Sad story of my family . . . ROSIE, BILLY, their 7 babies and HAPPY . . .

ROSIE and her babies

The horrors of living in Greece hits home, when you are faced with situations that you have no control over.  Animal welfare is a nightmare, tearful, heartbreaking, frustrating and much more. The tears that are shed are just unbelievable. ROSIE was a female doggy that we had befriended for many months.  She was a gentle soul and never caused any problems to anyone. As long as she got food and water, she enjoyed affection and a kiss on the nose.  Sadly though, she always appeared pregnant and had her babies, but we never found any of them.  I vowed that I would get her sterilized, but the cost was pretty expensive, but there were ways to try and get round this.  After her last litter, we still didn't find her puppies. However, one day though, driving up the country lane we saw ROSIE walking down. I just thought that maybe she was just taking a walk. Then on the other hand, I thought she might be moving on to another location, or perhaps to go and be with her puppies, wherever they might be.  We continued on our journey as we had an appointment to attend.  But on our return down this same country lane, ROSIE was walking up slowly with something in her mouth.  It was an animals foot of some sort.  The car was turned round and we kept our distance.  ROSIE kept stopping and looking round.  So we stopped too.  Then I jumped out of the car and started to walk a a great distance behind her.  Into the fields she took me.  Up and over the barbed wire fencing.  Bloody me with being scratched to high heaven, but it was worth it, because I think she was taking this leg to her babies.  Further through the thicket I ventured, until I came to another open field, which looked pretty secluded.  Then I heard the yapping of the babies and saw ROSIE.  She came to me and so did her babies.  It was such a delight to watch the activity and be part of this.  This was her area to protect them and keep them safe.  Away from cruelty and hatred.

The puppies were fed daily and on some days you could hear them yapping away.  But they were playful little soldiers.  On other days, they were nowhere to be seen and that included ROSIE, which was alarming.  Anyway things settled down a little.  We continued to feed, whilst at the same time being vigilant in case we were spotted.  But these were open fields.  No houses within the area, so hopefully no-one should bother us, or so we thought.  My main concern was to ensure they didn't have Parvos and I wanted to take each of them to the vet to get them checked out.  Sadly though, even though they were fed, it was difficult for them to trust us, or come near us.  The food was left and slowly one by one they came out to eat, but as soon as a hand was put out to try and stroke, they fled.  

No matter what, they deserved a chance and so did ROSIE.  My priority was to try and find homes for them and get ROSIE sterilized, which I managed to do with a few donations received.  I added more and it was made possible to get her done.  Ah the sheer delight of knowing that she would not have any more babies was great.  After the operation, she went for post op care for about a couple of weeks and then came back to the open field, which was a huge mistake.  

ROSIE waiting at the vets

I will never forget the day we took her to the vet. Immediately after, I got a call from him, enraged that ROSIE was full of fleas and ticks and had contaminated his practice. She was a field dog, what was I supposed to do?  Wasn't it up to him, to spray her?  I wouldn't have minded, but his practice wasn't exactly squeaky clean either.  I was taken aback and asked whether he wanted me to go and clean up, but he said no.  I apologised and said that this was the first time, he should have advise me that before she was brought in, we had to spray her.  His last words to me were "Never again with you".  So did this mean he would not help us again?  Only time would tell.  Sometimes they are so pathetic and need to be in the real world.  All the strays that we care for are full of fleas and ticks. They live in the open fields.  We do our best with the resources we have and care for them as best as we can.  It is not enough, I know, but at least it is better than ignoring their plight. 

MY FAMILY

What we didn't realise was that we had a family. BILLY was the dad, ROSIE the mum and their babies.  Another puppy was part of this group and he was called HAPPY. Anyway, shortly after ROSIE returned, things changed drastically.  My family went missing for a good few days. Something didn't feel right at all in this particular area.  It was like an air of cleanliness. Totally empty.  My insides just churned away and I felt very sick.  Why would they just disappear? Had they been harmed or what?  On one of our very early morning feeds, they were spotted miles away from the usual feeding area.  Mid morning this particular day, we went searching for them and there was no sign of them at all.  So they must wander. As the days passed, they did turn up again, but it was hit and miss. Sometimes they were in the usual spot, other times there was total emptiness. What is noticeable is that when a dog is sterilized a red collar is put on with an ID number and contact number.  This collar had been removed.

HAPPY

Nothing prepared us for what was to happen further and the pain still lives inside me today.  We went to feed as usual, under the big tree, but noticed HAPPY didn't come bouncing up like usual.  He was probably about 4/5 month old and such a delight.  Full of energy, full of life and deserved a home.   I went down to him and noticed he didn't stand up.  I put food down and saw that he ate, so I wasn't too alarmed, but then I noticed some wounds on him and when I tried to touch him, he yelped in pain.  This didn't look too good for this soldier, so it was a case of getting him into the car as best as possible and off to the vets.  Various options were discussed of what might be with happy or what might not be, but it depending on the X-Ray results.  Within a few minutes, we were given these and it was disbelief.  His poor little spine had been shattered in 4 places.  There was no hope for this soldier and no chance whatsoever.  I sobbed and sobbed my little heart out.  It couldn't be true, but it was.  He had been harmed, viciously!!!!  As a result he was put to sleep.  I kissed the brave soldier and prayed that the angels would care for him now.  He didn't deserve any of this cruelty.  Why I will never understand.

A few days later after finishing feeding, we were walking back to the car when a Greek lady stopped and starting chuntering about problems with dogs.  She couldn't speak English and we couldn't speak Greek, but we understood.  I just shouted at her and said she and the Greeks were the problem of animal welfare.  We were nowhere near the houses, so what was her problem.  Looking back, I think I was enraged with her. Maybe a little overboard, but I couldn't help it.  But each day after this, it wasn't the same.  HAPPY had gone, what next was waiting for us, I wondered?We had a friend.  The local farmer, whose field we thought we were trespassing told us to feed the puppies and doggies closer to his farm, because of FOLAS. Folas is a food that is given to innocent creatures, which effectively is poison.  He also said that the Greek people were very cruel towards animals.  What a nice farmer he was, but it was much to late for us.  

Days had passed and there was no sign of my family.  Had this woman done something that we weren't aware off or what?  Searching and searching was painful.  I posted SOS's on social networking sites, but didn't get any response at all.  Did I expect the Greeks to react?  

One day, we were driving back from feeding the strays and I noticed in the distance some black things in the field.  Was it my imagination or was I hoping to find something?   We stopped the car and I jumped out and went into the field searching. I just broke down, because I couldn't believe what I found.  Dead puppies.  They had been poisoned. Only 2 bodies were ever found, so I am not sure what happened to the rest of my family.  This was a bloody living nightmare.  They didn't deserve to be poisoned, neither did HAPPY deserve to be beaten horrifically, to shatter his spine in many places.  Many times, I in particular feel like running away from the horrors of all of this.  But you can't.  One has to continue, because there are many more innocent brave soldiers that need our help.

Weeks have now passed and there is still no sign of BILLY or ROSIE.  Even though the bins were searched at the time, further bodies have never been found.  I only hope and pray that they are still alive and some kind soul has taken them in.  With ROISE this is possible, but with BILLY this will not be possible.  

Good bye dear friends wherever you might be.  Never a day goes by, without me thinking that I might see them again.

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ALEX and GABRIEL set off to their new home in Germany . . .

It is never easy saying goodbye to kittens that you find either dumped, in the rubbish bins, half dead or as a result of an SOS plea.  These 7 have their own stories to tell, but finally on Sunday 29 September '13, they set off by road from Athens to their new destination, Germany.  It isn't always an ideal situation, but there wasn't much choice.  However, they are a very professional company who sincerely care about their load of furry friends, they transport.  The GreekStrays had been such a delight and now the house seems empty.  No more running of furry feet all over everything, no more playing ping pong with them, just a deadly silence now.  Oh the tears and the pain, but they again are the lucky 7 that were wanted.  Away from the cruelty of Greece and a wonderful new life to look forward too.  Be safe and may the angels protect you always.  

ALEX and GABRIEL

ALEX and GABRIEL, one would think these 2 above were twins, but they weren't.   One particular day, before feeding, I needed some clean cardboard for the strays and cages.  Instead of going to the usual place, I didn't.  I went to another area, where there were huge amounts of rubbish piled up.  In among all of this rummaging, I heard a me-ow and gentle small innocent soul came crawling my direction.  No basket in the car or anything.  So I found a box, put him in and off we went.  He has been such a loving little character, that it really was hard to say goodbye to ALEX.

GABRIEL on the other hand was found in the cemetery, or the dead house as people refer to here. Limping, runny eyes and he looked a mess.  I couldn't leave him where he was because he wouldn't have stood a chance.  I took him home and cleaned him up and realized that he had a huge problem with one his front legs.  As a result he was taken to the vet and the prognosis was amputation, only when he is old enough and got better.  Even though he had a disability, it didn't deter him from running/charging around with the other strays and when he washed himself stood on 2 back legs, it was a delight to watch.  Luckily for these 2, they are going to the same home and the new owners will take control of his vet treatments.

BUBBLEGUM

Driving along the Mandrakia side of Ermioni, we stopped as suddenly on the left hand side of the main busy road, there was this tiny white thing, just sat in front of a large wheel of a 4 x 4 vehicle.  It didn't stand a chance.  It was no more than probably 3 weeks old and not in the best of health either.  Naturally I jumped out of the car and rescued it.  Didn't realize at the time, that it was a little girl.  But BUBBLEGUM was so affectionate, loving and will be missed like all the others.

CANDY

CANDY was a set of three that we fostered as a rescue plea.  Like most kittens, they were found by the large rubbish bins.  When I was asked whether I would consider fostering them, I was told at the time that they were already eating kitten biscuits.  Sadly this was far from the truth.  They still had to be bottled fed for the next 3 weeks.  She was such a loving little girl, that is was hard to say bye bye to her.  Hugs and kisses were given to her like the rest, and then into the large cage they went.

GEORGIE

Kittens, kittens and more kittens.  GEORGIE really wasn't a tiny kitten when rescued.  She was ducking and diving from parking cars in one of the local supermarkets.  Not safe to say the least and the locals don't think anything of running them over.  I scooped her under my arms and took her to safety.  My husband was driving towards me, not realizing that I had rescued another friend.  She liked to keep herself to herself, but now she will have a wonderful chance of a better life in Germany.

JELLYBEAN

JELLYBEAN was the sister of CANDY and SMARTIE.  She had a lovely cute round face which was pretty fat, hence her name.  All three of this litter was so loving and loved to cuddle up and purr into the night.  Naturally they will be split up when they get to their new homes.  In an ideal world, it would be great if they could be kept together, but that will not be possible.  But at least they will get plenty of love and affection from their new prospective owners.

SMARTIE

SMARTIE was the third sister of CANDY and JELLYBEAN.  Now all three have been given a wonderful opportunity to start a new life.  A far cry from the bins here in Ermioni and the cruelty of some of the Greek people.

Our transportation cages to get them to Corinth, where they were picked up by Pet couriers.  Little heads bobbing up and down and looking at us with pleading eyes as if to say:  "Please cuddle us again".  Like with the other strays that have left us, it was very sad to see these 7 go, and they in turn, became pretty distressed, once transferred into the other big cage.. They had never seen doggies before, or heard barking. Thankfully they were all kept together and comforted each other.  Also, I know they will have been well looked after on their journey.  As I write this post, they have less than a 12 hours journey left ahead.

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

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WATSON . . .

I received an email from lady on the island of Aegina, who forwarded it onto me.  It was from a captain of a sailing yacht, who had brought Canadian and US sailors to the islands. On this particular day, they were in Ermioni, as it was their last night.  They were eating in a taverna on the harbour front and noticed a big brown and white dog with a rope around its neck. The captain seemed to think that the rope had been there for a long time, probably since it was a puppy.  With this, it seemed to have been embedded into the neck of the poor dog for quite some time then.  I was asked by the captain, whether I could help this poor dog.  Sadly stray dogs can be very difficult to catch, especially if they are big and scared.  But I knew I had to find it and try and help it.  How, I had no idea.  

For a few days after receiving this email, I was out at various times of the day, trying to find this dog, but to no avail.  However, one particular day, I had just finished in the supermarket and then drove on to where all the boats were, to see if the dog was around, as it was evening.  I saw the dog and it had been caught and was just being loaded into a large truck.  It certainly didn't look a pretty sight at all.  The dog was taken immediately to the vet and it was identified that this poor helpless creature had a large metal clip lodged in his neck, which had been there for quite some time.  Oh hell.  To be a stray dog in Greece is bad enough, but to have a man made iron clip strangling you as you grow up, is just awful.

Watson was saved and the transformation in him was amazing

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Kittens found in bins among vegetable peelings . . . .

Friday 13th unlucky for some, or lucky for others?On this particular morning, driving to feed the colony cats, I was just thinking as to when I could fly to England.  Within the next couple of months seemed suitable as there were no kittens, or any urgent cases at home, that needed attention. Once I got home, I would book my flight, or so I thought. We arrived at the tree in the country and fed the small colony of pussy cats that lived within this particular area. Walking up to the large metal bins to throw the empty tin away, I heard a loud screeching of a me-ow. I knew exactly what was making this noise, but I couldn't see anything.  We rummaged around and in among the vegetable peelings, one little black kitten was pulled out.  More rummaging revealed another black and white kitten.  Then nothing, except total silence.  They must have been only hours old as they still had the umbilical cord and eyes tightly shut.  How very sad this was.  Again the cruel actions of peasant villagers, which I can and will never understand their actions.  Anyway, had we arrived a little later, then these tiny kittens would have long been gone, as the bins would have been emptied.

I didn't even have a cage or box in the car, so instead they were wrapped in a cloth and we still had the 50 or so field pussy cats to feed. So off we went and it was here where I got a cage and put the 2 kittens in. Once the field pussy cats were fed, off we went home.  I already had some established kittens at home and BILLY the older cat, so how would they all react I wondered?   I needn't have worried, because they were all curious more than anything.    They were so cute and cuddly, but more hard work and sleepless nights lay ahead.

Feeding tiny kittens can be so relaxing, but I was worrying if they rejected the milk, then what?  What if the milk went down the wrong way?  I could loose them and I didn't want to risk loosing these brave soldiers at all.  But as time went by, there were no problems in feeding them at all.  With the rich nutritional Royal Canin kitten milk, it gave them a good start.

As time went by, I called them SOOTY and SWEEP.  Both girls they were and they grew and played with the other little ones.  I never had so many kittens at any one time at home, as I did then, but it was nice watching them play and getting on.  I had to find homes for them, not in Greece though, but abroad.  So with all my social networking, I met a very nice person, who agreed would help me to find homes for SOOTY and SWEEP.  Departure date would be sometimes in December when they would be old enough.

 SOOTY and SWEEP - MY BEAUTIFUL 2 GIRLIES

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PEPSI finally flew to Sweden 11 Sept '13

Finally the day came yesterday 11 September, when PEPSI finally flew to Sweden to join his forever loving new family.   Finding flight partners is so hard and Sweden is not one of the popular destinations.  Had it been Germany, then maybe he would have gone sooner.  Anyway as a result of kind people and contacts, a very nice animal lover was PEPSI'S escort.  At midnight last night, he was finally handed over and now he can enjoy his new life, in peace, safe and with love, away from the cruelty of Greece and the people.  He has come a long way from when we originally found home.  A few months ago, we left in the morning, as usual to go and feed all our strays.  Upon our return and close to our home, we found this tiny 'thing' laid on the ground, with an empty dirty water container.  

I picked him up immediately and literally there was hardly any life in this poor soldier.  I think I could honestly say now, that he was minutes away from death. It is interesting to write, that where he was left, was the pathway that we only used, so someone must have known that we were animal lovers and would do something to help this furry thing.  I picked him up straight away.  There was hardly any sign of life in him.  I had an army of kittens at home at the time, but another didn't make any difference.  I didn't know what to do.  He wouldn't drink milk, he wouldn't eat anything.  He had lumps on his head, but these were like little water cysts.  I took him to the vet to get advise.  It was touch and go with him.  I got medicines for him, which included liquid vitamins.  All of this was followed by twice daily visits to the vets for insulin injections to give him strength.  As the days moved on, so did MONTY'S strength.  We called him MONTY, because he fought and came back to life.

I had nowhere to keep all these kittens, so on the social sites, I posted like many and asked for homes.  A very nice lady, who took one of my other strays offered him a home immediately. From then on, he became PEPSI.  Passport and vaccinations were prepared, and then it was just a case of waiting for a suitable flight escort.  It happened.  Everything is possible for any stray, but it does require lots of hard work, time and energy.  Sadly many just turn away.

I would like say a huge thank you to everyone who made this exciting journey possible.

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http://www.ermioni.info/content/animal-welfare
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LUCY the lucky rescued GreekStray

This helpless soul was found wandering, lost, starved, be-raggled, full of fleas and ticks. Sadly it has become one of the lucky rescued, saved doggies.  A very good friend of mine, was traveling on holiday in the Peloponnese and got lost whilst trying to get from Pylos to ancient Messini.  Outside a village called Chora, which wasn't too far way from Yalova, she stopped to check her map.  Upon turning round, shock, horror, disbelief hit her in the face.  What faced her was a helpless soldier.  All bones and skin and alarming, by the side of the road.  Like us, she always carried cat and dog food in her car, because one never knows when it might be needed.  Immediately she gave it food.  Then she got such a crazy idea and that was to take this dog, who she then named LUCY, into her car and drive her back to Athens.  Her friend told her that she couldn't save all animals on the planet, which is true, but sometimes there are a few that cross our paths, and these are the ones that can be saved.  Into the car it went and was driven to a private kennel in Athens, close to the airport.   She could not leave this helpless soul behind. She knew she had to give it a chance.

She named her LUCY.  At this private kennel, immediate attention was given to her, followed by vet's treatments.  I was asked to help with this case and I immediately posted this desperate situation onto the social sites.  People were so kind and a small amount of money was raised.  It was costing 350 Euros for a months stay in this private kennel and vet's fees on top.  I contacted a wonderful organisation in Holland, who did offer to help, but first blood tests had to be conducted.

Time has moved on and LUCY is beginning to be a proper dog again.  It is incredible to see the progress that has been made.  Treatment, love and care are the key essentials in making a huge difference to a helpless soul.

There is more good news to report and that is on Friday 13th September '13, she will move to another private dwelling with a very loving person, who will continue with her treatment and care.  

The final good news is that once LUCY has been given the all clear, she will be travelling to Holland, where a foster home is waiting for her.

Such a very happy outcome for a wonderful lucky dog.  In time, I am sure that LUCY will have forgotten all about her traumas and will have a super family who will adore her to bits.

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YASSOU the rescued half dead puppy

Through animals, I am blessed to have met some superb people.  Recently I met a lovely couple by the name of Kerstin and Bastian, who were on holiday here in Ermioni, Greece.  They found a half dead puppy and needed help urgently, because it had to be treated, and they were definitely taking it back home with them.  They had little money, had written to many organisations, begging for help, but sadly no-one responded except a kind lady by the name of Gaby.  Later, I learnt that Gaby was part of a German animal welfare associated, whose focus was on castrations of strays here in Greece.  At the time, little did I realise that this lady would be helping me at a later date.  

I was saddened to learn that only one person responded to their plea, but this was harsh reality. I will never know why, but there must be many reasons. Because YASSOU was only a puppy, he couldn't have his rabies vaccination.  This would have to be done in Germany.  So the vet got the passport prepared, gave first injection and gave him a medical examination.  Because of the airlines requirements in terms of size of bag/box for cabin, YASSOU couldn't fly back with them either.  He spent a further couple of days in Athens and flew back cargo, in a suitable box, which I had here.

Kerstin and Bastian named this little puppy YASSOU.  Why?  Because Yassou in Greek means 'Hello'.  They saw this puppy looking at them, saying 'Yassou, please pick me up and take me home', which is what they did.  I became involved because of the location.  Sadly there was no contact from this couple until the Saturday, by which time, we only had 20 minutes to get little YASSOU to the vets.

Everything is possible where strays are concerned.  The love, care and determination, shown by this wonderful German couple, to get this puppy back to Germany was so inspirational.  So many abandoned dogs/cats/kittens/puppies, yet there is an army of people out there in the world, who could do so much more, to help the plight of these helpless innocent souls.

YASSOU was definitely in the right place at the right time.  A new life has opened up for him.  He landed in Berlin on the 20 August '13.  Such a happy outcome for YASSOU.

"Happiness is a warm puppy" ~ Charles M. Schulz

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