The first rumours about a new Animal Welfare Law started circulating many months ago, but nobody paid much attention, after all, even the previous animal welfare laws were never enforced - what would make the new Law any different?? While the Greeks are struggling through what is theworst political and financial crisis they have had to deal with for decades, the Greek government somehow ‘found time’ to debate new legislation concerning animal welfare issues. The ONLY positive aspect of the new law is a ban on circuses with performing animals.In addition, heavier penalties have been set up for those who abuse or kill an animal (meaning dogs or cats,
rather than livestock), but who will enforce the law???

Greece has a history of unenforced laws. The worst clause in the new Law is that anybody who rescues and tries to home dogs or cats abroad would be seen as an illegal trafficker and face a potentially very heavy fine. Unbelievably, many Greeks, including several government bodies, continue to believe that dogs from Greece are being sent to laboratories in Germany and for furs
(why are the Germans always being the ‘bad guys?!) despite the fact that not one shred of evidence has ever been brought forth to substantiate these claims. Representatives of Animal Welfare Unions were present at two parliamentary debates, but they were mocked and barely given an opportunity to put across their points and concerns. Nothing was mentioned about the notorious puppy trade & pet shops or the terrible zoos.

‘New’ Animal Welfare Law ...... a farce!!!

Source Greek Animal Rescue Spring newsletter

Apprehension before a visit to Greece

I had a strangely uncomfortable premonition about last year’s visit to Greece. In the months leading to the trip, the financial crisis in the country worsened, resulting in ever more dogs being abandoned, including small, elderly and pedigree dogs. The number of calls for help received had of course also increased and being on the receiving end of the calls and emails, I began to feel quite exasperated. In some cases we were able to help, but too often not. And the calls were/are not only from Greek animal rescuers, but also from expats (British and other nationalities), some of who had been living in Greece for many years. Unfortunately when they made the decision to
return to their respective countries (mainly for financial reasons) many of them had not thought about the dogs and cats they had acquired over the years, mostly through adoption of strays. Callously some of these poor animals had been/are being simply left behind to fend for themselves after their ‘owners’ leave Greece for good, others try to fi nd homes for them within Greece, but not very successfully.

Of course there are those who would (thankfully!) never abandon their animals and they do whatever is necessary to take them with them. Others turn to internet in search of organisations who would help find homes for them and we receive many such calls for help. Every case is different, but while there are times we can help directly, often we can only give advice, suggest various options, but in most cases try to persuade people to take the animals with them and find homes for them in their respective countries if they are unable to keep them, but to please not leave them behind!! Sometimes it upsets me greatly to deal with people who expect to be helped but show little interest into putting any effort into trying to solve their problem.... in fact they hardly see it as ‘their’ problem.

The apprehension I felt prior to going to Greece remained with me upon my return and is still present. How can it not be when I see the situation getting steadily worse instead of better! My apprehension is shared by all those involved in rescue work ‘on the ground’, because everybody is struggling to keep their heads above water (financially), but the vets are not dropping their  ...... then they are complaining that they have no work and accusing foreign vets of working illegally in Greece!! Always pointing a finger of blame at everybody but themselves!! Typical!!

The Greek Island of Crete is a favourite holiday destination. Visitors come from around the globe but especially from Germany and the UK. As with all Greek Islands a vacation will involve encounters with cats and dogs. There are always some wandering the streets. Some appear cared for but all are always on the slim side. If you look a little further you may see the sorry side of animal welfare in Greece. Neglected dogs and cats with rib cages jutting out of skinny bodies. GAR, Greek Animal Rescue, carries many tales of woe. Here is just one that was forwarded to TEKJournalismUK.

"A photo report about the many "barrel dogs" we found during a trip in Crete from November 2009 until February 2010. These dogs are used as tools, instead of cattle grids, to restrict the movement of sheep and goats. That is what they want us to believe...Forced to live chained up on one metre chains or shorter, with old rusty barrels for kennels, or even no barrels or any protection whatsoever.  Mostly living down deserted roads and tracks rarely seeing anyone. Their shelters do not provide suitable shelter during bad weather and they are like ovens during the summer months providing no relief from the scorching sun. To add to their misery they have some dirty water or no water at all, inapropriate food or no food at all.

They are mostly young dogs craving human companionship, most of them die before they are one year old.These dogs are overjoyed when they receive a kind word and a gentle touch, how harrowing it for us was continuing our way, to hear the dogs bark, cry and strain at the end of chains as if saying: Please come back, I only want some love and attention......"

Please donate if you can. Thank you

Many of you have, I’m sure, started to wonder if GAR is still in existence, but I assure you we are working harder than ever to help animals in Greece. This is partly the reason why the newsletter,
which was supposed to have been out before December ’11, is so late. On page 3, I have
written in more detail about the economic crisis Greece has been plunged into, but I’m sure you
have seen the TV news reports showing riots in Athens and around all of Greece. Unfortunately,
the fi rst casualties of any economic crisis are the animals and in Greece these victims are mainly
dogs. Larger animals such as horses and donkeys don’t fare much better. Riding stables are closing down, donkeys are becoming more expendable and the cost of food and care has increased resulting in many of these animals being abandoned.

In future the GAR Newsletters will go by ‘issue numbers’ (current issue being No. 65) rather than as Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter, because I find it difficult, if not impossible, to maintain such a strict a time-table at times when the workload is particularly heavy. Sadly, I will also have to shorten the newsletters. I don’t know any other organisations that produce as detailed newsletters as GAR’s have been, but while working on them has been rewarding, it is also very time-consuming. Since I started preparing the current issue, so much has happened that I could almost rewrite most of it now. However, this newsletter is meant to be largely a report of my last trip to Greece, visiting some of the people and organisations we support and meeting other animal rescuers who may need our help in the future. There will be another newsletter towards the end of July, but a much shorter version. I also have to bear in mind the increasing cost of printing and postage. I’m sure that you will understand and remain loyal to our cause of helping needy animals in Greece.

More to follow