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How do you get rid of your rubbish? Dump it outside for the dustman? Take
it to the tip?
In Greece that's how many people get rid of their unwanted animals.
We actually have photos of puppies left on a rubbish tip, and of dumped
kittens - one in a dustbin, and another in a flower pot.
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Dumped on
a rubbish tip
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Thrown in
a dustbin
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Very few cats and dogs have responsible owners in Greece, and most have
a very short and miserable existence. And although there are animal welfare
laws, they are seldom, if ever, enforced, and therefore there are thousands
of stray, sick, and injured animals with no access to things we take for
granted in Britain:
- Food and Water
- Shelter
- Routine Vaccination
- Preventative treatments against diseases spread by parasites
Puppies and
Kittens are often found discarded in the dustbin with
the kitchen waste – just like these
 
Help
us prevent this cruelty
A bitch
spay costs £75
A cat spay
costs £35
Please make
a contribution NOW!
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During the tourist season many survive thanks to the tourists, who feel
sad at their plight, and feed them scraps. Most tavernas have throngs of
stray cats and dogs begging for their existence, but when the tourists
leave there is no food supply, and so they die of starvation and disease.
Those that do survive they frequently poisoned - just a normal way of life
to so many Greeks, even though this is illegal practice. |
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There is no sterilization programme, which would improve the situation greatly, but there is no interest in the welfare of animals, either from the authorities, nor from the Greek public.
This results in a constant flow of kittens and puppies to replace the dying
adult population, and so the sad cycle starts again, year in, year out. |
The lack of vaccinations means that parvovirus and cat flu are very common,
and parasite born diseases such as Leishmanisis and Ehrlrichia are prevalent
- all being potentially lethal illnesses, especially in sick and starving
animals.
Animals suffering with any of these conditions will rarely be offered any veterinary care, as few people bother to help them. The results are truly
shocking.(Note. This link shows a picture that may cause distress.) |
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Even dogs which have owners are not treated as family pets, as in most
of Europe. There are thousands of dogs kept on short chains with no access
to shelter. The lucky ones have food and water but otherwise their existence
is miserable.
It is difficult for us in Britain to understand why people would own a
dog, just to leave it chained up, and how living animals can be treated
with such indifference or cruelty.
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Thankfully, there are some animal welfare groups trying to alleviate the
suffering.
The situation has been described as 'trying to empty an ocean with a teaspoon' , but we believe that every animal spared such suffering worth the effort.
Hopefully, in time, the Greek attitude towards animal welfare will improve,
but in the meantime, we shall continue with our efforts.
YOU can help us in any number of ways, both big and small. Use the links above
to see how.
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