The Solomou Square in the evening

The greater Square of Zakynthos town surrounded by very important buildings like the Byzantine Museum of Zakynthos, the church of Saint Nikolaos on the Mole and the Cultural Center of Zakynthos.
Solomou Square, which is dominated by the statue of the Greek national poet Dionysios Solomos, throngs with people on summer evenings, when locals and visitors come here to take a stroll.

The Byzantine Museum of Zakynthos

The Byzantine Museum of Zakynthos is situated in Solomou Square, in Zakynthos town. Here you can admire a rich collection of hagiographies from the Byzantine times to the 19th century, Hellenistic and Byzantine sculpture and statues, and some beautiful icon-stands from the island's churches. The Museum houses, the works of great Zakynthian hagiographers such as Doxaras, Koutouzis, Tzanes, Kandounis and Damaskinos.

The Cultural Center of Zakynthos and the Library

Another imposing building next to church of Saint Nikolaos on the Mole, houses the Cultural Center of Zakynthos and the Public Library, one of the best in Greece with over 50.000 books concentrated. The Library includes a small art gallery, small dolls with local costumes, photographic material and the historical archive of Zakynthos with codices and documents.

The church of Saint Nikolaos on the Mole

Saint Nikolaos it was built in 1561 and is the oldest building on the square. It is the only Venetian building that survived. It is a church of historical value and great importance because the patron saint of the island Saint Dionysios served here.

Dear friends of animals  (January 7 - 2009)

First of all we would like to thank you for your immediate reaction to our call for help for the strays animals in eroia, by sending your mail to the mayor.
It passed a whole month from the day that the mayor received (and is still receiving) mails - over 200 - from all over the world, complaining about the poisonings of the stray animals in her city and her ONLY reaction was to send rapidly her reply to all of you, trying to convince you that eveything is getting well with the stray animals in the town and that the municipallity does the best for them! Till now, one month after, neither she took any action about, nor she did try to have a contact with our Animal Welfare Association and see what we can do together about the issue of the poisonings. What she did about is blaiming us for the bad publicity of her town. So, it seems that the only thing she understood and reacted to, was that some people were shouting about the poisinings in Veroia and her explaination was that " IN VEROIA IT HAPPENS, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ALL GREECE NOTHING LESS, NOTHING MORE.` So everything is under control, we do the same like the rest of Greece! We think that these words of the mayor is the complete confirmation of our accusations. So, unhopefully nothing is gonna change, and nothing changed. Unfortunetly the stray animals continue to be poiosoned.
If you are interested to learn what the mayor did after her reply to you, you can directly ask her via email.
With our best regards.

Animal Welfare Association of Imathia

You may copy this letter and send to The Greek Goverrnment. E-mail adresses below.

To: The Greek Government
We, the undersigned, call upon the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Costis STEFANOPOULOS; the Prime Minister of Greece, Mr. Costas SIMITIS; the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Georgios DRYS; the General Secretary of the Greek Tourism Organization, Mr. Dimitrios GREGORAKIS; the Chief of the Police Mr Photis NASIAKOS and the Municipalities of Greece, to take definitive measures towards solving the ever increasing stray dog and cat population in Greece by implementing and enforcing Law Number 3710

Law number 3710 passed by the Greek Parliament in July 2003:

· Requires pet owners to register and identify their animals

· Provides harsher penalties for those who mistreat and abandon animals

· Provides for local councils to undertake neutering, vaccination, identification and re-release of strays

· Provides funding for educational campaigns on responsible pet ownership.

Animal abuse is widespread in Greece and includes starvation, neglect, cruelty and poisoning. Poisoning of both strays and pet animals happens every day; documented reports are abundant and have been shown on Greek television. Poisoning is indiscriminate, and can affect children, adults and animals alike. Offenders must be prosecuted and fined for this illegal activity. Given the current frequency of poisoning cases, it is also a concern that the numbers will increase as the country prepares to host the Olympics 2004 and the presence of stray animals on the streets is unwanted.

It is also common practice in Greece to abandon unwanted pets and hundreds of thousands of such animals roam parks, streets and forests all over Greece. The majority of these animals are not spayed or neutered due to widespread unawareness of the benefits of sterilization.

The answer is not to place these animals in shelters. Welfare conditions in existing municipal shelters are appalling and rather than solve the problem they simply perpetuate the suffering of these unfortunate animals. Furthermore adoption figures are low resulting in overcrowded shelters with enormous running costs. Municipalities must set up neutering centers now and re-release the neutered, vaccinated animals to the areas they frequent where animal welfare workers and other friends of the animals can follow up and feed them.

Tourists are horrified at the suffering they see whilst on holiday in Greece, many vowing never to return. Many Greeks are also concerned and are working hard to improve the situation but with little or no support from the authorities.

Given the magnitude of the problem, the Greek government, local councils and the Police must take action and strictly enforce Law 3710.

We thank you in advance for acting. Give Greek animals a chance.

For more information, paper version of petition and sample letter go to www.atlantisnet.gr/cidag
If you want to send an e-mail directly to the above ministers:
Prime Minister Costas Simitis: mail@primeminister.gr 
Minister of Agriculture Mr. Georgios Drys: ax2u025@minagric.gr 
Minister of Tourism Mr. Dimitrios Georgarakis: president@gnto.gr 

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

Sincerely,
 

Den Græske Ambassade i Danmark

Adresse: Hammerensgade 4, 3. sal, 1267 København K, Danmark

Tlf:
 +45 33 11 45 33
Fax:
 +45 33 93 16 46
Email: gremb.cop@mfa.gr 

Ambassadør
- Alexandros Couyiou

Ambassaderåd
- Eleftheria Galathianaki

More information, but from the real life on Zante and in Greece:

When you go to this country, you will find out more about

how they deal with their dogs!

Never abuse an animal for fun,

because it feels the pain like you.

Do you want to know more? Click links below:

http://www.all-creatures.org/anex/dog.html

Look here what they do with the old Hunting-Dog´s - Pictures speaks here:

http://www.graeskehunde.dk/sub/sub/HIjagthunde170308.htm

 THE STRAYS OF VERIA ASKING YOUR HELP

Dear animal friends,

I hope you will all respond to this cry for help from Greece...
If you have other ideas whom to contact to stop these awfull killings, please let me or Lale know!

TA ADESPOTA THS VERIAS ZHTOUN VOITHIEA - THE STRAYS OF VERIA ASKING YOUR HELP

THE ENGLISH TEXT FOLLOWS THE GREEK ONE!
Lale Alatli
www.zoipets.com

The stray animals of the town of Veroia are asking for your HELP!!

To all people who fight for the animal rights,
We are volunteers, members of the Animal Wellfare Assosiation of Imathia (ZO.I.) and we are acting in Veroia, a small town of Northern Greece.
Almost every day through the past years, stray - and not only - animals (dogs and cats) are poisoned by unknown people who hate animals.
As poison they use pesticides which causes a very painfull death to the poor animals. Everybody in Greece can buy these poisons for free.
Only in the last 6 months over 100 dogs and cats were poisoned on the streets! Last week-end at least 6 more dogs were killed in this way.
Most of them were sterilized, harmless and they were seeking only for a little bit love.
We are desparate, we dont know what else to do. We are doing all the nesessary procedures in order to prevent these kind of actions and to increase the awareness of the local society but nothing changes. We also coorporate in a national and international level with other N.G.O.s for the animal rights.
The municipality sadly is indifferent about this issue, even though the stray animals, according to the Greek law, are in their responsibility and does not react at all against the poisonings.
We lost all of our hope for a better life of the strays animals of our region. We are desparate and we are now asking for your help.
Please send e-mail or a fax to the mayor of Veroia with your complains about this kind of cruelty against the stray animals of Veroia and by asking from the Mayor Mrs Haroula Ousoultzoglou to take action against those of the citizens who use these awfull and barbarian methods for vanishing the poor stray animals.

Thanks in advance!

E-mail dimarhos@veria.gr
presver@otenet.gr fax (0030)2331359515

PLEASE SEND US CC zoipets@gmail.com THE MAILS THAT YOU SEND TO THE MAYOR.

THE ANIMAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION OF IMATHIAS - ZO.H.
Vaso Taki - Vice President
Lale Alatli - Volunteer
www.zoipets.com

A HOLIDAY IN GREECE ?

A tempting idea, but if you are an animal lover ...

Poisoning of stray - and owned - dogs and cats is widespread throughout Greece and it occurs on a daily basis. Those responsible for spreading around poisoned bait are rarely caught in the act and usually the bodies of their victims are picked up by garbage collectors in the early hours of the morning. The poisoning is often excused as a necessary and cheap cleaning up operation of the large numbers of stray dogs and cats which are seen as a problem. Some people fear the strays would ‘spread disease’, others consider them a nuisance, especially when their numbers increase.

Sterilisation is not common for household companion animals, because it is regarded as a negative intervention in the animals’ nature, but their owners refuse to take responsibility for the unwanted litters of puppies and kittens, which are usually abandoned. In short, many people seem to view poisoning as a ‘fact of life’. The poison used can be anything from strychnine and rat poison to farm pesticides and herbicides; even crushed glass.

WHEN THE TOURISTS LEAVE ...

The average life-span of a stray dog in Greece is less than two years, as most of them perish during the winter months, if not shortly after the holiday season comes to an end. The last charter flights depart from the islands at the end of October, by which time most of the hotels and tavernas have closed down for the winter.

The strays, so dependent on the tourists for food during the summer, are left to fend for themselves, not knowing where their next meal would be coming from ... poisoned bait may be their last morsel, if they are not shot, or hit by a car, or hanged first ...
Millions of tourists from all over the world visit Greece every year and many are shocked by the sights of animals in distress. They often befriend and feed the strays, who are generally very friendly and loving ... they just want to 'belong' and they try very hard to find somebody to adopt them ... the lucky few succeed.

The Solomou Square in the evening

The greater Square of Zakynthos town surrounded by very important buildings like the Byzantine Museum of Zakynthos, the church of Saint Nikolaos on the Mole and the Cultural Center of Zakynthos.
Solomou Square, which is dominated by the statue of the Greek national poet Dionysios Solomos, throngs with people on summer evenings, when locals and visitors come here to take a stroll.

The Byzantine Museum of Zakynthos

The Byzantine Museum of Zakynthos is situated in Solomou Square, in Zakynthos town. Here you can admire a rich collection of hagiographies from the Byzantine times to the 19th century, Hellenistic and Byzantine sculpture and statues, and some beautiful icon-stands from the island's churches. The Museum houses, the works of great Zakynthian hagiographers such as Doxaras, Koutouzis, Tzanes, Kandounis and Damaskinos.

The Cultural Center of Zakynthos and the Library

Another imposing building next to church of Saint Nikolaos on the Mole, houses the Cultural Center of Zakynthos and the Public Library, one of the best in Greece with over 50.000 books concentrated. The Library includes a small art gallery, small dolls with local costumes, photographic material and the historical archive of Zakynthos with codices and documents.

The church of Saint Nikolaos on the Mole

Saint Nikolaos it was built in 1561 and is the oldest building on the square. It is the only Venetian building that survived. It is a church of historical value and great importance because the patron saint of the island Saint Dionysios served here.

Dear friends of animals  (January 7 - 2009)

First of all we would like to thank you for your immediate reaction to our call for help for the strays animals in eroia, by sending your mail to the mayor.
It passed a whole month from the day that the mayor received (and is still receiving) mails - over 200 - from all over the world, complaining about the poisonings of the stray animals in her city and her ONLY reaction was to send rapidly her reply to all of you, trying to convince you that eveything is getting well with the stray animals in the town and that the municipallity does the best for them! Till now, one month after, neither she took any action about, nor she did try to have a contact with our Animal Welfare Association and see what we can do together about the issue of the poisonings. What she did about is blaiming us for the bad publicity of her town. So, it seems that the only thing she understood and reacted to, was that some people were shouting about the poisinings in Veroia and her explaination was that " IN VEROIA IT HAPPENS, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ALL GREECE NOTHING LESS, NOTHING MORE.` So everything is under control, we do the same like the rest of Greece! We think that these words of the mayor is the complete confirmation of our accusations. So, unhopefully nothing is gonna change, and nothing changed. Unfortunetly the stray animals continue to be poiosoned.
If you are interested to learn what the mayor did after her reply to you, you can directly ask her via email.
With our best regards.

Animal Welfare Association of Imathia

You may copy this letter and send to The Greek Goverrnment. E-mail adresses below.

To: The Greek Government
We, the undersigned, call upon the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Costis STEFANOPOULOS; the Prime Minister of Greece, Mr. Costas SIMITIS; the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Georgios DRYS; the General Secretary of the Greek Tourism Organization, Mr. Dimitrios GREGORAKIS; the Chief of the Police Mr Photis NASIAKOS and the Municipalities of Greece, to take definitive measures towards solving the ever increasing stray dog and cat population in Greece by implementing and enforcing Law Number 3710

Law number 3710 passed by the Greek Parliament in July 2003:

· Requires pet owners to register and identify their animals

· Provides harsher penalties for those who mistreat and abandon animals

· Provides for local councils to undertake neutering, vaccination, identification and re-release of strays

· Provides funding for educational campaigns on responsible pet ownership.

Animal abuse is widespread in Greece and includes starvation, neglect, cruelty and poisoning. Poisoning of both strays and pet animals happens every day; documented reports are abundant and have been shown on Greek television. Poisoning is indiscriminate, and can affect children, adults and animals alike. Offenders must be prosecuted and fined for this illegal activity. Given the current frequency of poisoning cases, it is also a concern that the numbers will increase as the country prepares to host the Olympics 2004 and the presence of stray animals on the streets is unwanted.

It is also common practice in Greece to abandon unwanted pets and hundreds of thousands of such animals roam parks, streets and forests all over Greece. The majority of these animals are not spayed or neutered due to widespread unawareness of the benefits of sterilization.

The answer is not to place these animals in shelters. Welfare conditions in existing municipal shelters are appalling and rather than solve the problem they simply perpetuate the suffering of these unfortunate animals. Furthermore adoption figures are low resulting in overcrowded shelters with enormous running costs. Municipalities must set up neutering centers now and re-release the neutered, vaccinated animals to the areas they frequent where animal welfare workers and other friends of the animals can follow up and feed them.

Tourists are horrified at the suffering they see whilst on holiday in Greece, many vowing never to return. Many Greeks are also concerned and are working hard to improve the situation but with little or no support from the authorities.

Given the magnitude of the problem, the Greek government, local councils and the Police must take action and strictly enforce Law 3710.

We thank you in advance for acting. Give Greek animals a chance.

For more information, paper version of petition and sample letter go to www.atlantisnet.gr/cidag
If you want to send an e-mail directly to the above ministers:
Prime Minister Costas Simitis: mail@primeminister.gr 
Minister of Agriculture Mr. Georgios Drys: ax2u025@minagric.gr 
Minister of Tourism Mr. Dimitrios Georgarakis: president@gnto.gr 

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

Sincerely,
 

Den Græske Ambassade i Danmark

Adresse: Hammerensgade 4, 3. sal, 1267 København K, Danmark

Tlf:
 +45 33 11 45 33
Fax:
 +45 33 93 16 46
Email: gremb.cop@mfa.gr 

Ambassadør
- Alexandros Couyiou

Ambassaderåd
- Eleftheria Galathianaki

Look here what they do with the old Hunting-Dog´s - Pictures speaks here:

http://www.graeskehunde.dk/sub/sub/HIjagthunde170308.htm

 Here´s a very strong video.

http://www.all-creatures.org/anex/dog.html

How can this country be a member of EU?

Greek fire victims desperate for help

Dear Bent

 

Nothing can truly prepare you for seeing the magnitude of destruction and despair the wildfires in Greece have burned in their path over the last week.

A woman sobs in my arms as the few sheep she has left huddle together in an unmoving circle, at risk of starvation because they are too afraid to step onto the blackened land that surrounds them.

A cat sits on the scorched earth - white on charcoal black - meowing next to its owner, an elderly man who sat watching from his porch as every inch of his land and life’s work went up in flames just a few yards from his chair.

A Greek gentleman barely manages to save his goats with a fire hose after losing all but one of his 18 sheep -- now badly burned around the ears and mouth after the man used a blanket to try to stamp out the fire that engulfed it.

My name is Dick Green and I am on the ground in Greece as part of IFAW’s Emergency Relief Team to help feed and treat as many burned or injured animals as we can find.

 

 

The inferno that swept Greece killed 66 people, destroying more than 4,000 homes in 110 villages and nearly 500,000 acres of countryside and farmland. Most of the villages I’ve visited are ghost towns – surrounding lands burnt to the ground with only a few empty houses standing.

Fields of ash look like the blackened surface of the moon as the stray dogs I pass cower and hide. The villagers have plenty of donated food and clothing for themselves, but desperately need assistance with the long term sustainability of their agricultural community after losing most of their livestock and olive groves. Insurance in Greece is almost nonexistent.

It takes around 6 months for new grass and crops to grow for feed. And since most of the animals and herds are free range – there is little land left for food.

I believe that IFAW, along with local agencies in Greece who are helping to lead the feeding and treatment of injured animals, can assist a great many animals and help rebuild the shattered lives these fires have left behind, but we cannot do it alone.

After delivering food for his surviving goats, I pull away from the older gentleman who lost all but one of his sheep as he waves both hands in the air and shouts “I will fight.” With your help, he can.

 

With hope from Greece.

Dick Green
Disaster Relief Manager
IFAW Emergency Relief Team

 

P.S. Despite a break in Greece's prolonged heat wave, there are now fears that heavy rain could cause floods in areas left exposed by the devastating fires.

 

 Please give what you can today to help.

 

In the article above they say nothing about all the homeless Dogs. WHY?

In Greece -  "Mans best friend is his own brain and not the Dog"!

27 august 2007

The wildfires that have scorched southern Greece, killing dozens of people, reached the ancient city of Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic games, an official said Sunday.

I feel it´s good with that wildfires. Hopefully it will kill all those dogs with their poor and bad life in Greece. It is a shame for all the hungry and homeless dogs!  You find them everywhere in Greece.

Greece has a very bad and stupid goverment / administration. They hate dogs!!!  

 

(Webmaster)

If the Greece people could learn to take care of their dog´s, then I know they will get very much help!