Please write a letter to save Greek Strays

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IDA Condemns Cruel Poisoning of 50,000 Stray Dogs Prior To Olympic

Games Calls for Olympic Athletes To Speak Out Against Mass Poisoning

 

In Defense of Animals strongly condemns the deliberate and inhumane

poisoning of thousands of homeless dogs in the city of Athens.

Estimates suggest approximately 80% of the 30,000 to 50,000 stray

and homeless dogs in the streets of Athens have been poisoned in the

past year in an effort to 'clean up' the streets prior to the

opening of the 2004 Olympic Games on August 13. Starving dogs have

been given food laced with rat poison which often leads to a slow

and excruciating death that sometimes takes days.

 

 

" Killing animals is not an Olympic sport, " said Elliot Katz, DVM,

Founder of the national animal advocacy organization, In Defense of

Animals based in Mill Valley, Calif., " and Athens cannot be allowed

to continue acting as if it is. The methods of population control

currently being used in Greece are simply not acceptable. Poisoning

thousands of homeless dogs prior to the Olympic Games flies in the

face of everything the Olympics games are supposed to be about. It

tarnishes the otherwise positive appeal of the event. We urge

compassionate athletes, and concerned individuals everywhere, to

avoid Greece as a travel destination and to actively speak out until

this abhorrent practice is abandoned. "

 

 

Disturbing video taken by Welfare for Animals Global/Welfare for

Animals Greece, a New York City advocacy and lobby group, is

available showing the gruesome methods being utilized to kill dogs

in the city.

 

 

Click here to view the video. NOTE: You must have QuickTime

(http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/) installed to watch the

clip.

 

 

1. Write the following officials and DEMAND that the practice of

poisoning dogs in Greece be halted immediately:

 

 

Deputy Minister of Agriculture

Alexandros Kontos

ax2u050

 

 

Minister of Tourism

Dimitris Avramopoulos

dimavra

 

 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Petros Molyviatis

mfa

 

 

Greek Ambassador to the US

George Savvaides

evie

 

 

Minister Theodoros Roussopoulos

mail

 

A Listing of Greek Embassies Worldwide.

 

http://www.ioi2004.org/html/embassies2.html

 

http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/greece3.html

 

2. Attend our demonstration at the Greek consulate in NYC on August

10, between 12 noon and 1:30 p.m.

Some signs and materials will be provided, but concerned individuals

are encouraged to also bring their own.

 

 

Location:

 

 

Greek Consulate

69 East 79th Street, Between Park & Madison Avenues

Tuesday, August 10

Between 12 noon and 1:30 p.m.

 

 

For more information contact: LCL