~ The Ever-growing Dillema of the Disposable Stray Dogs and Cats of Greece ~
One way to help: "Do the 3K Help A Stray." Click here for info. on Dianne Alden's Fund Raiser. Or you may sponsor a Greek stray at: Sponsor a Greek Stray. Or write the, Greek Embassy , or the Greek Government, E-mails listed below and/or your local newspaper and TV station. (Sample letter) RECENT ARTICLES: 
New York "ASPCA" Press Release [August 2, '04]
An Open Letter to the Greek Govt. [August 7, '04]
NOT RESCUED IN TIME! [August 10, '04]
"Olympic Shame," By Julia Szabo New York Post [August 1, '04]
"Olympic Shame," The Ntnl. Post, Toronto, Canada [July 24, '04]
"Athletes Enraged Over Dog Killings," By Kevin Connor Toronto Sun [July 21, '04]
"Stray Crimes" ALPHA TV [July 14, '04]
"Greeks to Poison Up to 15,000 Before the Olympics," By David Harrison [July 11, '04]
Greek Ministry Funding Vanishing Act for Strays, Athens News By Cordelia Madden
"Yet Another Dog Lies Poisoned in What the World Sees as Greeces' Olympic Tragedy," Western Daily Press, By Roger Tavener [April 20, '04]
"Greek Animal Lover's Losing Battle," [Spring '04]
"United Against Poisoning" Athens News By Cordelia Madden. [March 26, '04]
Western Daily Press, [Opinion] [Spring '04] Open Letter to Greece by Anna Pouliou [read about the] June 6, '04 Athens Demo Protest "Rats Limber Up for the Olympics After Cat Cull," The Guardian, By Helena Smith [February 7, '04] False Accusations Against Greek Animal Rescue Workers [Winter/Spring '03-'04] "Will a New Law End Greek Tragedy," The Bark Magazine by Genevieve Rajewski [2003] "Athens Still Sniffing for Stray Dog Solution," By Neil Trent [2003] "Cultural Attitudes," By Dr. Brian Sparkes
"I Found Your Pet"
CONTACT THE GREEK MEDIA:  send an e-mail to the Greek Media
[..And disposable to the Greeks indeed they are...] For the last several years now something quite disturbing has been occurring in the country of Greece. Several dogs that were formerly pets are being consistently and systematically abandoned on the streets of cities and towns by their owners. As a result, there is not one part of the country that these unfortunate animals do not roam. They are ignored, starving in some cases, and many times abused or the worst case scenario being one of poison where these former pets die a painful--and many times slow--death. This somewhat new development in Greece is exacerbating an already existing problem. According to many [animal welfare] volunteer groups, 90% of these animals were former pets and have now been abandoned. Summer months appear to be the worst as people go on vacation and routinely abandon their animals as a result! This, among other reasons, have made for a horrific situation in the entire country. City officials have routinely turned a blind eye to this ever-increasing problem while the two largest cities in the country [Athens and Thessaloniki], naturally enough, have the worse case scenarios. Cats have always been abandoned and left to fend for themselves for decades and decades (indeed the majority start out as feral), but the dog situation is relatively new and has become overwhelming in the last few years. (Not to undermine the cat situation, however, for it too cries out for attention every bit as much as the dog dilemma does.) One can spot rotting dog carcasses on the side of the road, dogs walking around with open wounds or lame. Dogs filthy and flea-ridden with collars still on (!) that are now completely unapproachable because of how long they’ve been out there and are completely distrustful. Cats sick, starving (i.e., eyes almost shut tight from infection and disease, filled with worms and skeletal, or bloated, bodies as a result). Not to mention the dog raids that these cats endure on a regular basis that occur in the largest park in Athens (the city’s equivalent of Central Park, for one, though not as large). As a result, many are left alive with half-eaten bodies, intestines exposed, to endure an agonizingly slow death. The atrocities go and on and on.
[Kindly click on each image for a larger view] The usual thinking is that someone will take the dog home, the dog will be fine fending for itself, etc., etc. Unfortunately, anyone that is even remotely familiar with stray animals and the wretched existence they lead daily, knows that the exact opposite is true, and "Greek" dogs are no exception. Upon reading this one may ask why put out the word on abused animals as there are so many other existing problems. True, however Greece is also not a Third World Country, Greece in not a poor country. Greece is part of the newly formed European community. Greece is thriving financially (with subways, airports, etc. joining the ranks of other fiscally booming cities). Granted that this is a worldwide problem. However, unlike most European countries, Greece is sorely lacking in any sanctioned organizational animal welfare program or shelters.
[Kindly click on each image for a larger view] There is no 'official' Humane Society, no Animal Rescue League and no Animal Alliance. What does exist are small dedicated volunteer groups. You can well imagine how completely overwhelmed they are not to mention how draining emotional something like this can be. Clearly they cannot do it alone but need the Greek Government's help taking the following actions:
~ Won't you please take the time and kindly e-mail, or write, one or more of the individuals listed below: THE GREEK GOVERNMENT:
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Deputy Minister of Agriculture ALEXANDROS KONDOS E-Mail: ax2u050@minagric.gr
| Minister of Tourism DIMITRIOS AVRAMOPOULOS E-Mail: dimavra@otenet.gr
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Minister of Foreign Affairs PETROS molyviatis E-Mail: mfa@mfa.gr
| Greek Ambassador to the U.S. GEORGE SAVVAIDES E-Mail: evie@greekembassy.org
| Minister THEODOROS ROUSSOPOULOS E-Mail: info@primeminister.g
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[August 22, 2004] Despite the long-standing claims, by the Greek Government, that all stray dogs will be spayed/neutered then re-leased where originally found, in time for the Olympics, the exact opposite occured in that 50,000 dogs and cats were horrifically poisoned in 'preparation' for the approaching games. The poisoning was done mainly through rat poisoning left in food or glass of broken shards left in food. Unfortunately, there is no respect for animal life and this obscene culling will no doubt be continued at the start of every tourist season View the 5 min. expose put out by the "Welfare for Animals in Greece," (disturbing images) 
