report from greece

ritz

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typing from a european computer so excuse typos etc

i helped/observed a volunteer from Nine Lives feed around 100 cats around the acropolis in Athens.Around 10 feeding stations, the cats know Elisa her smell, her steps, her food. She feeds them around four evenings a week, other volunteers feed them during the morning and evening.  The same volunteers can see quickly which cats are new (and thus need spayed/neutered( and which cats need a vet care.  the cats are regularly dewormed and defleaed.  Lik the USA, price of s/n is too high for private citizens, and NineLives tries to help out financially pensioners who have a cat but no money to get them s/n.

There are A LOT of cats in Mykonos, unlike Nine Lives, there doesn't seem to be a well organized tnr program.  There are three or four cats at the hotel I am staying, one has been TNRd *ear tipped.  For the most part the stray cats we saw are of reasonable weight; the other few cats clearly should be euthanized. Sad. The cost of a fancy feast size can of cat food is around one dollar.

off to santorini animal welfare refuge tomorrow, just donkeys and dogs.  SAWA has no one place for cats.

Ritz
 

ldg

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:wow: Thank you so much for taking the time to share! It's so frustrating that in so many places s/n just isn't affordable without private program help. :(

I hope you're having a wonderful time! Did you take any pictures for us?
 

feralvr

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Cindy! Sounds like Nine Lives is a wonderful organization of volunteers. I guess even on vacation you are volunteering your time to helping cats. There is such a need, everywhere. Update on SAWA as to how your visit goes there, if you can! :)
 
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ritz

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Update on trip to Greece and cats

There are lots of postcards with cats on them in Santorini, but I've seen very few cats.  I carry cat food (dry and wet) with me.  The one time I saw some cats were near a restaurant so I secretively put out two cans of food and left quickly.

Becky (twin sister, dog lover first, animal lover 2nd) and I did find Santorini Animal Welfare Association (SAWA) refuge for dogs and donkeys.   The municipality was not happy with the creation of the refuge and refuses to pave the road, but it is a very short walk from the main road (well, what passes for a main road in Greece!)  Christina and another woman are the only people who take care of the 90 dogs (full capacity) and 10 or 20 donkeys.  This is the way the Greeks think:  if the dog works for its food and as long as it remains healthy (guard dog, herder, etc.), then the Greek person will take care of it, i.e., feed it.  If the dog becomes lame or sick [we saw a dog in Mykonos with a huge tumor on its rear end], then the Greek will take it out to the field and chain it up and leave it to die.  They do not see the purpose of spay/neutering a cat/dog.  SAWA attempted an educational program at the elementary school level, but was unsuccessful.  They are going to try again this year(?), with kindergarden children.  So maybe the child will teach the parent about compassion towards anials.

The situation with cats isn't quite as dire, only (and I repeat ONLY) because the cats keep the rats, mice away.  Like the dogs, if the cat gets sick, they do not treat the cat.  If the cat doesn't hunt and eat the mice, the Greeks give it cat food with glass in it or abandon it.  In fairness to the Greeks, some of them barely have enough money to feed themselves, pay the mortgage, much less feed a cat or pay for vet bills.

We learned who SAWA's vet was and found her at her vet clinic.  That day was cat day, she was spaying/neutering around seven cats.  (Don't know how the cats came to her).  Dr. Margarita Valvis Roussos (Messaria, Santorini) has a cat room, where there were three adorable kittens being taken care of  All had eye problems, one was blind (virus).  The blind one was (of course) the friendliest, purring, all over me and Becky.

SAWA survives on donations.  Check out their internet site for more information

Back to Athens today (Saturday), where I will continue to give out cat food when I see cats.  Back to the States Sunday.
 

feralvr

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OH :bawling: those poor Greek dogs, then...... :shame: OH Cindy, I am sure you have seen your share of sadness on this trip. Thanks for sharing your experience and telling the stories about the Greek cats/dogs. Safe travels home. I bet Ritz will be happy to see you. :rub: :heart3:
 
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