Greece – a Paradise Lost
Published by cathleengarvey on February 18, 2010 in Europe-
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The shocking abuse of animals that happens every day in Greece is a stark contrast to the image the government wishes to project to its tourists. Innocent animals are poisoned, abused, shot and left to starve on the streets with no hope in sight. With various animal charities leading the movement to uncover this ugly truth, awareness must be raised if this cruel practice can ever be stamped out.
Greece – A Paradise Lost
“As long as a man decimates animals, he will fight and kill his fellowman. Indeed, when you bring death and pain you really can’t bring joy and love.” – Pythagoras (Ancient Greek philosopher) 852-807 B.C.
Welcome to Greece. An ancient mysterious land surrounded by azure blue waters gently lapping over soft, sandy beaches. A glorious countryside dotted with picturesque villages nestled among lush green forests just waiting to be discovered. Friendly locals are waiting to greet you upon arrival to ensure your stay in this magical country is full of wonder and delight as you sample the many pleasures of this warm and hospitable country. Sound familiar? Of course, almost everyone has seen or read an advertisement for Greece and over 16 million tourists visit this popular holiday destination every year. But what the tourist offices won’t tell you about is the cruel and horrific practice carried out every day in a country which prides itself as ‘the cradle of civilization’.
As you step off the plane and make your way to your hotel, you will be greeted warmly by the locals. Packs of thin, starving dogs will be overjoyed to see you, fully aware that their survival rests mainly in the scraps of food and compassion given by the foreign visitors. Gaze out on the beautiful countryside and see the elderly abandoned donkeys struggling to walk after a lifetime tied to a tree with 3 feet of wire to prevent them from wandering off. More magical scenes for the holiday album include maggot-infested cats, poisoned dogs, and broken, exhausted horses carrying scores of fat, grinning tourists up and down the mountain paths. Welcome to Greece. Welcome to a barbaric, inhumane society that deals with stray dogs by feeding them rat poison and leaving them to die a slow and painful death.
In an effort to clean up the streets of Athens before the Olympic Games in 2004, the Greek government is suspected of being involved in the poisoning of 80% of an estimated 30–50,000 stray dogs. Mass poisoning is a well-known practice all over Greece with many of the dogs belonging to a family. Imagine the horror of discovering your beloved pet in a pool of its own feces and vomit, its body bloated and contorted after taking a possible 3-4 days to die. Poisoning is not the only worry if you let your family pet run free, most of the strays are infested with fleas, maggots and ticks. Thousands of animals are also killed by cars each year with the drivers rarely stopping to assist an injured animal. For those with a strong stomach a Google search for ‘animal cruelty in Greece’ reveals a devastating list of stories about the fate of these poor creatures.
After the Greek cup final in 2003 a riot broke out in the city of Thessaloniki after their team suffered a defeat by a rival team. Chosen because of the black and white color of its fur, a husky was doused in fuel and set on fire by the rioting mob. Two days before Christmas 2008, five puppies were spotted running free over farmland in Halkidiki. Two hours later the same puppies were found dead after being stuffed into a rubbish sack and beaten to death. In January 2010 in the city of Olympia an ex-policeman chained a horse to the back of a car and drove for 2km before dumping the horse into a ditch. Still alive with two broken legs, its skin completely torn off and screaming in pain, the disemboweled horse was eventually put to sleep by a vet. After reporting the man to the police, eyewitnesses claimed the man merely laughed. The police decided to bring no charges against this man. These are not isolated incidents, these are just a few which have managed to gain media attention. An unimaginable amount of abuse goes on every day that we will never hear about.
How does this disgusting, immoral treatment of these innocent creatures continue in a country which has been a part of the European Union since 1981? While laws for the protection of companion and stray animals are in place they are rarely, if ever, enforced. The only help for these animals comes in the form of various animal welfare charities 80% of which are funded by foreign organizations. ‘Welfare for Animals Global’ is an American charity founded by Marijo Gills who has spent many years in Greece and witnessed first-hand the shocking treatment of its animals. In spite of numerous protests, letters and even a petition signed by 80,000 people, the Greek Government have refused to acknowledge the problem and instead given what Mrs. Gills states as a “third finger salute”. Many charities inside the country are running catch, neuter, and release programs, and appeal to families to provide temporary shelter and foster homes to sick and recovering animals.
As long as the Greek government continues to deny there is a problem, a solution will never be found. Many tourists are now taking to the decision to boycott Greece, a move supported by the animal charities as they believe the government will not take action until they see their income from tourism affected. Greece is unquestionably a magnificent country with a natural beauty, mystique and charm that inspires all who visit. Its culture, hospitality, and cuisine is renowned all over the planet and its history has given birth to some of the greatest poets, philosophers and playwrights the world has ever known. When will this great society end the abuse of its smallest and weakest members? The only crime these animals committed was to be born on Greek soil, a crime which led many to an early grave.
I have to whole hearty agree with you Cathleen, my own pet dog suffered the poisoning fate and i hate them for what they did, when are they going to learn from there actions…
The Pythagoras “quote” is a fake.
Apart from that, one has to understand that in Greece there is a long standing habit of stray dogs and cats, and that most people are very much interested in their stray animals welfare but not at all at removing stray cats and dogs ‘cleaning the city streets’ as some very disturbed brains among animal rights people would prefer… with the pretext of ‘animal saving’ of course…
I do not agree with how these animals have been treated but PLEASE take a look at your own country – just read the press there – some people treat their own family and friends worse that these animals are treated!!! Sorry but the UK have lots of charities to help these poor animals – a lot of which is funded by government grants!! (and you all wonder why you have to pay so much tax) Compare how many animals are killed everyday in Greece to how many HUMANS are killed in UK!! – but you won’t sabotage tourists going to Uk will you??? – and i am a UK citizen who now lives in Greece!
Keith I too agree w/ Cathleen and you.
To Magh, Your comment just doesn’t make sense. If a person cared about his/her stray then it would not be a stray would it?
To Nichole, Most of the funds you speak of probably end up in goverment pockets. And the ##’s you speak of, just how many humans are killed by Greeks in the UK? because that is what we are talking about “how many animals are killed by Greeks in Greece” Go on FB and look at some of the pictures of truckloads of dead dogs being dumped in garbage pits or hanging from trees. Open yours eyes to what is happening around you. If you truely live in Greece, I can not believe that you don’t see it.
If you have the guts, check out the links mentioned above, see for yourselves.
I couldn’t agree more with my anchestor’s saying..If you are capable of hurting animals which do not cause any harm to anyone, then what stops you from hurting people who actually can hurt you in many ways? Nothing. The thing is that ancient Greek’s philosophy (or the way to see things) does not reflect even a bit modern Greek’s philosophy. Any common elements between those two? None. I have many examples to show where Greeks not only do not respect animals but their fellows as well! And I am referring to tiny examples in their daily life. Greece is not a country where challenged people (and I mean those with physical incapacities) and animals are treated the way they deserve. Whoever supports the opposite either has not ever lived in Greece or does not have a clue about it. And please, the pathetic and hypocritical statement like ” you care so much for animals why not for people too? ” makes me throw up. Of course, not all Greeks are like that but those who are not seem like drops in the ocean and they cannot make up for the rest of them.
Regarding the UK, I have to remind to the fellow who spoke earlier that human beings are being killed everywhere, in Greece too, and guess what, the crime rate in Greece is now the highest of all times. And how someone can get killed in Greece?
hit by a car and abandoned by the driver (the driver in most cases is never found)
by doctor’s mistake (the doctor is hardly ever prosecuted cause here applies the rule of ”ommerta” on behalf of his/her colleagues)
robbed and shot dead (again in most cases the murder is never found)
and so on……
An inconvenient truth? Yes. Instead of blaming people who care about animals, why don’t we start caring about animals and people simultaneously.
Thank you
Dimitra
Amazing article!
I visited Greece in May 2008 and was heartbroken at the sheer number of strays I witnessed. They were emaciated and begging for food and treated appallingly by the locals. I have never seen anything like it.
I understand that animal abuse exists everywhere in the world but the fact that Greece has the highest number of strays in the EU goes to show the lack of care the government has for it’s animals. Greeks treated me with contempt and even laughed at me when I dared to show compassion towards these animals.
I will never go back and it is nothing to do with boycotting the country. But as an animal lover Greece did nothing but break my heart.
Isn’t it amazing whenever there is mention of Greece’s huge stray animal population, the mass poisonings, abandonment and cruelty all of which are catalogued. Along comes someone (like Nicole) who’s only contribution is to make reference and comparisons to other problems in other countries, what on earth is the relevancy of this?
You live in Greece for goodness sake. This huge problem is now on your doorstep. Trying to make compassions with the UK is as useless and as irrelevant as comparing the weather. You are obviously unaware of the situation in Greece but seem to think that you are knowledgeable enough to compare systems? As you like comparisons – try these – Greece holds the worst animal abuse record per capita in Europe. Greece has animal welfare laws which it ignores, terrible abuse and cruelty is not punished. Abusers hang dogs here on wires from trees. They drag live animals behind cars and motorcycles screaming in pain. Kittens are dumped in rubbish skips tied up in plastic bags, a 3 day old puppy was HUNG last week from an olive tree, the list is endless not isolated nor rare. Compare the very recent account of an English woman who set fire to a rabbit hutch with a rabbit fastened inside – court case – possible sentence – prison term 6 months fine £20,000 – Greek man dragged a horse for 2 kms behind his car breaking both forelegs skinning alive until the horses intestines’ were exposed – no charges brought to date. Think about all of those UK citizens who save their money to holiday in Greece and who end up not with the memories of pretty villages, blue seas and endless sun, but the vivid and distressing memory of the skeletonised dog chained to a barrel with no water in the searing heat and her 4 puppies born in her own filth because she cannot find a clean area in which to give birth. Reflect also that over 1 million euro funds those that care for these animals and all of that money comes from overseas donations, many UK citizens who have witnessed and are appalled by the situation here. Cruelty and abuse wherever it takes place should be a concern to all who want to see a better world and respect for animals. Greece is no exception.
Excellent comment, Tikanis. My friend and I learned Greek dancing together, and were enamoured of everything Greek. She was lucky enough, or so we thought, to fulfil her dream of visiting Greece – but it turned out to be a nightmare for the very reasons you mentioned.She was shattered, she will never return, I will never go there, and everyone we know, now would not go there.
Greece was once known as “the cradle of civilisation” – where has that Greece gone?
Excellent comment, Tikanis. My friend and I learned Greek dancing together, and were enamoured of everything Greek. She was lucky enough, or so we thought, to fulfil her dream of visiting Greece – but it turned out to be a nightmare for the very reasons you mentioned.She was shattered, she will never return, I will never go there, and everyone we know, now would not go there.
Greece was once known as \”the cradle of civilisation\” – where has that Greece gone?
Can anyone imagine what it is to be Greek, live in Greece and see every day of your life what most contributors rightly observe and re-count?
There are many animal loving Greeks that deplore, despise and hate what is going on. The conduct of successive governments (central, regional and local) and institutions towards animals and friends has been diabolical to say the least. EU funds targeting this area never end up with the target. Shouldn’t the EU be more careful with its money?
Most Greeks would like to see change. Don’t forget about 100.000 young Greeks are educated abroad in any one year-half of these in the UK. Some stay abroad for longer periods of time and come back to Greece ‘changed’ by humane attitude towards animals.
Change there shall be. For total success we need our government to support this change. We CANNOT do it alone.
Most adventure is inconvenience rightly understood, but a little danger sharpens the mind. You should be hyper-alert anyway when you are out as you were, both for your own safety and that you not miss anything interesting. When I was in the Greek islands some years back, all but the smallest islands had a doctor, often a recent med school graduate doing his National Service. On one small island where I turned my ankle the young doctor told me that the islanders either got better on their own or died, and no one came to see him. I noticed that he knew all the words to the songs on his cassette collection.
Magh and Nicole, are you both in total and complete denial about the widespread abuses that exist in your country by taking the focus off of it and going over to the UK? People aren’t killed in the UK and yes, they take care of their animall population in a much better way than Greece!. The charities are funded by taxes? What did you expect? Taxes for this tragedy and you complain? Whose responsibility is this mass abuse? Is it the animals that chose to be born or shouldn’t the “Intelligent Humans” know better and have their animals spayed and neutered? Why is it even legal in this beautiful country gone mad to dump their animals? And why so many in one country? I live in the USA, there are also people who dump their animals, and abuse them, but not on the scale or magnitude Greece does, not ever!!! What has happened to these people? The insensitivity to God’s creatures is frightening! And to the Greeks that are loving, caring and gentle lovers of life, God help you, I would probably leave my own country if I had to endure this debacle. And where are the law makers and judges of Greece? Do the people have to be arrested and tried in order for this to stop? If these people have to be forced to change, what is really in their hearts? Very very scary to me as I always thought the Greeks were loving, family oriented, gentle, fun loving people, but now I see that too many are not, all in one place. Education or not, there is no excuse to hurt the life of another. As Issaac Bashevis Singer writes:
Even in the worm that crawls in the earth there glows a divine spark. When you slaughter a creature, you slaughter God.
As long as people will shed the blood of innocent creatures there can be no peace, no liberty, no harmony between people. Slaughter and justice cannot dwell together.
and
Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.
-Thomas A. Edison
To these abusers, murderers and psychopathic personalities: One day you will have to some to terms with your lives. Whatever cruelty, harm and abandonment you pass on to others will be passed back to you 10 fold. Our days on this earth are short, and yes, you are not immortal, but very soon justice will prevail and nothing will be hidden, all will be known.