Reported Poisonings for the period Sept 2001 - November 2002 in the areas of
Kallimaki, Paleo Faliron, Glyfada, Varkisa, Fokea, Anavissos, Kalivia, Saronida, Lagonissi and Agia Marina -
these are the southern suburbs of Athens along the coast of Attika going from Athens towards Sounion

471 dogs, unknown number of cats (but perhaps more than the number of dogs)

Two types of poison were identified in a number of atopsies that were carried out: (1) Lanade, a plant insecticide and (2) another liquid plant insecticide (unknown brand name) that dries to a clear crystal state and smells sweet. Death from both these poisons is slow and agonizing.

The deaths of many animals who have been killed by poison are not reported but if 471 have been reported in this area in a 14 month period, it probably indicates that another 1,000 died without being reported.The poisonings have been so intense in this area during the past year that some of the villages now have very few dogs. But of course, if they are not all neutered, they will breed until there are even more dogs than there were before. That's the message we have trouble getting across - the catch and kill method does not work. Those left breed and fill the void within a short time.

NOTES
- Attempts were made in a number of cases to save the dogs but they were unsuccessful and all of them died.
- A group of dogs who hung around the village center of Saronida all disappeared at once; a SPAZ member who was out on the road at 6am that morning, saw a municipal truck drive by with bodies of obviously dead dogs in it. The municipality had received many complaints about the stray dogs and promised people they would handle it.
- In August 2002, about 12 dogs were poisoned in Kalivia after an anonymous note was left on the apt door of one of our SPAZ members; it said that unless SPAZ removed all the animals, the writer would take action into his own hand and get rid of the dogs. The SPAZ member called the police and they investigated; the animals were nevertheless poisoned. One man was suspected but no one could prove he did it. SPAZ members called on the local establishments, restaurants, hotels, etc. telling them that the poison (the liquid insecticide) could be very dangerous for children. They also put up notices in the area warning local citizens. There have been no incidents since that time.
- In Glyfada, Mary Ignagtzoglou's 10 dogs were all poisoned while in their own yard; they all died. Mary had been having difficulty with some neighbours because of her dog-gathering habits.
- Romeo and Juliet, two Alsation strays dogs who lived on the street for 14 years, as a couple, and were looked after by locals, even to the point where they had a wonderful dog house erected near the sidewalk of a man who helped look after them, were poisoned by a local man who disliked dogs, in Sept 2001. A complaint was made to the police but as there was no substantial proof, the man was not charged.


Poisoning is a 'regular' practice in Greece; any government spokesperson who says otherwise is not telling the truth.

Prepared by Elizabeth Koubena
Executive Commitee, SPAZ, Society for the Protection of Stray Animals, Glyfada, Athens, Greece