Friends of Animals / Filozoikos NF

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

GREEK AUTHORITIES DENY THAT ANIMALS ARE TREATED BADLY IN GREECE! Have your say!!

18 July 2008

Mr S. Efstathopoulos
Secretary General of Tourism
The Ministry of Tourism
Tsoxa
115 21 Athens
Greece

Dear Mr Efstathopoulos

It has come to my attention that a standard reply letter has been prepared and is sent to those who write to the Greek Tourist Organisation, about animal neglect or abuse they have seen while on holiday in Greece. Unfortunately this reply is causing as much, if not more, concern among tourists as the original episode that prompted them to write to you in the first place. Tourists who take the time and effort to write about animal welfare issues in Greece are looking for assistance and a solution, not a standard reply, and they are now contacting Greek Animal Rescue (GAR) UK, to help with these same problems.

I would like to address a few points raised in your letter to tourists; you write:

*** Dear ……………..

Following your email of June 6, 2008, we would like to inform you that there is already a legal framework in Greece aiming to the elimination of incidences of animal abuse. Laws 1197/1981 and 3170/2003 comprise regulations both for companion animal welfare and for the protection of (stray) animals and provide for penalties in case of infringement. In addition, our country has ratified the European Convention for the protection of pet animals of 1987 by law 2017/1992.

All of the above is correct, in theory but, with all due respect, the laws are not being implemented.

For your information, I founded GAR to help animals in Greece following a very distressing holiday in 1987. I visit Greece on a regular basis (to visit some of those we support) and I am only too familiar with what is happening ‘on the ground’.

*** According to law 3170/2003, the Ministry of Rural Development and Food is responsible for the protection of animals in our country. Local Authorities are in charge of the management of the state of stray animals within the scope of their competence. The measures taken include identification and registration of stray animals, veterinary examination, vaccination and sterilisation as well as veterinary attention and care of ill or injured animals. In addition, the electronic identification of owned animals and the control of their reproduction activity is obligatory. The obligations of pet owners include, inter alia, the welfare of their animals, their annual medical exams etc. The owners who do not comply with the Law are punished with fines, or, depending on the offence, with six months imprisonment.

I am also very familiar with law 3170/2003 and again, while it looks good on paper, in reality it is not being implemented. Only 28 out of 400 plus Municipalities in Greece run sterilisation programmes for stray dogs. There is no official body or Municipality which regulates or implements the obligatory identification and microchipping of either stray or owned dogs and it is estimated that fewer than 5% of owned dogs are microchipped (and none of the stray dogs). This is a great pity, as this simple measure would ensure that many fewer dogs would be abandoned on Greek streets. If it were accompanied by campaigns to encourage the sterilisation of owned animals then the number of animals, especially puppies, abandoned on the streets would be drastically reduced.

Even a simple measure linking hunting licences to compulsory registration and microchipping of hunting dogs would go a long way to reducing the stray population.
There are approximately 270,000 registered hunters in Greece and probably almost as many who are not registered. Many hunters have up to 10 dogs and those dogs who prove unsuitable for hunting or who are elderly, are regularly abandoned on the streets.

You say that: “dog owners who don’t comply with the Law are punished with fines …” I would like to learn of even one instance of a dog owner being punished for not having his dog microchipped. It simply does not happen. However, I could give you hundreds of examples and photographic evidence of ‘owned’ dogs that have been abandoned including puppies and kittens. Animals that are simply thrown into rubbish bins or any other convenient receptacle, not to mention the tens of thousands of stray and owned dogs and cats (and the non intended victims like birds and other wildlife) that are poisoned annually.

*** As regards the promotion of ethical behaviour, the Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food, in cooperation with official animal welfare associations, coordinates the education of citizens on the issue, through the organisation of seminars for pet owners, trainers or traders. The above activities are financed by the Hellenic Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Here, unfortunately, the situation is even more tragic.The Ministry of Rural Development and Food has no contact with animal welfare organisations in Greece. I can refer you to the two largest animal welfare federations in Greece (Coalition in Defence of Animals in Greece and the Panhellenic Animal Welfare Federation should you wish to confirm this). There are no ’seminars for pet owners, trainers and traders’ and every week hundreds of new animals are imported into Greek pet shops, having been raised in appalling conditions in Hungarian, Romanian and Bulgarian puppy farms.

*** You should know, however, that in order to initiate legal proceedings against offenders or proceed to recommendations towards the Local Authorities and the citizens of the local society regarding their obligations towards companion animals as well as the penalties incurred by non-compliance with the relative provisions, you need to produce detailed information concerning the exact place and time of the incident so that the competent Veterinary Authorities can take the matter in hand.

In my experience, incidents of cruelty and neglect are simply ignored by the police or to whoever they are reported to. I have experienced this many times personally and tourists report similar experiences when they try to find somebody in authority to help them with such matters. The most common response is that they are laughed at and in many cases they are simply told ‘this is how we do things here’. It is enough evidence that they write to you.

Tourists also complain to us about the general living conditions for animals - undernourished dogs kept chained 24 hours a day, donkeys and cows hobbled and tethered in open fields with no shade or water. I can provide you with photographic evidence of all I write about. Need I tell you about the plight of the donkeys on Santorini, about which the UK national newspaper Daily Express ran a 10 day long campaign, during which time their reporter was threatened by the owners of donkeys.

***Realizing the importance of the issue, the Ministry of Tourism plans to highlight to the Ministry of Economy and Finance the need to increase financing for the protection of animals. We assure you that we go to great lengths in order to minimize unacceptable phenomena such as those you have been describing.

With all due respect, ill-treatment and neglect of animals in Greece is more than a ‘phenomenon’. It is a daily fact of life. Again, I can send you numerous photos of abused and neglected animals and I have background information (date, place etc) on each of them. Surely you have heard about 9 dogs found hanged on one tree in the tourist resort of Kardamena, Kos, in March 2008, or the recent poisoning of at least 12 dogs and a number of cats in Chania, Crete.

*** Greek citizens as well as the country’s Authorities expressly condemn the ill-treatment of animals. However, isolated incidents of animal abuse should not call into question the continuous effort of our country to achieve a fully satisfactory level of animal protection and welfare.

Forgive me, but incidents of animal abuse are most certainly not ‘isolated cases’. It may also interest you to know that at least 80% of animal welfare/rescue work in Greece is funded by ‘foreign’ organisations, such as ours (Greek Animal Rescue), Graeske Hunde in Denmark, several German societies which help animals from Corfu in the north to Crete in the south. Our organisation alone spends on average 150,000€ per year on animal welfare / rescue work in Greece, subsidising neutering etc.

I apologise for the length of my letter, Mr Efstathopoulos, but I had to comment on what I consider an inaccurate description of the state of animal welfare and of how Greek laws designed to protect animals are not being implemented. The reality is tragic and the sooner we acknowledge this, then the sooner we can all work together to achieve real changes and improve the lives of not only companion animals but all animals in Greece.

Our organisation, Greek Animal Rescue, and our colleagues in other European countries are willing to help as much as possible and would welcome co-operation with the Ministry of Tourism. We have considerable experience in helping tourists with the problems they encounter with animals. We also have contacts all over Greece both among animal welfare workers and veterinary surgeons. In addition, I suggest you contact and work with the two major Animal welfare Federations who are also extremely willing to assist you.

Η Πανελλήνια Φιλοζωική Ομοσπονδία
τηλ: 6946502096, φαξ:210-7291310, email: info@pfo.gr

Ομοσπονδία για τα Δικαιώματα των Ζώων (CIDAG),

τηλ. 6932091666, info@argosgr.org

In turn, we would welcome your advice on clear simple procedures that tourists can follow, should they witness acts of animal cruelty or abandonment– perhaps a form they can complete and submit to the relevant authority, but this authority must be accessible in all of Greece and there must be a follow-up of the complaints, which should be reported back to the complainant.

I know from many of our members that they now avoid Greece as a holiday destination because they cannot face the cruelty and disregard for animals they witness or the huge number of abandoned animals who wander the streets.

There are simple measures such as sterilisation of owned animals and microchipping that would change the situation to a large degree. It is a great pity that a beautiful country and a wonderful holiday destination is marred by lack of interest in animal welfare, but I am sure it is possible to change this situation and we offer you all our support in any way you require it. I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Vesna Jones (Founder/President)

cc: Mr A. Spiliotopoulos
Mr K. Kilkidis
Mr A. Oikonomou

Copied here from http://www.garcanada.bizland.com/id7.html, an excellent website for the reality of Greek animal welfare.

Written by Kiki K.

Today (June 20th) a female dog with 8 puppies was chained in a tree in the NF park with a bowl of water and some boiled rice for food. We took her and 2 of the puppies to the shelter. She is too skinny and has dermatological problems. Two of the other puppies disappeared before taking them - someone must have taken them. The other 4 are fostered by a young lady who picked the male ones. She is going to keep them in her summer house and try to find them homes, but if she doesn’t manage to give them all she is willing to adopt them.

This is Mama Hera and her daughters Athena and Artemis. Athena has the colour of champagne and has one blue eye and one brown eye. Artemis is the sleepy little brown one. They are 1.5 months old. Artemis has dermatological problems also.

These puppies will be available for adoption at 3 months but you are all welcome to come and visit and make a promise to adopt when they are old enough.

Thanasis, Mao the Chow, Fotini, Xena

Xena has taken up residence with Mao the Chow and is loving her new freedom. We wish her all the best!

Trying out a new home this week.

When I first met Xena she had stitches all down her one side and was incredibly terrified. She had come into the shelter injured and in the night the other dogs in her cage chewed out the stitches and were trying to eat her! She went back to the vet and had a second procedure and when she returned we put her by herself until she healed.

She has been a strange guest at the Shelter going many months without leaving her cage for walks and then for long periods of time frantically running in circles when she does get out. We never thought anyone would adopt her because admittedly she is not the most attractive of dogs and her behaviour is really erratic.

Luckily, one of the Shelter Ladies daughters is familiar with Xena’s story and is willing to have her come and visit to see if it will work out. They have an adopted dog from the Shelter from years ago and if they are friendly, Xena will have a new home.

Returned to His Neighbourhood

Aris came to us after a motor vehicle encounter, with a broken leg and broken off tail. We were called by one of the family’s that feeds and loves him that he was injured. While he was at the shelter wearing his cast and cone, Emma chewed the stitches off his tail surgery! So back to the surgery for repairs.

Now he is all recovered and returned to where he is happy and to the families that all came out to meet him when we drove up!

Sophie and her New Parents!

Sophie, a very lovable young stray was picked up for sterilizing a few weeks ago. We had planned to return her to her friends and neighbourhood but today she was adopted!

Elvis has left the building!

Crazy coincidence! Early on the morning of our Summer Street Fair this wonderful family came and chose little Elvis to join their family. Look at new daddy’s t-shirt - Its ELVIS! The King of Rock is watching over our shelter - who knew!?

An impromptu Dinner Party for our closest 100 friends (we are wishing!) to cover our devotion to the poisoned dogs in our neighbourhood.

Wednesday July 1st, TSIPOURADIKO TAVERNA. Located in the Nea Filadelphia Park next to Alsos Cinema and opposite to Dekeleias 139 at 21:00. 25e per person includes dinner, dessert, music & dancing.

Η δεύτερη εκδήλωση είναι ένα Φιλανθρωπικό δείπνο στην ταβέρνα ΤΣΙΠΟΥΡΑΔΙΚΟ, την Τετάρτη 1η Ιουλίου στις 21:00. Η ταβέρνα βρίσκεται δίπλα από το Σινεμά Άλσος και απέναντι από τον αριθμό Δεκελείας 139. Με 25€ μπορείτε να απολαύσετε γεύμα με επιδόρπιο, με ευχάριστη μουσική και -γιατί όχι- χορό!

For tickets, please call Kiki at 6944949741 and reserve your seats so we know how much catering to order.

Before, During, After!

June 26 - Today we groomed Tzitzifrigos. He is a little stray that anyone who lives in NF will recognize as the scruffy Benji looking dog that is always running through the park. He actually lives in the yard of the little church in from the parking lot.

June 27 - Three cats poisoned. Two are dead.

June 27 - An unsupervised person attempted to walk Mais, the large male pitbull, outside the shelter without his leash and subsequently lost him for many hours in the park. This person then went home without returning Mais to his cage because he had lost him. When Vol T arrived to supervise the evening dogwalking, she found Mais at the gate of the shelter waiting to come back in. Mais came in and quickly ran, not to his water/food, but to Apostoli and began fighting. Apostoli is injured on his head and leg. Another unexpected expense and pain/suffering due to lack of forethought of this particular person.

June 27 - The Metamorphosi Silent Protest only attended by 8 people (6 rep’s from FZ NF and 2 from the 4 groups that invited us) so it evolved into a door-to-door addressing of the problem with the neighbours. We discussed the situation with the people involved and although they were not convinced, in the end things were much smoother than in the beginning. The neighbours also understood that animal organizations are concerned about the 2 strays of the neighbourhood .

June 28 - Our Street Bazaar - Not the best turn out but those that did come made excellent donations and we sold many poison kits for both dogs and cats. Thanks to Elisavet and her team from ΕΝΩΣΗ ΕΝΕΡΓΩΝ ΦΙΛΟΖΩΩΝ, ACTIVE ANIMAL LOVER’S UNION (www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=30287077142&ref=mf) for joining us in the fundraising. Their group operates city-wide with volunteers and without a shelter and could use donations also for their kennel costs.
Also in this picture is Fidel, a NF old-timer, who hung out with us for the day.

Van Needs a Foster Home for the Summer

This is Van, a 10 years old griffon caniche who is owned by a young lady who lives in Nea Filadelphia who is sick. Because of the medical treatment required for her illness, she will live with her family and stay in the hospital for the next 2 months. She is unable to afford a kennel to keep Van in and wishes that someone can foster him for the the summer.

Next week we will groom him - he is looking quite shaggy! - and update his vaccinations.

Right now he is living at the shelter, chained to a tree, as he is very scared and depressed at being around so many barking dogs.

If you have the room for a couple of months for this old guy to hang out at, please call Kiki immediately and we will bring him over with lots of food, a leash and collar set as soon as he has his grooming.

Click through to Sign Petition

Viewable through Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=120682411689&h=-Ur6w&u=MxuLI&ref=mf

Viewable through The Petition Site:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/ban-the-sale-of-dangerous-pesticides-throughout-greece-apagoreysh-sthn-eleytherh-polhsh-fytofarmakwn

Poison…
Poisoned animals on the streets…
Daily phenomenon in Greece GUILTY
No penalties.. No change …
The law is clear …

The poisoning of animals is illegal in Greece…

According to Law 1197/1981: “Anyone who criminally kills or abandons an animal will be punished with imprisonment for up to 6 months and / or a fine of 300 € to 1,500 €”

Every year dogs and cats are poisoned and die in terrible pain. The poisoning of animals is inhumane and illegal. Nevertheless, this practice continues on a daily basis across the Greece. The poisoners ignore the law, public safety and the animals themselves. But owners who abandon their animals or those indifferent to this brutal act are to blame.

The Animal Welfare Association - Himaira, promotes the ceasing of these criminal activities by addressing the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Interior (the municipalities) and the Ministry of Public Order (the police), through letters to BAN THE SALE OF DANGEROUS PESTICIDES THROUGHOUT GREECE.

HIMAIRA PROMOTES THE FOLLOWING: Shops that sell pesticides must demand the buyers to sign a solemn declaration as to the use of these pesticides and in so doing, declare the purpose, and location of their proposed use. If shop owners are required to collect this information, and buyers understand the consequences if they do not use these pesticides as they are intended to be used, we believe we can reduce the incidence of poisoning in animals.

To be able to change the mindset of the world about the abuses and the poisoning of animals we must make the lives of deliberate poisoners a harder by exposing those people who have no hesitation in using poisons against innocent animals.

ALL Sign to ban the widespread sale of poisons.
ALL Sign to make life difficult for the animal killers.
ALL Sign on the right of life to animals.

We must be advocates for the daily suffering of thousands of animals who suffer and die from poisons???.

SAY NO TO CRIME