Cat Design by Lotta Salomies (8 yrs old )
Dog Design by Yassmin Husseini
(6 yrs old)
Why does Greece have such a large stray animal population?
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It all started after the second world war; there were no stray animals on
the streets then but as the years went by, they began to appear. A few strays
are not usually a problem, but years of uncontrolled breeding changed this
situation and the result is that there are now millions of stray cats and
dogs in Greece.
What’s being done about the problem with the large stray animal
population? Lots!
But not
Enough!
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There are over 100
animal welfare and environmental groups in Greece. These groups are working
hard – helping strays, neutering, providing medical
care, homing, education and lobbying. During the past decade, many thousands
of cats and dogs have been neutered in this country as people begin to realize
that it is the most humane solution and the only one that works to permanently
reduce the number of animals. Unfortunately, during the past decade, many
thousands of others have been killed by poisoning – the desperate action
of people who dislike strays and see it as the only solution for getting
rid of them. The truth is that the catch and kill method DOES NOT WORK – other
strays move in and before long the problem is as bad or worse than before.
Did the 2004 Olympics change anything for the strays
of Greece?
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Generally, we can say that public awareness of stray animals is improving and perhaps the Olympics did help in this regard. Newspapers, television and radio stations also provide regular coverage of animal welfare issues and there are now hundreds of animal welfare societies in Greece working to help animals and educate the next generation in humane care for animals. Finally, groups like GAWF (Greek Animal Welfare Fund) and GAR (Greek Animal Rescue) among others continue their hands-on work throughout the country which they would have done even if there had not been any Olympic Games in Greece.
What the Olympics did achieve, however, was to bring more attention to the plight of stray animals in Greece.
What’s it like for an animal living on the
street?
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If
you’re living in Greece or perhaps visiting, you may see a dog
or a cat sleeping on the street or waiting patiently beside your taverna
table for a tidbit of food. If the animal looks healthy, you might think
that it’s happy being free. But the fact is – there is a grim
reality to life on the street.
Terrible things go on. Kittens are crushed to death by the jaws of garbage
truck when people put them in trash bags; cats get their skin ripped off
or pins stuck in eyes; or get wires tied around their stomachs or necks which
grow into the flesh of the animals. Dogs get hung or shot, tied on short
ropes or chains and starved to death; sometimes dogs lie by the side of the
road for days after being hit by a car before someone helps them; animals
are poisoned; pathetic cats and dogs with sad eyes and bodies of skin and
bones wander the street, particularly in the rural areas. Animals abandoned
by cruel, thoughtless people are left to roam the streets. And if you see
a dog with scabs on his body, bloody ears and a strange, old look in his
eyes, he probably has the parasitic disease Leishmaniasis. The pain of homeless
animals is everywhere in Greece. Only the strongest and the luckiest survive.
So…what’s the solution to the stray animal problem?
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| 01 | Country-wide neutering programs, sponsored and paid for by the municipalities. |
| 02 | Homing programs, supported by municipalities and the media. |
| 03 | Education in the schools, to teach children the value of respect for the animals we share this earth with. Children should understand why we have so many strays; they should learn how to approach them properly and how to help them. |
| 04 | General public relations/education program to nurture in people their innate love and need of animals, thereby making them more likely to help a stray than be cruel to it. |
| 05 | Protected neighborhoods; where people feed regularly, vaccinate, neuter (thereby keeping the numbers stable) and provide necessary medical care; such neighborhoods exist and are a haven for strays but we need more of them. |
| 06 | Legislation that protects animals from the cruel acts of people; and the enforcement of such legislation. |
| 07 | Control of pet shops – both the conditions in which they keep animals and the importation of animals from kitten and puppy mills (many of these places raise animals in horrible conditions) and the control of the import of wild and exotic animals. |
| 08 | Infrastructure set up to make sure that where municipality or private animal shelters exist, they are looking after the animals in a proper manner. Shelters should, however, be only temporary solutions and not life-long prisons for the animals. |
| 09 | Registration of pets – with a very reasonable fee and a reduced fee for neutered pets and multiple pets. |
| 10 | Support for your local animal welfare group and their efforts to raise money to help the strays. |
How realistic is it that the solutions to solve the stray animial problem will
be carried out?
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It will take time and effort to reduce
the stray animal population in this country to acceptable levels. Animal welfare
groups need to work together
with government officials, an informed public and schools towards a humane
solution. The task is a gigantic one but it is in our best interests to carry
it out. Yes…OUR best interests. For it is not only the animals that
have something to gain from our helping them. We humans need to care about
animals because they fulfill a basic human need – they offer us unconditional
love.
The truth is, we need animals in our life.
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Each animal has a different character,
habits and manners? An animal will befriend us, make us laugh, rouse our anger,
understand our grief, test our
patience, evoke our admiration, demand attention, give us lots of work to
do and remain our friend through thick or thin. The bonding that occurs between
a human and an animal is much like that in a parent-child relationship. The
difference is that companion pets never grow up and leave home; they remain
dependent on us for their lifetime. And unlike people, no matter what you
do or say, regardless of what you look like, no matter what your race or
religion or whether you are rich or poor, your companion pet is your friend
for life.
It is the individual attitude that will turn the situation with the Greek
strays around!
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It is your attitude and that of your neighbours; it
is the individual politician who cares; the individual vet who cares; the
person who cares enough to help
one animal. When people realize that taking care of an animal that is hungry,
frightened or ill gives them a very satisfied feeling; that hugging a pet
makes them
feel good; that petting an animal can improve their health by lowering blood
pressure. When people realize that confiding troubles to your favorite cat
or dog helps relieve the stress of life; when a family realizes that a beloved
companion animal has made their family more complete – then the real
change will take place.
I would like to adopt a cat or dog but am afraid to take one off the street?
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Don’t be afraid. Contact the animal welfare society in your area and
they will help you adopt a stray. The group will try to supply you with as
much of the animal’s history as possible; they will help you neuter
it (if it hasn’t already been neutered); and give you advice on
de-worming, vaccinations and what vet to use. They will also give you
advice on how to
care for the animal and they will take it back if you change your mind.
SPAZ certainly tries to do all of the above.
Most of the strays we home are mixed
breeds and it never fails to amaze us how an animal who has lived on the
street adapts so easily to living with
a family in a home. But why not? To suddenly find yourself the center of
attention, with a comfortable bed to sleep in and regular meals is something
to appreciate.
Sometimes, SPAZ members are fostering cats and dogs who have
come from a home and for one reason or another, the owner has had to give them
up.
So when you are looking for a pet, tell the animal welfare group exactly
what you would like. There are usually so many animals looking for homes,
it is easy to fill requests; if none of these animals are what you want,
be patient and the right one will come along.
What about buying a pet from a pet shop?
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Please don’t!
By buying a pet from a pet shop (most of these
will be full-bred animals), you are encouraging the over-breeding of animals,
resulting in a multitude
of health and behavioral problems. You are encouraging the importation of
animals from other countries, separated from their mothers at too young an
age, many of whom die in the long, arduous trip from breeder to pet shop,
others who arrive full of health problems with some carrying contagious diseases.
Many of these animals suffer such trauma from the treatment they undergo
during the first few months of their lives that they are beset with permanent
behavioral problems. You will also spend a lot of money.
But while we recommend
against getting an animal from a pet shop, we also recognize that these
animals too deserve a chance for a good home. And sometimes
people don’t think about buying a pet from a shop until they see an
animal in a cage in a window and they are smitten by the sad look in the
animal’s eyes. So if you do get an animal from a shop, find out
as much as possible about the animal and get the animals checked by a
vet as
soon as possible. And give it some extra love and care to help it overcome
its bad beginning.
What’s the main difference between a pedigree
breed and a mixed
bred cat or dog?
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Pedigree animals have certain general characteristics in
common and just as you may get along with some types of people more than
others, you may
get along with certain types of dogs more than others. If you have never
had a cat or dog before and are not sure what kind would suit you, you should
do some homework before acquiring an animal. Offer to walk your neighbour’s
dog; or dog-sit for a friend; or feed someone’s cat while they are
away; or visit a dog shelter; or go on-line and read about different breeds.
Some breeds have very specific healthy problems; others need a lot of exercise;
some are of a nervous nature and bark a lot; etc.
The big advantage of mixed
breed dogs is that they are generally of a calmer nature and healthier constitution
than full-bred ones. Of course, each dog
and each cat has his or her own individual character, which may not be totally
evident when you first meet them. So you really have to live with an animal
before you get to know it well.
The size of an animal should also be taken into
consideration. If you live in an apartment, it makes sense to get a small dog
or a cat rather than a
large dog. If someone in your family has allergies, get a dog that doesn’t
shed (yes, they do exist). If you’re not interested in taking long
walks twice a day, get a small dog that needs less exercise or better yet,
a cat.
Once you take an animal into your home, remember that having a pet means
more than just tying it in the yard or leaving it on the balcony and feeding
it. Animals have feelings, fears and needs. Attend to them and you will have
a happier, healthier companion pet who will enrich your lives with much joy.
Can cats and dogs live together and get along with each other?
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The
tradition belief that cats and dogs don’t like each other is obviously
not always true. They can become best friends. The best time to introduce
them to each other is, of course, when they are both young so they can grow
up together. Mature animals can also become friends but it may take longer.
Some dogs and cats, however, never get to like each other or even tolerate
each other – in fact they are much like people in this aspect.
Do dogs really love bones?
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Yes. Yes. Yes. But the truth about bones is that
they should be served RAW, not cooked. Raw bones are, in fact, the toothbrushes
for cats and dogs. Here
are some guidelines to follow:
| 1. | Avoid bones that splinter easily and those small enough for the animal to swallow whole. |
| 2. | Never giver cats or dogs sharp fish bones or cooked bones; cooked bones are brittle and splinter into long, sharp slivers. |
| 3. | Feed raw bones after meals and not on an empty stomach to avoid gas and possible bone splinters. |
| 4. | Dogs will chew on a bone for hours. When they are finished, pick up and discard to avoid attracting insects and rodents |
| 5. | Raw chicken bones - the neck, thigh and wings - are especially favored by cats. They strengthen the gums, can reverse gingivitis, improve bad breath and help prevent tooth and gum disease. Give twice a week; can be mixed in with food. |
What can I do if my pet gets lost?
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First of all, don’t give up hope. SPAZ has many success stories of animals and owners who have been re-united because the owners did everything they could to find them. Here are some suggestions:
| · | Notify SPAZ or the animal welfare society in your area. |
| · | Notify your local police station. |
| · | Make a simple poster with your pet’s picture on it and offer a reward; photocopy and put it up in vets’ office, pet shops, post office, supermarkets, stores, telephone poles and other areas in your neighborhood. |
| · | Take daily walks in the area you normally go with your pet (if it is a dog) or around your neighborhood in general (if it is a cat), calling the name of your pet. |
| · | Talk to other people you might meet who are walking their pets and ask if they’ve seen yours (show them a photo). |
| · | If your cat has disappeared from your fourth floor apartment, don’t despair. Most cars can survive such a fall. They find a place to hide while they recover from the trauma and re-emerge a few days later. So keep looking for them. |
| · | Follow up every lead. |
AND….TO AVOID LOSING YOUR PET, MAKE SURE IT WEARS
AN IDENTIFICATION TAG WITH YOUR NAME AND TELEPHONE NUMBER ON IT.
How do I recognize a dog with
the Kala-Azar disease
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If you see a dog that looks like the one in this photo, or exhibits the following
symptoms, it probably has Kala-Azar disease.
| Early stage: | definitely musty smell, overgrown claws |
| Later stage: | loss of weight dandruff on head and back and ears dull fur with patchy hair growth hair loss eyes look old, with hair loss around eyes scabs on skin nose and eyes excrete white discharge muscles atrophy bleeding around ears and nose kidney and liver problems enlarged lymph nodes anemia loss of appetite or bulimia fever difficulty animal looks old |
See brochure on Leishmaniasis / Kala-Azar disease for for
complete information on this disease plus treatment available.
Why do cats purr?
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The common belief is that cats purr when they are content. BUT cats can also
purr when they are afraid or in great pain. And it is not uncommon for cats
to purr as they are dying, perhaps to reassure itself or to prepare themselves
for the transition. So it is wise not to assume that when your cat purrs, it
is only a sign of contentment. It is more likely that purring is sign of extreme
feeling in a cat and that this feeling can be one of content, pain, fear or
preparing to die.
Does it help at all to hit a cat to discipline it?
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Absolutely not!
Besides being cruel, the fact is that hitting a cat will not accomplish anything,
except perhaps to make it dislike you, become afraid of you and your touching
her and behave even worse. Neither does yelling or scolding a cat work The
best way to discipline a cat or discourage it from unacceptable behavior is
to squirt some water at it from a spray bottle. This is the most affective
training method for any cat and if used consistency will produce results without
the cat disliking you.
Can a person catch the flu or a cold from a cat or dog?
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NO. You cannot catch the flu, a cold or a sore throat from a cat or
dog, even if they sneeze on you; these germs are not inter-species germs. But
there are some things you can get from animals.
The most common is ringworm; this is not a worm but a fungus that causes a
skin rash and which is spread through direct contact with a fungal spore. This
means that petting a kitten with ringworm may be enough for a person to get
the fungus. Ringworm causes an itchy, irritating rash on the surface of the
skin. It usually disappears by itself but can be easily treated with antifungal
creams. To protect yourself, simply wash your hands after coming in contact
with it.
Roundworm in dogs can also be spread to humans but only if the human ingests
the larva from the fecal matter of the dog. As a result, adults rarely get
it and children only if they eat dirt or sand that is contaminated with dog
stool.