Stray dogs were a very common sight in every corner of Greece even before the crisis. Some sources report that there were 1,5 million strays in 2011. The number has apparently doubled since then and it keeps growing exponentially day by day, as only a few of the strays get neutered. But I wouldn't blame it all on the crisis. It's more about the typical Greek mentality when it comes to animals. And don't misunderstand me: I love Greece and I know a great bunch of fantastic Greeks.
Some strays are born in the street, others get abandoned because their owners either get tired of the responsibility or can't afford to keep a pet anymore. Most strays are friendly and don't pose any danger. But they do form packs and some people consider them a threat and they want the alleged threat removed. But where to and by whom?
The methods used by the relevant municipal organisation are pretty much ineffective. When strays become undesirable in one neighborhood, they get relocated to another one where they have to get adjusted to the new reality, make new people-friends who would feed them and offer a bowl of water, and try to deal with local strays which do not necessarily welcome newcomers. Sometimes, dogs try to return to their old neighborhoods and get run over by cars on their journey back home.
If the municipality does not respond, the residents often take matters into their own hands. Poisoning of strays is widespread throughout Greece and it occurs on a daily basis. These cases are rarely, if ever, investigated, and after the first shock of seeing corpses in parks or in the streets, people simply move on. Just a fact of life, isn’t it? The dead animal bodies get picked up by garbage trucks and life goes on. Well, our life, not theirs.
Millions of foreign tourists visit Greece every year. Many of them are shocked by the sight of strays around hotels, tavernas and holiday resorts. Most of them leave and forget ... But there are quite a few who don’t leave alone, but carry a furry friend with them back home. They #adoptagreekstray. The average lifespan of a Greek stray roaming the streets is 2 years. These people make it longer.
Back to my Rosy. Her life was put at risk in the fall 2017, but I chose not to look the other way. She is alive today because I didn't give up on her. With the financial help of a couple of friends, I could afford to have her hospitalized. With the help of others, she was placed in a dog pansion. I need more help to keep her there, safe. But more than anything else, Rosy needs a home.
Some strays are born in the street, others get abandoned because their owners either get tired of the responsibility or can't afford to keep a pet anymore. Most strays are friendly and don't pose any danger. But they do form packs and some people consider them a threat and they want the alleged threat removed. But where to and by whom?
The methods used by the relevant municipal organisation are pretty much ineffective. When strays become undesirable in one neighborhood, they get relocated to another one where they have to get adjusted to the new reality, make new people-friends who would feed them and offer a bowl of water, and try to deal with local strays which do not necessarily welcome newcomers. Sometimes, dogs try to return to their old neighborhoods and get run over by cars on their journey back home.
If the municipality does not respond, the residents often take matters into their own hands. Poisoning of strays is widespread throughout Greece and it occurs on a daily basis. These cases are rarely, if ever, investigated, and after the first shock of seeing corpses in parks or in the streets, people simply move on. Just a fact of life, isn’t it? The dead animal bodies get picked up by garbage trucks and life goes on. Well, our life, not theirs.
Millions of foreign tourists visit Greece every year. Many of them are shocked by the sight of strays around hotels, tavernas and holiday resorts. Most of them leave and forget ... But there are quite a few who don’t leave alone, but carry a furry friend with them back home. They #adoptagreekstray. The average lifespan of a Greek stray roaming the streets is 2 years. These people make it longer.
Back to my Rosy. Her life was put at risk in the fall 2017, but I chose not to look the other way. She is alive today because I didn't give up on her. With the financial help of a couple of friends, I could afford to have her hospitalized. With the help of others, she was placed in a dog pansion. I need more help to keep her there, safe. But more than anything else, Rosy needs a home.
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