This young cat was found on Thursday (16/10/14) staggering in the road by Vamos Post Office (suffering distressing & agonising symptoms of poisoning). Now undergoing treatment, only time will tell if she survives
Crete, closely followed by Attica where Athens belongs, comes top in the number of reported cases of animal abuse in Greece for 2013 and the first half of 2014. According to data from the Greek Police and Tourism directorate given to parliament last week, in 2013 there were 102 incidents of abuse, torture or killing of animals in Crete closely followed by Attica with 99 reported cases out of a total of 530 cases nationally. In the first half of 2014 there were a total of 495 cases of reported animal abuse torture or killing of animals in Greece and the figures are expected to exceed the high of the previous year. Crete had the second highest number of cases, 79, while in Attica there were 107 cases of animal abuse reported to the police.
The Panhellenic Animal Welfare and Environmental Federation (PFPO) denounces the illegal and/or the legal municipal shelters-prisons-warehouses of living beings and asks their shut down as such and their transformation into Municipal Vet Clinics or where there are no shelters, the solely establishment of Municipal Vet Clinics.
On 10 June a meeting was held with the Deputy Prosecutor of Appeal, Crete & Mrs E. Chrysogianni regarding the animal shelter at Kaina The meeting, held on a proposal of councillor Mrs. E. Terezakis also present was Deputy Mayor Mr.Nikolouzakis, Mrs Linda Lucas and a recorder. The situation was analysed from many different perspectives. The prosecutor praised strongly all the effort of Ms Lucas and thanked her for trying to help the animals in the country against so many different adversities. It was conceded that there are always weaknesses, in any volunteer effort, but stressed that the Municipality should support the effort especially as so far the municipality has not done anything for strays, as required by law. The culture toward other creatures of nature was particularly stressed. It was discussed that everyone loves animals, but only when they are away from our homes! The Deputy Mayor was asked what he has done, or what programs have been put in place by the municipality for the animals of the region, but plans and proposals did not exist, only that the animals should leave Kaina. It was stressed that the proposal, which had received the most support from of the Council, i.e. for all the animals to be removed to another shelter or sent abroad, was impossible, impractical and contrary to the law, the proposal of councillor Mrs Terezakis was agreed as feasible and realistic.
Municipality of Chania announces the foundation and establishment of a Municipal Veterinary Clinic for the neutering program, deworming, vaccination, microchipping and feeding stray animals with the participation of seven Chania veterinarians. Under the terms of the building lease it will not be possible to keep animals overnight. Also there are plans to provide information on the service to the public & schools.
The clinic will be on the ground floor of the Municipal Community Water Offices
Veterinarians participating include: Eleni Maroulaki, Irini Kapsonaki, Stavros Xirouchakis, Georg Vizyrakis, Tania Aeriniotakis, Maria Kampoyraki & Leyteris Xatzidakis
Successive meeting were held today (16-04-13) between our Association, the Municipality of Chania and the Municipality Police of Chania, as well as the Public Prosecutors of Judges of Appeal and the Police Directorate of Chania, within the framework of our effort for the correct implementation of law 4039/2012, which refers to the protection of the stray and non-stray accompanying animals, as well as the obligations of the their proprietors towards them.
More specifically, at the Municipality of the city a meeting took place in the morning with Mr. Manousos Manousakis, responsible Vice Mayor of the Municipality Police, Mrs. Stella Christinaki responsible for the stray animals of the Municipality, Mr. Nick Bobolakis, responsible for the Municipality Police and municipality policemen.
The meeting took place within the framework of the common effort of the Municipality, the Municipality Police and our Association to inform the citizens as concerns the animal issues, the distribution of relative pamphlet edited by the Municipality as concerns our responsibilities towards the animals and our fellow citizens
Following, another meeting took place with Mrs. Chrysogianni, Vice Public Prosecutor of Judges of Appeal of Western Crete, whom we would like to thank publicly for her immense contribution to our struggle against the animal violence and with Mr. Koutsaftakis, Head of the Police Directorate of Chania, as well as with other Police authorities.
On behalf of the Public Prosecutor and on the occasion of the circular that the Public Prosecution of the Supreme Court of Appeal edited after the relative demand of our federation, there was a report on the moral and legal obligation we have towards all living species of our planet as well as the responsibilities originating from the law as concerns the actions of the police authorities in case of animals maltreatments. The issue of the “Barrel-Dogs”, the known pestilence and the main reason of defamation of our island and country, was mentioned as well.
The Public Prosecutor emphasized the cases of pathetic animal maltreatment, which are criminal according to law 4039/12. Examples mentioned were the absence of shelter for the animals, the permanent chained dogs, the absence of exercise through the daily walks, the absence or unsuitability of food and water, the absence of health treatment. The necessity of feeding and watering of the stray animals by the citizens was also mentioned.
The Head of the Police Directorate of Chania Mr. Koutsaftakis declared that Police will do whatever needed to improve the situation in Crete and that the law will be of course applied. He also mentioned the necessity of informing the policemen about all sides of the law, as concerns the animals, so that this law will be applied successfully.
From our point of view the necessity of a systematic information of all citizens, children and authorities was emphasized, so that our attitude towards animals can change progressively but on the other hand the necessity of punishment in case of non-conformance to the law was also expressed.
We, being the Animals Welfare Association “The Protection of Animals” as well as the Panhellenic Animal Welfare and Environmental Federation, are trying to contribute as much as we can to the deletion of phenomena, which do not honor us, as Greeks and human beings, but on this issue the State should have the main role and not the simple citizens and volunteers
