The news always “electrocutes” the animal lover: it is about a dog set on fire or hanged on a tree, about neighborhood cats being poisoned, about pets abandoned with no food or water on a balcony, kitten and puppies thrown in the garbage container, an animal hit by car and left to bleed and overdrive on the street. When I recently visited the countryside, not far way from Athens, I was shocked to see so manydogs – from puppies to grown ups- tied on a chain left in the sun without shadow. These misconditions and abuse of animals do not happen only in Greece. But I do care and would love to see Greeks’ attitude, behaviour and mentality towards animals change. I don’t have delusions and I know that it can’t happen at once. But through intensive public awareness, things can slowly change for the better.
Below I want to show two recent public actions aimed to raise awareness against abuse and poisoning of animals.
Chania/Crete: Against Animal Abuse
“Solidarity has no human boundaries” was the message of animal welfare associations from all over Crete, that gathered in Chania and marched through the streets against animal abuse. There has been an increasing number of animal abuse incidents since a while ago.
Activists set up rusted barrels and chained dogs to show up the living conditions of most countryside animals. The event was supported by more than 130 animal welfare associations in Greece and Europe.
Carol Macbeth from an animal welfare organization in Athens said she “came to Crete to complain about what happens to dogs and all animals. What happens in the island is very bad for the image image of the whole country. We hope the animal welfare associations in Crete will take action and help to improve things. ”
“Since it is scientifically proven that animals can suffer as human beings, humans have a moral obligation to protect and respect them, not to abuse them ” said Mrs. Vlastou from Friends of Animals Unions of Crete.
Anastasia Bompolaki,president of Chania’s ” Protection of Animals” noted that “It is the lack of morals and ideals in our society, a lack that has reached such dangerous levels in our country that we have come to consider as normal to shoot or to hang animals or turn them into guinea pigs. All these shows the level that our society has reached. Concerned citizens need to be active, need to stand up from the couch and all together to try and change the situation.
Greece-wide: Against Animal Poisoning
25 Animal Welfare Associations organised silent protests in front of 60 city & town halls all over Greece to protest the poisoning of animals. Poisoning is a common practice in Greece to mass kill off mostly stray cats and dogs. 5.000 people participated in the action, the majority of them wearing black to demosntrate their mourning for the dead animals by poison. Those accompanied with their dogs had their pets wear black collars. The next silent protest is scheduled for October, 4th.
More Photos of Poisoning Protest: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=183983&id=582377449&ref=mf#!/photo.php?pid=4253190&id=582377449&fbid=409234102449
More Photos from Abuse Protest: http://www.adespoto.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=991:2010-06-22-09-28-59&catid=35:news&Itemid=67
In Greece the animal abuse has to become a felony! It is not only a demand of hundreds of thousands of animal lovers in Greece. It ‘s a demand of a whole society who is sick and tired watching a minority of people commiting these atrocities!
Please sign and forward the petition about “animal abuse to become a felony”( text in Greek and in Engish):
http://www.gopetition.com/online/36166.html
Thanks so much, Connie! It is exactly as you say: we are sick and tired!I signed the petition and even added a banner at the site. It is important that the text is in English as well.
Stricter Laws Against Animal Abuse Page 2
World Wide Event (peaceful) – October 3rd, 2010
We request “stricker laws against animal abuse”
The above will be our message to the world in each country that particpates.
All I need is for you to agree to represent your closest city – and collect signatures for our petition.
All animals need someone who really cares for them in every city, world wide.
Each country, each city will ask for the same ” stricter laws against animal abuse”
(of course in your language).
We all carry exactly the same message & banner GLOBALLY.
We are the voice for all animals, the very least we can do is to protect them.
If we are unable to protect them, then we must see that those abusers get really punished.
Please say you are with us, join below.
Tina
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=118735638156786