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:: Testimonials ::
The strays of Anatoli - November 2002
For a number of years now, a group of neighbors in Anatoli, a suburb of Ioannina, have been caring for the stray dogs in their area. Led by Tassos Pappas they not only feed the dogs but vaccinate them, look after them when sick and since KiDiZo was founded in the year 2000, many of the animals have also been sterlised.
Some of the residents have dogs of their own. Others simply regard the strays as their own and are happy to let them sleep in their yards or near their gates. Over the years the numbers and faces of the dogs have changed as new dogs arrived and others disappeared. The current group numbered about 10 dogs and some had been there for several years.
On the morning of Thursday 28 November 2002 everything changed, however. None of the dogs arrived to be fed. A little later the first three bodies were found - two dogs and a cat, obviously poisoned. Late that evening two more dead dogs were found. Both were near large public rubbish bins. One had been dragged there using a wire crook - a plastic bag with the remains of food covered the head of another animal. More animals were found on Friday, Another two were picked up by the rubbish collectors and so the tragedy continued. Only two dogs survived - one who had been taken in for sterilization the previous weekend and another who was poisoned but treated promptly with atropine.
There had always been some objection to the strays and earlier in the year some residents had added their names to a list of signatures in an attempt to prevent Tassos and his team from feeding the dogs. No dog had even been poisoned, however, so the neighborhood and the residents were shocked that somebody could have taken such action. Many were crying openly at the sight.
Nobody was ready to ignore the situation. The dead animals were photographed. An autopsy was performed on one dog and the poison, carbofuran, a plant pesticide, was identified. The papers were contacted and the residents invited the local tv channels to film the situation. For several days the papers published articles on the poisonings with titles such as "Mass Poisoning of stray dogs in Anatoli" and showed a selection of photos. Two of the veterinary surgeons who work with KiDiZo were interviewed and GAR stepped in with the offer of a reward for any knowledge leading to the prosecution of the offenders. The residents offered even more money - 'to show there are also Greeks who care about animals' they said.
These were not the only animals poisoned in Ioannina. During the same week a survey of the vets revealed that eight cats and another four dogs were poisoned. All these animals were probably also poisoned with plant pesticides - pesticides which clearly state on their boxes that they are not to be sold to amateur users but in this case were sold not only to non professionals but also for the express purpose of killing animals.
Yes some Greeks do care very much about animals. Many unfortunately do not.
Photogallery - poisonings in Anatoli
Mary
O'Connor, KiDiZo |