Charlie - HOME WANTED

Late in the evening, we were waiting for the arrival of some friends.  Whilst waiting by the Post Office, we could hear pathetic wails coming from under a car.  Investigating further, there was a tiny kitten, but could one get closer?  Definitely not!  It went from car to car, crossed the road and was lucky it wasn't killed.  After what seemed like hours, it was finally caught, regardless that we were bloodied, scratched and the kitten was hissing.  Until a cage was brought, it was a case of holding onto the kittens neck.  Once settled in the cage, it is so surprising how the temperament changes.  Give a kitten love and affection and it becomes your best friend.   Charlies is tiny and has big ears.  He will be OK with us and the other strays. HOME WANTED.  Can you help to re-home?  elaine1156@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/Greekstrays?ref=hl

https://www.facebook.com/Greekstrays/app_362564237108797

http://www.ermioni.info/things-to-know/greekstrays-donations

http://www.ermioni.info/content/animal-welfare

Angel - HOME WANTED

Today, like usual, I went for my lunchtime walk.  This time I was debating which route I should take.  Should I take the top route, or got the normal route?  I decided to go the normal route.  Why?  I have no idea.  Anyway, the normal route first takes me to the cemetery where I like to read the headstones and see who else has died. It might seem depressing, but the graveyard here in Ermioni, is such a restful place.  The sun shines, the flowers very colourful and the birds twitter.  So very peaceful.  Then when I have done all of this, I wash my hands to cool them down.  Anyway, today, I didn't get past reading any stones, or washing my hands, as upon entering the gates, by the bins on the right, there was this little kitten all by itself.   Again, I always carry food with me, as part of the walk, I meet Blackie, who gets food.  I rang my husband, but he couldn't come immediately as the guests had arrived.   As gentle as anything and so loving.  I put some food down and waited for my husband to arrive.  Then she was whisked off to safety. 

She is called Angel, and she probably was the reason I had to walk the normal route, because my Angel was waiting for me.

HOME WANTED.  Can you help to re-home?  elaine1156@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/Greekstrays

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http://www.ermioni.info/things-to-know/greekstrays-donations

http://www.ermioni.info/content/animal-welfare

Smokie

Sometimes it is very difficult knowing what to do.  Actions are taken for the right reasons, but then one begins to think that it might be better to leave mother nature and let the poor little animals take care of themselves.   However, on a few occasions whilst I walked down to the harbour front, I passed a very old derelict house.  Outside the gates, I noticed on a couple of occasions tiny kittens, with their mums.  Peering through the covered gate, I noticed that they were looked after.  There was cover for the animals, there was lots of water and food, but the conditions of the place was awful, but at least love was given to these strays, which was so important.  Out of all the kittens, there were 2 which looked pretty sick.  Smokie was one of them and another tiny ginger and white one, who was smaller still.  One fine day, I got a large shoe box and my intentions were to take the 2 sick little ones, to try and get them better.  However, this particular morning, there was no sign of the little ginger and white one, but little Smokie was sat on the road side, so sad and hardly any life in him.  He looked really really sick.  I put him in my box and took him to safety.  I gave him food and medicine and he ate everything.  The other strays were happy to see him.  There was no hissing or growling either.  As a precaution, I kept him in cage overnight, being a new kid on the block, I didn't want him to try and jump out of the little window we have, at the little haven.

I blessed him together with all the other strays and couldn't wait to get back the next morning.  Upon opening the door, everything was very quiet. I knew what had happened.  I looked inside the cage of Smokie and his was dead.  I was heartbroken.  Had I contributed to his death, or was it because it was too late to save him?  I will never know, but one thing I do know and that was that I tried to do my best for him.

He was so small and looked very sick, but I thought he would be OK, because he ate so heartily the night before.  Now he is at Rainbow Bridge together with all his other furry friends.

http://www.ermioni.info/content/animal-welfare
http://www.ermioni.info/things-to-know/greekstrays-donations
https://www.facebook.com/Greekstrays?ref=hl
https://www.facebook.com/Greekstrays/app_362564237108797

Squigey

Wherever I go in Ermioni and especially to eat out, I always carry dried animal food with me.  On this particular night, we were sat in a taverna on the Mandrakia side.  Our colony of cats seem to know us, so out came my plastic container for them to tuck into.  Across at another table, I noticed another couple feeding the strays and actually playing with the cats, which was a delight to watch, regardless of the other stares.  They laughed when they saw my container, but through these strays, we became acquainted.  They told us that where they were staying, there was an injured cat, who might have been involved in a road accident at some point.  Was there anyone who might be able to help.  Hang on a minute.  Help a stray in Greece.  Highly unlikely.  However, we said we would try.  The day they left, they told us they had named this cat Squigey, because of his injuries.  We said goodbye to them, they promised lots of donations, which we thought 'how nice' and went to look for Squigey.  

When we found him, he was a soft as a brush, but his injuries in our opinions were as a result of fights.  Into the basket he went and away we took him, to join the rest of our strays.  We gave him a few days to settle and it wasn't ideal being in a very large dog box, but that was Squigey's only chance.  After a few days, we took him to the vets and had him neutered at a cost of 55 Euros, which is wicked money.  Then there was some medication to buy for his wounds.  So we left the vets, with a big hole in our pockets.  Oh well it is worth it.  As long as Squigey is not suffering.

Squigey is back at the field with all the other cats, but likes to keep control.  His face will never be 100%  right, because he is a bully and always hisses, spits and fights with a couple of other strays.   But really underneath all this toughness, he is as soft as anything.

Sadly though, we never heard anything more from the English couple and didn't receive any donations towards out cause, as promised.

https://www.facebook.com/Greekstrays?ref=hl
https://www.facebook.com/Greekstrays/app_362564237108797
http://www.ermioni.info/content/animal-welfare
http://www.ermioni.info/things-to-know/greekstrays-donations

Caramel - Fudge - Coffee - HOMES WANTED

An SOS call was received asking whether I would take 3 kittens.  Basically it was in exchange for little Milly who had a broken spine.  Naturally I couldn't refuse and didn't want to be viewed as a dumping ground for kittens, because we just don't have huge resources.   Anyway, on this occasion I agreed.  They were just gorgeous.  Found wandering by some large waste bins, which is usual here in Greece.  They are such a bundle of fun.  Upon arrival they settled very well and Lucy (dog) gave her approval.  They didn't like being in the cage, but for the first few days, this was home, in a cage.

HOME ARE WANTED FOR THEM.  CAN YOU HELP?  elaine1156@gmail.com

http://www.ermioni.info/things-to-know/greekstrays-donations

http://www.ermioni.info/content/animal-welfare

https://www.facebook.com/Greekstrays?ref=hl

https://www.facebook.com/Greekstrays/app_362564237108797

Milly

Milly with her big protector

Very sad morning............after finishing feeding the strays, I noticed Milly at the bottom of the field and she didn't appear to be moving.  Upon closer inspection, she was only moving on her stomach.  Oh heck.  What has happened to her?  She obviously missed her breakfast.  I picked her up carefully and put her to where some food was and noticed still that she wasn't able to stand on her legs. Poor girl!  She was Lucy's friend and Lucy was the big protector of all the strays.  Many thoughts went through my mind.  Had someone done this deliberately, had she injured herself or what?  We knew she had to go to the vet immediately.  An appointment was made for that same evening.  Upon examining Milly, the vet gave her injections and said that if she doesn't start walking within the next 3 days, an X-Ray would be taken.  Why an X-Ray wasn't taken then, I don't know, but I am not the vet.  During this time, Milly was put into a very large dog box, to give her movement.  Three days passed and still no change.  Now what?  If she can't be helped, we have to consider putting her to sleep, but vets here in our location do not perform this practice to a 'well' animal, regardless of its disabilities.  No one will agree to foster Milly as she will have to be an indoor cat.  Oh my, this is one of the problems of living in Greece, no easy solutions at all.

I rang a friend to see if he could help, as there was no way Milly could continue living in an open space.  I wasn't happy for her to be in a large box all the time, she needed to be out.  He agreed to take her and care for her, but he took her to another vet who did an X-Ray immediately. Results showed that she had a broken spine.  How could this have happened?  

This second vet advised that a period of 21 days or more would be needed to see if she heeled.  If not, then a decision would have to be made regarding Milly's future.

Luckily with the care and physiotherapy my friends were giving Milly, she started to make progress.  As time went by, she started to walk small steps at first, to her litter tray.  This was amazing.  Had it not been for the kindness of these people, then Milly's chances would have been very slim.

However, the good new is that Milly has been fostered by these kind people, and finally is enjoying life.  All I can say is a huge thank you for the care, time and patience that has been given to Milly.  She is such a lucky girl.

http://www.ermioni.info/things-to-know/greekstrays-donations

http://www.ermioni.info/content/animal-welfare

https://www.facebook.com/Greekstrays?ref=hl

https://www.facebook.com/Greekstrays/app_362564237108797

Angel

Driving to feed our regulars by some large metal bins, a new pussy cat appeared and was hungry. We had seen this cat briefly a few days before, but it is always a case of come and go.  This particular day, we were able to catch her and put straight into the basket.  Quickly she was taken to join all the other in the field.  Because she was so feral, it was difficult to keep her in a basket, so we took our chances and gave her freedom.  She stayed for a few days and then vanished.  It truly is heartbreaking as one cannot save all. When they are so feral, they become used to their own surrounds and hunt for food.  Angel had so many wounds on her, which surprisingly she allowed us to bathe.  Took her medicine too with her food and we hoped she would stay and get better.  She might still be around, but we don't know, as where she came from, there are so many stray dogs that are dumped and many puppies.  

https://www.facebook.com/Greekstrays/app_362564237108797

https://www.facebook.com/Greekstrays

http://www.ermioni.info/content/animal-welfare

http://www.ermioni.info/things-to-know/greekstrays-donations