A Generous Donation

Dr. Parker, an amazing woman. came in contact with us in April to ask us what are the needs of our Center because she wanted to help. Within the variety of needs was also a very practical and useful item for the sterilization programs which is called Queens Cage drop over.

It was a goal and dream of ours to have at least one of those cages one day. Mrs Parker not only immediately offered to buy them for us, not one or two but 10 of them, but she also undertook all the logistics to buy them and send them from the UK to Greece, which was very expensive and complicated, but with her persistence, she succeeded.

We want to THANK SO MUCH Mrs. Parker for her generous donation. We have already used the cages in our autumn sterilization program and they helped us enormously. Thank you!

Fouskos

On October 6, 2024, Fouskos, a one month-old kitten, arrived at our center. His mother ahd abandoned him and he was crying non-stop for 2 days. A kindhearted woman felt sorry for him and took him in but she had to leave Amorgos so she asked for our help. And that's how Fouskos ended up in our hands.

We began him on intensive care with regular feedings, a heating pad, antibiotics and eye drops for the respiratory and eye infection he was suffering from and soon little Fouskos recovered, gained weight and started to play.

Since then Fouskos is being fostered at our Center but life in a warm home is always better than the life at the shelters or on the streets, and as a friendly kitty, we hope a loving family will come forward and give him the happy life he deserves. How about yours?

Here is a small video of him the first day he came in our care, looking quite scruffy: https://youtube.com/shorts/-wVz1HDipOU?feature=share

Claire

Claire, our great and passionate volunteer, has completed her mission here in Amorgos. She arrived from Bulgaria where she also volunteered at dog shelters there, but originally hails from the United Kingdom. We were lucky to have her with us for three weeks in October. A dedicated volunteer, Claire stayed beyond her shift hours and working days, offering great help to our animals and us.

We are grateful for our very special time with Claire and wish her all the best! We are waiting for her return when AZI’s new Center is built.

Here is a small video of her during the release of 6 kittens from our Center: https://youtube.com/shorts/RxKjAEliFyg?feature=share

Little Taz is adopted!

Taz came to our Center in 17 September 2024 after being rescued from the streets. He was only one-month-old and he was dehydrated, malnourished, with terrible diarrhea and a wound in his back from his siblings as he was the weakest.

We never like to separate kittens from their siblings but unfortunately the stronger kittens were playing hard with him and poor Taz who was sick was suffering to such a degree that we feared for his survival.

Now little Taz is not so little anymore and he has so much energy that his mum calls him Taz (from the Tasmanian devil in cartoons). And yes you understood well…Taz has been adopted from an amazing family who adore him.

Here is a small video of him in our care, two weeks after his arrival:

https://youtube.com/shorts/SOpoY-3M2Eo?feature=share

Achilleas has been adopted!

It's time to say goodbye with bittersweet feelings..

Achilleas came into our hands on May 17th, 2024 when he was only 1 day old. See his story here: https://www.animal-zone.org/news/2024/6/4/strong-little-achileas 

His chance of survival were very slim, but little Achilles proved to be a fighter and he made it! He started eating on his own, he started running and playing and when he was old enough, and soon it was time to amputate his leg amputation—to take care of the permanently open wound that prevented him the chance to live a normal life. 

Jarkko Mehtälä was the man who found him initially, while on vacation in Amorgos, and it was he who brought him to us. He said then that if Achilleas lived he would come back in the fall to get him and they both kept their promise. One lived and the other came all the way from Finland to Amorgos and back to make him part of his family. And today Achilleas left the island where he was born and traveled to a new life in distant Finland where a warm home and two more cats await him.

And what can we say now about this man who crossed Europe, with all that entails, to offer a home to a cat from Amorgos. Thank you seems too small. Achillea and Jarkko Mehtälä, we wish you a very beautiful and long life together! Have a nice trip!

You can follow Achilleas on his own Instagram page!

Autumn sterilization

Our Autumn sterilization program has been completed. During the first week of October, the Municipality of Amorgos, in collaboration with Animal Zone International, held a 5-day sterilization program for stray cats. A total of 105 stray cats (70 females and 35 males) from most of the villages of Amorgos were sterilized.

In addition, all animals received vaccines against rabies as well as anti-parasitic treatment. They were also tagged electronically (microchipped). One female kitten with broken leg from Katapola and an old cat with a big wound in her neck for more than 2 years from Potamos remain in our care for treatment. All the other cats were released back to their neighborhoods and from the majority of whom we have news that they are recovering well.

We have many people to thank for another successful program. First and foremost, would be to our amazing veterinarian Dr. Andrianna Alexandropoulou for her unwavering support and  assistance. She worked intensely and tirelessly to meet the needs of our community.

Next, we sincerely thank the shipping company BLUE STAR FERRIES which is always helpful to the needs of our island and offered free transfer on the distinguished seat to our vet.

Also, we offer sincere thanks to the Municipality of Amorgos for the continuous support and perfect cooperation, and Evangelia Gatsinou who worked eagerly as a veterinarian assistant but of course also Chariklia Psaki who although the big pain in her legs she offered her assistant when that was needed.

We wish to thank our amazing volunteers who “plowed the island” and went up and down many stairs in order to collect and release cats and of course all the inhabitants of the island who participated and helped each in their own way.

Our spay and neuter programs are vitally important for both the cats and the islanders. Without this effort, the cat population will explode to unsustainable levels. Cats reach breeding age very quickly—at just 5 or 6 months they can have two or three litters a year. When there is an explosion in the cat population, it is difficult to feed and care for them all and they soon become parasitic and diseased, suffering from malnutrition and common infections thus increasing discontent in the community. When the cat population is under control, we can provide them with appropriate food and anti-parasitic treatments so that their overall health improves, which reduces the risk of them being considered  a nuisance pest. Suffering is reduced and harmony is achieved—a win-win for all.

If you’d like to help, please consider supporting our efforts with a donation. We appreciate your help, no matter how small: https://www.animal-zone.org/donate

Fall sterilization program

Fall sterilization program

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 — FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4th, 2024

The Municipality of Amorgos and Animal Zone International will carry out a sterilization program for stray cats. We ask those who take care of stray cats in their area and those who are interested in participating to contact us.

According to Law 4830/2021, article 9 (par. 1) & 10, sterilization of dogs and cats is MANDATORY except for the animals whose genetic sample of material (DNA) has been sent to the genetic storage and analysis laboratory pet.

The surgeries will take place at the Veterinary clinic of Animal Zone International in Pera Rachidi (Katapola)

Contact telephone numbers: 22850-71717 & 697 4990 045

 Sponsor: Blue Star Ferries

Voutsi's new cat feeder

The Municipality of Amorgos and Animal Zone International have worked together to place another cat feeder at Vroutsi. The feeder is installed in spot where there is a large colony of stray cats being fed leftovers by the locals. Our objective for placing the feeder in that spot is to offer nutritionally proper food for the cats as well as to maintain cleanliness in the area by providing food in the feeder and not on the ground.

Additionally it is hoped that this will minimize the prevalence of animals that are malnourished, cachectic, and therefore, more vulnerable to disease. It will also reduce the need for stray cats to forage from other sources (such as garbage bins or restaurants), which in turn creates other problems. With the intensive program of sterilization for the stray cats in these specific areas, the goal is to keep the cat population from growing out of control.

We ask residents who feed the stray cats to place dry cat food in the new feeders and not on the ground. We hope everyone is pleased (including the cats) with this smart improvement!

Alanis

Our last volunteer for this summer was a sweet Spanish young girl named Alanis, who came to us through the WorkAway website. 

Alanis worked with us for three weeks in August and her help was very important for us.  A dedicated volunteer, Alanis not only helped us with our daily chores at the Center but she also helped our veterinarian and stayed beyond her shift hours.

We are grateful for our very special time with Alanis and wish her many more beautiful journeys and experiences.

Thank you Alanis! 

Hope to see you again in Amorgos. You have made some friends here.

Sarah and Tabitha

Two more wonderful volunteers joined our team this summer. 

Sarah Kate, a young veterinary student who came from Tampa, Florida (USA) and stayed for two weeks and Tabitha, who is also a veterinary student who came from London (United Kingdom) and stayed the whole July.  

Τhe girls’ help was valuable to us as well as to our veterinarian. Our sterilization program continued throughout the summer so our vet was happy to have their help on the surgeries. Additionally the girls learned valuable things that they will need in their careers. Both girls were always willing to help and we are grateful for our very special time with them and wish them a long and fruitful career.

Thank you Sarah and Tabitha! 

We are waiting for you to return upon your graduation for a sterilization program at the new clinic!

Magdalena

Our wonderful volunteer, Magdalena, who came to us through the WorkAway website, has completed her mission here in Amorgos.

Magda, who comes from Poland, is a veterinary student who worked with us for three weeks in June. She quickly developed a rapport with our animals. A dedicated volunteer, Magda stayed beyond her shift hours, and we know that all the animals she will help in the future will be touched by her calm and gentle manner.

We are grateful for our very special time with Magda and wish her a long and fruitful career.

Thank you, Magda! 

We are waiting for your return, after your graduation, to join us for a sterilization program at the new clinic.

Stavros

Stavros — The Sweet Survivor

We named him Stavros because he came from the area of ​​Stavros. On the day that the mountain of Aegiali was burning, he, unknown how, was found burnt on the road to Arkesini, many kilometers further. 

When he arrived, he was in terrible shape and had sustained many severe burns. His ears and face were burned, and his nose was damaged to such an extent that he could only breathe through his mouth. His legs were also burned and full of maggots. He also had worms in his eyes. 

He was in extreme pain and yet when we were taking care of him he was asking for caresses. Every day that passes he is taking a step for the better. We are rooting for him to make a full recovery!

Here is a short video of him receiving treatment when he came: https://youtube.com/shorts/dC9XRYG0OUM?si=48NpUS9hvh17Wypu

Help us help Stavros—please donate now or even better, virtually adopt Stavros, and be a friend on his road to recovery.

Animal Action's Annual visit

On June 14th, 15th and 16th, 2024, the equine care team of Animal Action Greece made their 11th annual visit to Amorgos, providing veterinary, dental, and farriery care to the island's equines. The veterinarian Kostas, the equine dental technician Alkis and the farrier Tasos offered their services to 36 equines (24 donkeys, 6 mules, and 6 horses) that are used for various agricultural and transport tasks.

Almost all of the equines needed their teeth fixed and many also needed hoof care. Advice was also given on their proper diet, health, as well as appropriate ways to keep them from running away without the use of pastoura (the traditional practice of tying legs together).

During the visit the team, in collaboration with the local veterinarian Dimitrios Simos, offered their services to a donkey from Tholaria suffering from colic. It was preceded by a visit to our shelter where 4 donkeys and 2 mules housed there were cared for.

Special thanks to Blue Star Ferries and Seajets for their support in helping our project by offering free return ferry tickets on the former and 50% off on the latter for the group members, pension Marousso, Michail Studios, and Ilias Pension for hosting the group, Thomas Rent-a-Car for providing a car for the group's transportation, the restaurants "Kastanis" in Chora and "o Nikos" in Langada, the cafe "Perasma Kastelopetra" and the pastry shop "Kallisto" for covering part of the team's meals.

The Municipality of Amorgos undertook to find sponsorships, and a very big thank you goes especially to Deputy Mayor Popi Despotidi who, from the Municipality's side, was the one who sought the sponsorships and who is always willing to help. For our part, we undertook the organization of the action and covered part of the group's meals.

It's through cooperation and understanding that we can achieve a lot.

A big thank you to the owners of the animals who every year are consistent in our appointment and have embraced this action from the first moment.

And to all our wonderful supporters out there, thank you all for your donations over the years. Please continue to support our efforts and goals by making a tax-deductible contribution here. We need you now more than ever!

Tomi

Tomi was found on the street almost unconscious. His rescuers called and told us, “We found a kitten that is probably dying.” When he arrived, he was completely dehydrated, with hypothermia and possible internal bleeding. The chances of survival were slim but he proved strong. 

The next day he was eating by syringe but with great appetite and a day later he was able to eat by himself and had his eyes wide open. Ten days after his arrival, he has now blossomed into playful kitten full of joy.

It’s unbelievable, but it appears he has made a full recovery! Who will adopt this little fighter?

Strong Little Achileas

Achileas and his sister were found in the area of the Castle of Chora on Amorgos both in bad shape. For Achileas, his umbilical cord was wrapped tightly around his leg, restricting blood flow and causing major damage to his limb. His sister had a terrible wound on her front leg, down to the bone, and sadly she did not survive. 

However we are very hopeful that little Achileas will make it—he is clearly a fighter. He is now 13 days old and thriving. Unfortunately at this time there is not much we can do about his damaged leg—he’s far too young for surgery now—but this does not seem to bother him at all. He is very resilient and active and eats with a great appetite and we hope he will continue to get stronger each day!

We are optimistic that we can nurse him back to health but we can’t do it alone. Please help and make a donation now.

Here are 3 short videos: 

1. When he came to our Center: https://youtube.com/shorts/XnbxBd2_4b0?feature=share

2. At 13 days old: https://youtube.com/shorts/pCoWozPCeV0?feature=share

3. Achileas eating from his bottle: https://youtube.com/shorts/0YGETlQPAGQ?feature=share

Olivia and Oliver, from Amorgos to the Netherlands

Olivia (above) and Oliver (below) were found with terrible eye infections on the streets of a village called Langada in Amorgos. Their mother was a feral cat who had hidden her kittens until they were about a month and a half old. This resulted in them not receiving timely eye care and losing their sight. Many residents felt sorry and tried to help them with treatments on the spot in order not to separate them from their mother at such a young age but without success so finally the kittens were brought to our Center. 

When they arrived they were also both suffering from diarrhea. Oliver had already lost both eyes and Olivia had a very limited vision in her right eye. They received treatment and soon there were two active, beautiful kittens available for adoption. 

The good news came from the Netherlands with Olivia first and Oliver second. Our beautiful Olivia traveled to her new home in Holland in February and our sweet Oliver 5 days ago. 

Due to their blindness, these kittens have no chance of survival on the streets and no chance of adoption in Amorgos, so without this chance their lives would have been a limited one. The fact that these families, so many miles away, opened their homes for them makes us extremely grateful to them.

We wish you both a beautiful, happy, and long life together!!

Here’s a short video of Oliver in his new home in Holland: https://youtube.com/shorts/g-Z3V5gXUkI?feature=share

Please donate to help us help other needy animals on Amorogs! http://www.animal-zone.org/donate

Five kittens

Not one, not two, not three but FIVE small kittens were abandoned inside a plastic bag in a remote area of Aegiali. A tourist during her hike from Tholaria to Langada, following the traditional path, heard their cries and asked for help. The poor babies were fortunate in their misfortune. The kittens were skin and bones, they were starving and they were full of fleas (see videos below).

Clearly we must continue our work of sterilization and educational campaigns in order to prevent this from occuring again. Won’t you join us in our cause??! We appreciate any assistance you can offer. Donate, or volunteer and foster if you are nearby. AZI and the kittens thank you!

https://youtube.com/shorts/RMM0dVwak2s?feature=share

https://youtube.com/shorts/3ozTBwILcrA?feature=share

Lacta's brothers

The day after Lacta was found next to her mother who had been killed by car, and who came to us thanks to the teachers of Aegiali’s primary school, two more kittens were found crying near to the area Lacta was found.

Obviously they are Lacta's brothers who started to cry and thankfully people noticed them. The two little ones are both boys and are thriving! Let us introduce you Batman and Robin!

SPRING BENEFIT — TUESDAY, May 7th

Music for a Cause:
A Benefit Evening for Animal Zone International

Long Island Concert Orchestra
Chamber Trio

Performing popular and classical music inspired by our furry friends in Amorgos, plus a premiere by David Winkler, LICO’s Composer-in-residence

PROGRAM
Mozart – Divertimento in E flat major
Beethoven – Serenade in D major
Beethoven – Trio in E flat major
Haydn – Divertimenti
  Winkler – Lyric Preludes 

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 7 PM

School of Visual Arts
214 East 21st • New York, NY 10010

Master of Ceremonies: Edoardo Ballerini
Award-winning actor, narrator, writer, and film director

Bid on silent auction items such as a Richard Nonas wood sculpture, a William Wegman photograph, and tickets to a Long Island Concert Orchestra performance. 

Tickets: $250

A fully tax-deductible contribution

Lacta, a sweet newborn

Lacta, a very young kitten, arrived recently. She’s a sweetie different from the others.💕 Sadly she is an orphan as her mother was found dead. Thanks to the teachers of the primary school of Aegiali she has come to us safe and sound.

Here is a small video from her arrival into a box for sweets: https://youtube.com/shorts/UhafrL3XRP4?feature=share

and one more of her first day in our care: https://youtube.com/shorts/ybnCq7RvtOY?feature=share

Here at AZI’s Center she will be treated to the best care we can offer! If you’d like to help please consider a virtual adoption or a donation. More info can be found here.