Bulletin from the Animal Welfare Department (Apokoronas Council)

The Municipality of Apokoronas is trying to find a solution to the issue of stray animals with a specific management plan drawn up and unanimously approved by the City Council at the last meeting. Meanwhile, the Mayor Charalambos Koukianakis, has called  to implement legislation and to permanently shut down the illegal animal center in Kaina Apokoronas.

The monitoring and responsibility for the implementation of the management plan for strays consists of a 5-member committee composed of: R. Terezakis (deputy mayor), C. Mousourakis (veterinarian), M. Paitaki (trainer of animals), St. Kotsifaki and deputy R . Tsekmetzoglou (representatives of the Animal Welfare Association of Chania “The Protection of Animals”) and E. Iliaki by Deputy S. Vrompel (representatives of the Animal Welfare Association of Chania “Little Ark”).
The management plan provides, inter alia, the supply of microchips for stray dogs, veterinary equipment and food as well as cooperation between the municipality, the veterinarian C. Mousourakis and animal protection association “Fordervere in Arche Noah Kreta” to perform sterilisations. from the council to supply veterinary material, food, houses and feeders for strays and has covered veterinarian fees. It has already neutered around 100 stray animals and many of them have been returned to their natural environment.
In addition, the workshop has been set up for the collection of strays and in collaboration with animal welfare organizations and a neutered animal adoption programme prepared for the citizens, who will be rewarded with a large discount for veterinary equipment and food for these adopted animals.
At the same time, a target programme has been prepared  educating students in caring for animals and awareness.  There is a plan for every school unit to adopt two strays, and soon a page will be completed in the municipality website dealing with caring for animals and other informational topics. Also, in the Town Hall there will be an information area for programs and application for adoption and fostering of strays in cooperation with volunteers and animal welfare organizations.
Regarding Kaina, the mayor stressed that the decision on the management plan was unanimous and added that the Board of Directors updated simultaneously all previous decisions on the definitive closure of the dog kennel in Kaina. “We urge the prosecutor to give instructions to the relevant departments to carry out their work and shut down the illegal animal shelter as it is known that it cannot be legalized,” said Mr. Koukianakis. He noted that “part of the population of animals at the animal center are suffering from leishmaniasis, as  officially informed by the Veterinary Directorate.”
Asked what would happen to the over 200 dogs that are in animal center if it is closed, Mr. Koukianakis noted that “The prosecutor should define some operators, veterinary and animal welfare associations and the municipality, all together and give directions. We will will help with money, but we cannot deal alone with the 250 dogs that gathered there from all West Crete.  Some of them should be moved to other parts of the county, they cannot be left all in Apokoronas” noted, Mr. Koukianakis.