holiday in Lindos which turned into a kind of nightmare as we spent most of the time trying to feed stray cats in the morning and evening, and also a sweet little dog. The holiday, my first in 12 years, was ruined and we spent a lot of time in tears over the situation learning about the poisoning that will start probably next month.
We will be both subscribe to be members of Gar and do what we can, but I wondered if you knew whether it was possible to send anything direct to Rhodes. We know there is no rescue scheme in Lindos but apparently when we were on a day trip to Rhodes Town, if we had walked a little further around the port, there is apparently a lady who sits on the pier trying to campaign I understand. It is a great pity that we didnt learn of her existence until we were on the plane coming home. A couple in the apartment next to us, were desperately trying to get this little lady dog home and enquired regarding this in Rhodes town, but have left it to the cleaner of the apartments to arrange everything and I cannot see it coming off somehow. I believe the situation is pretty bad in Rhodes. My daughter already sends money to an English lady in Crete from a few years ago, but since we only recently learned first hand about the poisoning, neither of us wish to go back to Greece at all. Elaine 6th October, 2008 Dear GAR I hope you can spare a moment just to read this e mail. I have just returned from a holiday in Kremesti, Rhodes on 25/09/08. My wife and I enjoyed Rhodes, however, I have never been so upset when we encountered a pack (up to twelve) dogs roaming around the town square and various parts of Kremesti. Many of the dogs had collars, some with bows, but I was reliably informed by various locals that they were all strays.
The matter of the dogs on Kremesti needs seriously looking at. Many other British tourists also voiced concern over these dogs. I am in the process of writing to ‘Greece’ magazine, to show that British tourists are not happy with the situation. I have various photos of these dogs, in particular the beach dog. Having seen some of the other letters highlighted on your website, we are sickened with seeing the cruelty and disregard for these animals, and feel so strongly about this, that we sadly will not visit Greece again. L. and J. Ackerley 28th September, 2008 Dear Greek Animal Resuce I have just returned from a weeks hols in Kos. I expected to come home happy and relaxed after a week in the sunshine...not so.
I asked if they could be kept somewhere safe after their innoculations till they were strong enough to travel and was told there was no safe place on the whole island that would even take them in for 2 weeks before they could make the trip to England. I didn't understand why it was such a difficult task until I flew back, logged on to the internet and read the full horrors of the Greek animal situation. I have visited many sites with reference to Greek animal cruelty and each site has thousands of people sighning petitions. Many many people wanting to do more than just sign a petiton and are as frustrated as I am knowing that just signing your name to a list won't achieve diddly squat. How is it possible that the waiter that pours you a drink on the one hand would go and help poison the cats and dogs' once the season ends and the tourists can't see as they've gone home?! To ask people never to go to Greece again will never happen as they don't see the dogs and cats that are poisoned or the dogs hanging from trees... Let me know what I can do because I think it is time now in the 21st century for the Greek nation to take stock of their own situation and make major changes....its in their interest to promote animal welfare to encourage tourism don't you think. Maybe thats the message they should be reading. Carol Ellis 26th August, 2008 Hello You have probaly heard (or read) all this many many times before, but here goes. We have just returned from a holiday in a hotel complex in Halkidiki (Sani Beach Hotel at Sani Beach Resort). During our stay, we met "The Little Brown Dog" fatal if you are dog lovers as we are ! He looks a bit like a spaniel but obviously is bit of a mix.
So now the questions - Do you have any guidance as to how this dog might be rescued before his life is cut short by such treatment? Could help us/guide us as to how we could import him into the UK? Are there ways to establish if he is OK now? Can you make local enquiries? We would be more than happy to provide a home for him. Any help/advice you can give will be most greatfully recieved. Regards R. & M. Reeve (dog lovers) 11th August, 2008 Dear GAR I recently returned home from a vacation in Greece where I saw some beautiful sights and some apalling sights. The apalling sights were the stray dogs found in Athens. They are everywhere! The dogs are mangy, hungry, thirsty, and neglected. Most of the dogs I saw were hobbling on 3 legs, clearly the result of being hit by a car, bus, or a moped.
After witnessing the cruelty and neglect these animals faced on a daily base I knew I had to contact someone that could help. I googled animal shelters in Greece and your site was the first one I went to. How can you help? Is there someone that can go pick up the dog that I mentioned? I cannot get him out of my mind. It was a pitiful sight! G. Stollenwerk 5th August, 2008 Hello GAR, I am writing following my recent return from the village of Kolympia just outside Faliraki on Rhodes, where I spent a week's holiday, not really having any fun as I was too busy noticing the numbers of stray cats and dogs, and the cows and donkeys tied under trees without access to water in that oppressive heat.
I notice on your website that there is a 'How to Help' page, but I really feel the need to do more than just donate. I wondered whether or not you organise trips to help in situ... Or perhaps you can offer advice on volunteer work at the shelters in Greece that GAR helps to support. I remember a TV program several years ago, was it Pet Rescue (?), where GAR bought home a number of dogs to be rehomed. Do you still organise trips like that? Although I became a member of GAR for a time (and will be signing up again asap), I suppose day to day life takes over. However, this holiday has been such a stark reminder that unbelievable apathy/cruelty still exists somewhere as close as a 3 1/2 hour flight away, that I really feel the need to try and make a difference, however small. My other thought is to make a rescue trip myself, although I would be limited to one or perhaps two animals if I did it under my own steam, having one dog at home already! The 'rescue a greek dog' saving fund is already in place! K. Clayden 1st July, 2008 Dear GAR Can you help? I am on holiday in Agia Galini, Crete. There are 2 dogs here, very thin and clearly stray. I have been feeding them for 3 days and have given them a worming tablet each. I have contacted the Rethymnon animal shelter, 3 other people and 4 other organizations who look after dogs and they have all told me they cannot help them? I am able to offer financial support to sponsor these dogs. We leave on Sunday. Can you help? I have asked so many people now and am coming up with no-one who is interested in helping. I do realize that these are just 2 of many animals needing help, but the thought of them starving is very upsetting to me. Regards, Donna 22nd June, 2008 Hi, I really don't know whether you will be able to help or even if you have any contacts in Rhodes, but I have been onto your website and read the many examples of poor treatment of animals and I cannot get out of my head the experience I have had in regard to a lone kitten. I have just got back from Rhodes today, returning to Manchester UK. A couple of nights ago
I found a kitten (it's seems difficult to guess its age as the cats there seem so skinny, but
I'm guessing approx. 8 weeks old). It's a 10 minute walk to the right exit onto the main road
I really don't know whether you could help with this at all, but if you could offer any advice, I would be grateful. I look forward to hearing from you.
Alison 10th June, 2008 Dear Greek Animal Rescue I have been given your email address by K. Layzell, who I understand you helped get one of her dogs from Corfu to the UK.
I have looked on numerous sites on the internet about flying her home and it’s just a minefield! Any advice or help (not financial of course!) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and kind regards Terri 2nd June, 2008 Dear GAR We have just come back from a holiday in Crete staying in the Livadia Bay in Western Chania. During our stay we found 2 dogs that we are compelled to try & help ... Please can you help us to help them? This is their story.
That was two and half years ago.... Harry is still chained to the same 5ft chain, but his collars are far too small and must be painful for him. He has grown so much that he has to 'back in to' his kennel to escape the heat. His back legs look out of shape where he has had to fold himself up to rest in this tiny space. His water container is too dirty to drink from, covered in mould and dead flies. He has to 'dirty' in the same place that he sleeps, rests and eats, as his chain is not long enough for him to go anywhere else. He is surround by his own feaces. He swelters in the heat of the Crete sun and yet is only meters from the cool waters of the sea. A sea he has never been in, unable to reach it to cool himself down from his thick c oat which is thick with sand, dirt and ridden with ticks. And this is how we found him. It was truly heartbreaking to witness. So we bought new clean buckets for his drinking water and a bowl for him to eat from. We spent time with him every day we were there. Just to give him company, stimulation & play and food and fresh water. He has the most amazing temperament considering what he has been through. His eyes are sad, but his wagging tail shows he has hope. Hope that one day he will be given a chance at a better life and be free from the chain and this awful existence he has to endure... Billy (named by us) Sadly Billy's story is very similar to Harry's. On the same stretch of coastal road, owned by another farmer but treated as badly as Harry. Tied to an even shorter chain, with only an old oil barrel to escape the heat, dirty water bowls, too dirty to drink from, always thirsty, always hungry and suffering from the heat. The oil barrel offers very little protection from the sun or the traffic that goes down the coastal path where we understand that not that long ago Billy was actually hit by a passing car. His leg was broken & our guess is that he had very little help if any at all. Amazingly he survived, although his front leg is in a strange position. We too spent time with Billy, who at first was very scared of us & very timid, but by the end of the week would recognize our car heading towards him and jump up with excitement (as much as his chain would allow). He trusted us so much in the end that he would even drink fresh water out of our hands. Billy has also been chained and alone for over 2 years..... Leaving the dogs to come home was very upsetting, but we made a promise to them & to ourselves that we would try and help Harry & Billy. Please can you help us? I am prepared to try and raise funds here in the UK to help pay for their rescue. Natalie 1st June, 2008 We returned from Kardamena this morning and could not sleep for thinking about a puppy we met that was sleeping rough around the hotel Cleopatara Superior.
It looks about 12 weeks old and is black and brown. Someone had put a collar on it and we thought someone had taken it in but when my son asked the barman, he said it belonged to no one. Someone had put a collar on it so that it wouldn't get shot. We were very upset at having to leave it there like that. Can anything be done to help this poor little puppy? Surely someone in Kos is a dog lover and can help before it dies of starvation or dehydration and disease? I can not enjoy a holiday eating and drinking when poor animals like this are starving. It has put me off going to Kos again. E. O'Rourke 22nd May, 2008 When in Rhodes last week, I saw many stray cats that had barely made it through the winter. I tried to feed a thin cat that had come to our aprtment in Lindos. She looked as if she had had an attempted hanging. She ate almost a can of cat food each day. I was shocked that there was hardly any neutering. What would be the procedure for adopting from abroad? M. Griffiths (UK) 17th March, 2008 Dear GAR I am writing on behalf of my father and mother who live in a town called Ouranoupolis, in Halkidiki (1 and half hours from Salonika). On Sunday morning their dog was poisoned (and that¹s not the first time it has happened in this town). He went out to take a pee and he ate some poisoned fish bits that had been purposely left by a tree, then died 4 hours later after he suffered a lot of pain. He had convulsions and was foaming at the mouth. They are absolutely devastated along with many other family members. The dog was a very gentle, sweet dog, his name was 'Bob' and he was loved not only by my parents but my grandmother and their neighbors - they were all so fond of him and everyone looked after him. He was no trouble to anyone and was very domesticated.
I am so sad and angry that this could happen in a civilized country. This would never happen in the UK. My father is so upset, he said he wants to come to the UK because he lost faith in Greek people. Anyway, I could write so much about this, but I just wanted to find out if at this stage there is anything that can be done or anything they should do? I know someone took a sample of the food that was left opposite their house so they can send it to be analysed to see what kind of poison it was. What can be done, what is being done, what can we do??? (so that this can be stopped and the people who do this can be made an example of and this kind of thing can be given a bad stigma and not be accepted) I am a graphic designer and would like to design some posters to get the message to people, posters that could be distributed across Greece that would have a powerful message, that if people carry on treating dogs and cats like this that Greece will lose a large income from tourists, because most other Europeans think its disgusting and very wrong. It would put so many people off visiting Greece! And that will cost Greece more than spending some money on a humane way of keeping the stray dog population under control. F. Scott (UK) |
He didn't hurt me fortunately,
but our fear is that there are children of other owners of the shops that play around here and it could attack them one day, again it's not his fault
it's the owners fault. When approached they say it is none of anyones business but theirs, it is their dog and their property and they can do what they
want. They then go home and leave him to bark constantly day and night, there are about 4 or 5 other strays hanging around trying to get at him so I am
constantly going out shooing them away, I have to throw water over them to stop them from attacking him. I absolutely hate the way this poor dog is
treated, I have been tempted to untie him and take him to the animal welfare society but they are bombed out with hundreds of dogs barking outside the
compound.
to Athens and the vet there could operate but the stress of the flight and the operation could end up killing her, the whole process was minimum of 700
euro but could end up being thousands, we said we weren't bothered about the cost as long as she would be ok, but he was very solemn when he was talking
to me, I just knew what he was thinking, so my husband just said to him 'look cut to the chase, what is best for the dog' and he said he wasn't sure but
what he was sure of was that she would have a good life with us but not have a good quality of life and that it was kinder for her to put her to sleep,
I was heartbroken but agreed as it was the kindest thing to do for her, when we went to pay at the reception,
the receptionist said that she had told the vet to break the news to me gently as I was a very sensitive and caring person. But the one thing that
did make me feel better was that at least in her last 24 hours, she had been washed, fed and watered, kissed and cuddled and had some love in her short
life, but what angered me was the point that someone had actually brought her here and left her, there was no way could she have walked it, I told the vet
that she didn't cry or make any sound when we picked her up and with her injuries you'd expect something, but he said that after 4-5 days a dog becomes
immune to the pain, well we'd had her 24 hours and apparently she had been downstairs for 24 hours before we found her so she must have been in this state
for at least 6-7 days.
and she said she hated the way her people treated animals. We have spoke on a number of occasions since, and one day she opened the boot of her car
and it is absolutely full of dog and cat food, she drives around all day and when she sees a stray dog or cat she gets out and feeds them and gives them
water, she truly is one of the nicest kindest people i have ever met. Sevi and I are going to get together over the winter and try and organise something
to make the Greeks care more about their pets and make them aware of the effects of their cruelty, it would be so much easier for us to just move back to
the UK and turn our backs on this appalling cruelty, but we both feel so strongly about it, and if everyone did that then nothing would ever be done to
stop this cruelty.
We have signed the petition and got as many friends as possible to do the same, however,
it does concern me that it is the end of the tourist season when there won't be any visible sightings now of what is going
on until next spring, particularly in a place like Lindos which is purely tourist orientated, and there are still under 5,000 signatures.
I have been to various Greek Islands over the past years and have encountered strays,
but not as many as the ones in Kremesti. We fed and befriended some of them which made things worse,
and at the end of the holiday we never felt so sad and helpless as when we had too leave them. There is one dog in particular which I am concerned about.
She is a bitch who lives on Kremisti beach, at ‘Tasssos Place’. She is in a sorry state with long straggly matted fur
and usually can be found in the shade under the sunbeds. She wanders between the sunbeds and the open shower where she gets water,
or under the nearby bushes. Tasso just chases her off, whenever she approaches the beds. She did have a collar on with a red bow,
but one day we saw her chased by one of the locals on a motor cycle, an employee from the Margaret Hotel, nearby. Later on after
the chase she was without the collar, so I have no idea what happened in the encounter. We are desperately worried about this dog,
and can only appeal to you for help in trying to contact someone on Kremesti who may be able to try and locate the dog. 
I hardly ate a thing when I was there and wrapped all of my food in serviettes just to feed the starving animals as soon
as I'd left any restaurant id been to. I was even more devastated to leave a mother cat behing with her two kittens knowing that they
could barely walk when I first met them, so I had fed them up with the only tinned and boxed proper cat food I could find in the one solitary shop
in the whole of Kos town. I tried to make arrangements with my hol rep to take them home with me but the kittens were too young and too weak to travel.
The little dog loved and was loved in turn by the children who were in the resort
(and by a large number of the adults as well - including us)
We suspect the security staff used to pick him up and take him off the site,
(and tragically, knock him about a bit to discourage him from coming back) - but back he usually came a couple of days later albeit with a limp or similar.
I saw a dog, looking near death,
at the Isthmia Prime Hotel on the Corinth Canal in Isthmia, Greece. The dog was badly injured and had raw meat on its leg.
The wound was oozing with infection and he was licking the wound raw. I asked the hotel manager if anyone was taking care of the animal
and his response was, "No, but we will put him in your suitcase and you can take him home with you." Then he laughed! It was unbelievable
to hear how heartless he was toward a helpless animal that was wounded. I asked if there was a vet or shelter that I could take the animal
to and he said there was not one available in that area. 
Since my return, I have been
wondering how I could do more than just make a donation. I befriended
one dog inparticular, a beautiful bitch, part lab, part hunting dog I
suspect, but didn't take any photos as it didn't occur to me at the
time (how stupid!).
from Kassandra Studios & Apartments just off main road Ixia Avenue (between Ixia & Trianda)
almost opposite a video/dvd rental shop. I managed to feed and provide water for it, but it
seems to have little energy at all and is on its own. It's back legs seem weakened. I'm
guessing it's waiting for its mother who hasn't re-appeared. It sits behind a fence looking
out to the main road and just stays there all the time. I managed to get it out once and put
it into someone's nearby garden where a couple of other cats appeared to be being looked after, in the hope that it may get adopted. However, to my dismay, when I went back the following day, it had returned to the same spot on its own. It's obviously dehydrating and hungry and seems unable to fend for itself. As our coach to the airport drove passed the area in the early hours of the this morning, it was still in the same position and I can't get it out of my head.
I am very much an animal lover, having two cats and a dog of my own, but didn't know what more
I could do to help her. It has left me saddened and restless that I am not there to help her
more.
I was in Corfu last week and befriended a dog which was running around the hotel. I took the dog to the local vet and had her first set of inoculations done, chipped, wormed,
frontlined, and her passport done. She is now with Dawn and Geoff Dodson, undergoing her
quarantine period. I am hoping to get her to the UK as soon as the second lot of blood
tests have been done, probably around January time and I wondered if you could give me
any advice on the best way to get her home.
Harry .... As a puppy of around 6 months old and getting too much to handle,
he was kicked out of the farmers house and chained up on the coastal road to 'watch' and protect the farmer's goats & sheep.
He was tied up by a heavy chain approx 5ft long which was attached to two wide tough collars. He was given a plastic container
for water and his food thrown on the floor to eat off the dirt and sand. He was given a wooden kennel as his only escape from the
blazing midday sun over 30/40 degrees and then from the cold nights in the winter. He was left alone for every hour of every day.
Always thirsty and hungry, with no interaction, company or mental stimulation. He was never walked or released from his chain and
never knew when he would next get fed or be able to drink fresh cool clean water...
We saw it a couple of times during the week,
then not for a few days and we thought someone must have taken it in, but as we were waiting for the coach to pick
us up for the airport to come home we saw it again. It was limping and looked starving. We gave it some water and the only food we had,
a packet of crisps. It is very friendly and just needs someone to give it a home. 
My dad had him neutered and vaccinated and he had a collar etc; he was a pet dog, not a stray.
But even if he had been a stray, this behavior by some
people who think they have the right to go around leaving poison for dogs
and cats is disgusting. It could also be dangerous because one day a child
may be affected!
To View letters received before 2008 please click here
Updated: 5th February 2010