Animal Welfare in Greece

[Guest guest]

 

 

 

 

 

Marijo Gillis

[TwinkiePerkyEbby]

Sunday, May 29, 2005 4:25 PM

WAG's Response to the

Greek Ministry of Tourism 5/27/2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kindly bear with me and please read the

text of my letter below and the inane letter from the Greek Ministry of

Tourism. These are but a very few incidents of thousands of animals

subject to horrifying abuse and neglect.. Shot and set ablaze

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check the position

of his bodyA shelter in a county of comfort

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHOT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Katerina Malaxia

 

 

The Greek Ministry of Tourism

 

 

Athens, Greece

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Mrs. Malachia;

 

 

 

 

 

We offer our appreciation that the

Ministry of Tourism has had the courtesy and wisdom to reply to growing, global

concern regarding the abusive and neglectful treatment of animals in

Greece.

 

 

 

 

 

As you recall, the " national

cleansing " of Greece's abandoned animals prior to the onslaught of

tourists to the long awaited 2004 Athens Olympic Games garnered worldwide

attention and elicited a global outcry.

 

 

 

 

 

If we remember correctly, the world

press had a field day with the subject. Fortunately for Greece, and the

financially motivated ATHOC led by Mrs. Angelopoulou

Daskalaki; the long reach of ATHOC and the Dimos

Athinon's, public relations " arm " were able to dilute and

divert the attention. But we caution, not 100%. Thankfully, those

millions of people encircling the globe, who respect all life and deem

animals, sentient beings, were not fooled.

 

 

 

 

 

The National government based in Athens

may indeed have had, at one time, the prudence and common sense to

" verbally " condone such actions as poisoning, hanging and shooting which

are commonplace and everyday criminal actions perpetrated against Greece's

companion and farmed animals. But to whom?

The new animal protection law 3170, ignored by all, is a

travesty, and screams for repeal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, the national government

led by Mr. Costas Karamanlis has not once expressed the philosophy that you

mention in your response -- to the citizens of Greece. Not

once has any government official in Greece stood before the people to address,

via public proclamation, and condemn the horrifying issue of animal abuse

and neglect which has metastasized across the nation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of great concern, according to

reports from major animal welfare organizations and individuals throughout

Greece is the fact that a Mrs. Dile, and a Mr. Stylas, both permanently

ensconced as fixtures in the Ministry of Agriculture for many, many

years, have done little to advance the welfare of animals, both companion and

farmed and much to destroy it.

 

 

 

 

 

It is frightening, but it seems as if Ms.

Dile and Mr. Stylas, both civil servants, have been given carte blanche by the

Minister of Agriculture and his Deputy Ministers to administer their own

personal agenda and wreak havoc with animal welfare in Greece.

 

 

 

 

 

Further to the issue, the Panhellenic

Veterinary Association, a powerful lobby, wrapping the Ministry of Agriculture

around it's fingers, refuses to allow volunteer vets into the country to

perform free spay/ neuter/ tx/ vax, to help alleviate the suffering of

gross overpopulation. The Panhellenic Veterinary Association can take a

silver medal for running a close second behind Mrs. Dile and Mr. Stylas.

 

 

 

 

 

Sadly, but ironically

fortuitous, as the consequence of indifference on the part of the central

government and the municipalities, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the

general mindset of much of the populace-- the world is now aware that

wanton, criminal acts of abuse and neglect are ignored by national and

municipal officials who are in position by " election " and therefore

obligation to preserve the integrity and the global image of the

Greek state, especially, one would presume, during the tourist

season. {May I add, that the municipality of Athens, under the auspices of

Ms. Tonia Kanellopoulou is attempting to introduce a semblance of control over

animal welfare, but desperately needs to take into consideration the counsel

and input of many more animal welfare advocates throughout Greece and, of

course, foreign ngo's.

 

 

 

 

 

Tourism a main contributor to Greece's

gross national product is of vital importance to Greece's economy. The

Ministry of Tourism has spent millions of euros to advance a major public

relations campaign around the world - " Live Your Myth " . But

you must know, because of the world's escalating awareness of horrifying

abuse and neglect - thanks to photographic evidence- compassionate

people everywhere are voicing their concern and horror and are resolving to divert their tourist

dollars to more gentle venues. You would be

surprised how the plight of all animals and ecological issues are fast becoming

a global priority.

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps, it would be prudent for the Greek

government, in order to remove the layers of tarnish from a

global image, to prepare a less convoluted law, paralleling laws of the

European Community, advance a campaign for animal welfare, {low cost

spay/neuter/ vaccination/ re homing, public awareness and humane education in

the schools} as is done throughout the western world.

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps after such a wise and

compassionate effort, there would be little need for dramatic public

relations programs and massive expenditures to entice visitors to the most

beautiful country in the world. I can only hope that the government of

Greece will open a dialogue with animal welfare advocates within Greece and

animal welfare organizations worldwide.

 

 

 

 

 

We are at your disposal and do hope to

speak with you via telephone.

 

 

 

 

 

Respectfully and cordially,

 

 

 

 

 

Marijo Anne Gillis - Founder

Welfare for Animals in Greece

Welfare for Animals Global, Inc.

 

 

(WAG New York--a New York City non-profit advocacy

& political lobby group-- reaching the world

 

 

 

1775 York Avenue

 

 

Suite 7 H

 

 

New York, New York 10128

 

 

USA

Tel. (212) 427-0587 Fax (212) 427-6381

E-Mail Twinkieperkyebby

 

 

 

Marijo Anne Gillis - Founder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

" Compassion for all life - the only

way to a better world "

 

 

 

-

 

 

ÌÁËÁ×ÉÁ ÊÁÔÅÑÉÍÁ

 

 

'kirstges' ; 'amaliaramirez'

; 'rash'

; 'post'

; 'noemipeter' ; 'info'

; 'graeskehunde' ; 'grsalvadore'

; 'twinkiePerkyEbby' ; 'hbarz'

; 'jenny.panagaris' ; 'peachr'

; 'Andrea.fischbach'

; 'peter.beck'

; 'ingeborg.dc'

; 'marvan116'

; 'manner'

; 'detoreilly'

; 'proanimal' ; 'angierodger'

; 'jkovich'

; 'rhermann'

; 'carlacarlaj'

; 'evaveggiegirl' ; 'kellyshay'

; 'dragonflydylf'

; 'mapilica'

; 'darkleeii' ; 'jtegos1'

; 'wendy.cooke' ; 'isabel_santos' ; 'cat'

; 'deszlosek' ; 'llinda'

; 'pv1mail'

; 'hestanley'

; 'a_graas'

; 'jere' ; 'iratxe1988' ; 'ddss04'

; 'jviska'

; 'blq'

; 'shalomprinting' ; 'delta805'

; 'ebeyer'

; 'jaynekaszas' ; 'villejoh'

; 'edda.dietz'

; 'gabriella.baio@fastwebnetit'

; 'melissa_dalton'

; 'despina.andrelus'

; 'ahvram'

; 'luree'

 

 

 

Friday, May 27, 2005 7:09 AM

 

 

 

 

 

The

Greek Government condemns any action against animals and expresses it’ s

deep sorrow for any unofficial, arbitrary actions that may have caused the

death of some homeless animals in our country.  

Our belief is strongly against

killing, torturing and generally mistreating animals and, certainly, the

poisoning of stray dogs is totally condemned as an effective measure to

decrease the number of homeless animals in Greece.

The new Greek law for stray

animals prescribes the sterilization and the placing of an electronic ID on

every homeless animal and inflicts severe penalties on those who mistreat

animals.

As for the incident that has

occurred in Piraeus port on February the 27th, regarding the 58 dogs

of the “Arch Noah”, an association owned by Mrs Silke Wrobel, that

were being transported to Germany and have been detained by the Ministry of

Agriculture, we have been informed that they are already in Germany.  However, we are currently investigating the

matter.

On behalf of the Ministry of

Tourism and the Greek Tourism Organization, we thank you for your consideration

and we remain at your disposal for any further information or remarks on this

matter.