| Olympics
fear as poisoning of cats and dogs casts long shadow over Greek Presidency
Advocates for Animals and the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust have today strongly condemned the individuals responsible for the deliberate poisoning of 18 dogs and some 40 cats, just days before Greece assumed the Presidency of the European Union. Both organisations have also called for an immediate inquiry, since a similar incident occurred the last time Greece took over the Presidency. The latest poisoning took place on the 30/31 December 2002, in a park in the centre of Athens in the area of Zappion and close to where the Presidency will be centred. When local animal lovers went to feed the cats, as they have done every morning for a number of years, instead of finding the usual happy, healthy animals waiting to greet them and be fed, they were confronted with the sight of dead bodies lying everywhere. All the animals suffered an agonising death. Post mortems carried out on the animals have confirmed poisoning as the cause of death. Food containing the poison has been taken for analysis. All of the animals had been vaccinated and sterilised by local welfare charities, including Friends of the Cat. The animals were for many Athenians and tourists, an integral part of the park's charm. Volunteers who scoured the park for the bodies, found one survivor writhing in agony in the bushes, a beautiful friendly calico cat called Samba. This tough little cat, after veterinary treatment, is now on the road to recovery. Les Ward, Director of Advocates for Animals and a Trustee of the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust, commented: In our opinion, it is no mere coincidence that animals have once again been deliberately poisoned within days of Greece taking over the Presidency of the European Union and in the area close to where visiting politicians and others will be wined and dined. Those who spread the food laced with poison are callous individuals who should be prosecuted for their actions, as should those who instructed them to do so. This incident, the previous incident and the ongoing poisoning of animals in Greece bring nothing but shame on Greece. I fear a pre-Olympic Games animal poisoning campaign, that has long been predicted, may now be about to begin. I have therefore been in contact with David Martin, MEP for Scotland and a Vice-President of the European Parliament as well as of Advocates for Animals, requesting that an immediate inquiry be launched to bring to book those who authorised and carried out this cruel poisoning. In addition, we must also ensure that not just Europe, but other countries around the world, are made aware of Greece's record on poisoning animals and what may be planned over the months leading up to the Olympics. David Martin MEP commented: I am extremely dismayed to learn of the cruel and deliberate poisoning of all these innocent animals in a country that is a member of the European Union. I share the concerns of Advocates for Animals and the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust. I will raise this matter with the European Commission in order to find out what happened and, hopefully, who was responsible. My thoughts are also with those individuals in Greece that cared for these animals and who must be finding this whole situation difficult to bear. Les Ward |