Lyn and Mark Purden have had a holiday home on the Greek island of Aegina
for many years, and it was in 1995 that they actively started fundraising
to help the animals on the island.
In time, an animal welfare group called Animal Respect developed on Aegina, and most of the fundraising carried out by the Friends of the Strays of Greece has gone to support this organisation.
More recently, donations have been made to other animal welfare groups
in Athens, Samos, Chios, Angistri, Thassos, Crete,
Halkidiki and on the Island of Salamis.
Animal Respect has developed a dog shelter which is home to some 130 dogs,
all of which are extremely well cared for in every way. The lucky ones
find homes mainly as a result of the hard work of the German support group.
Street dogs and stray cats are also routinely fed, and veterinary care
is given wherever necessary.
Our organisation pays most of the monthly veterinary bills, transport for dogs to the UK, and donations for general upkeep whenever funds permit.
We also organise veterinary visits, and vets from Dorset, and from South
Africa, are regular volunteers.
The charity is happy to fund veterinary flights and offer accommodation to qualified, experienced veterinary surgeons.
Any such person needs to be flexible and confident at 'going back to basics'
but will be rewarded with knowing that they will really make a difference
to the stray animal situation and, as a result, will alleviate much unnecessary
suffering.
Most work is routine sterilisation but some tooth extractions, and grass seed removal are necessary.
During 2005, the 3 vets which we organised to visit carried out 40 cat
castrates, 58 cat spays, 25 dog castrates, 20 bitch spays. In addition,
they performed an eye removal, 3 dental operations, and the the removal
of a cats's ears that had cancer.
The vets have again volunteered their services and will be there soon.
