The Rescue of Two Dogs

Two young dogs, each living in his own misery of appalling neglect and horrific conditions, were recently rescued by AZI. We are happy to report that they are now both safe and well. Once they become accustomed to their new lives, we will be putting our effort towards finding them the caring homes which they greatly deserve. Here are the stories of Canellos and Feevos.

Canellos

For over a year, Canellos was tied up on a short chain inside a small, unsanitary, fenced-in area with only a couple of rusty barrels for shelter. On the twelfth of February, by order of the Prosecutor of the Court of First Instance of Naxos, Animal Zone International was given the legal right to remove Canellos from these dire circumstances.

Canellos had received no affection from an owner who had condemned him to a life of isolation and misery, but, he is a young dog, only sixteen months old, and in spite of the fact that he was frightened of our touch when we first rescued him, he is learning to accept caresses from loving humans and to play and run as he gains strength and trust.

Canellos has his whole life ahead of him and we are eager to find this sweet pup a loving home.

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Feevos

Feevos was kept in a dark warehouse filled with litter and reeking of filth for over a year. As with Canellos, by order of the Prosecutor of the court of First Instance of Naxos, this imprisoned young dog was given the legal right to be rescued by Animal Zone International.

We brought him to our Center, fed him and washed from him a year’s worth of dirt, and then took him for his first walk in the beautiful springtime of Amorgos. Feevos was beyond joy, running back and forth between the flowers and trees and plants, filled with wonder at the sight of the sea and the other animals that he met on that first walk. We know this young dog will have a long and healthy life filled with affection and safety.

Our hearts are filled with gratitude to the Prosecutor of the Court of First Instance of Naxos. Her professionalism and dedication is helping to give grace to the lives of members of our animal kingdom.

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To see videos of how far they have come, visit our YouTube playlist by clicking here.

How can you help Canellos and Feevos, you ask? If you are able to welcome them into your family, please contact us to inquire about adoption. But we know that is not always possible, so a donation, large or small, will help us shower these two dogs with food and care, changing the trajectory of their lives from sadness to happiness. Donations will also help to cover adoption expenses which often include travel costs once we are able to find loving homes for them. If a donation is not possible, a wish for their health and well being is enough. Keep an eye out—an update with more information will be posted soon.

Ivan

Ivan lived alone for what must be about ten years of a very difficult life. His job was to keep his owner’s sheep from crossing the road. Indeed, Ivan was forced to be a kind of living fence.

Uncared for and underfed in order to keep him agitated and barking, Ivan’s lonely life was controlled by a man who had many times been accused of animal abuse.

For years, we at Animal Zone International did our best to rescue the animals who were kept in these miserable conditions but we were never able to successfully and legally remove them.

That is, until, finally, a responsible prosecutor who honors her role and her position in the community gave us the right to begin the rescue process.

In December 2019, Ivan was legally, but temporarily, delivered to the care of AZI by order of the prosecutor of the Naxos Court of First Instance. Eventually, the prosecutor was able to link old allegations of animal abuse to Ivan’s owner and issued a new order which allowed Ivan to be permanently in the care of AZI.

His owner may never again legally own another pet and we see this as a justification for the long struggle to save the many abused dogs who suffered and died in his care.

And now, for our dear Ivan, we hope that he will find a loving home to make up for those long unhappy years.

When Liza Met Sissy

These two lovely girls spent one year together in our Center in Amorgos. But then Liza was adopted into a wonderful home in Holland and Sissy was adopted into another wonderful home in Holland and the best friends were separated.

After a few months their wonderful mothers gave Liza and Sissy the gift of a playdate and the girls were so happy to spend time together.

We miss these beautiful girls but know that they are enjoying a loving and happy life in their new country. We want to thank Linda and Henriette—the most wonderful moms who are raising our girls with love and kindness.

Lisa

Lisa was found in terrible condition after having been locked for years in an improvised cage in Chora. Lisa was close to death when volunteers and members of the local animal welfare society (Filozoiki Merimna of Amorgos) began to fight for her life. They not only had to fight for her health, they also had to fight the owner who refused to let them remove her from her cage and bring her to our Center.

After nearly five years with us, Lisa has finally found her new home in Holland where she will be given the love that she so greatly deserves. Lisa is a special creature filled with a nurturing spirit that caused her to care for all the orphaned and ill animals that came to us at our center. Lisa would leave her own bed and sit with these wounded animals and she will always live in our memories as the most beautiful and powerful example of the grace that can come from the commitment to save every broken and wounded member of the animal kingdom.

We wish you a long and happy and wonderful new life dear Lisa!!

Bobbie's new life

Do you remember sweet Bobbie? 

Bobbie was found abandoned as a puppy  and spent the next 2 and a half years waiting for his forever home. On March 23rd Bobbie and his brother Arangon traveled from Amorgos, where their lives had no future, to Holland, to start a life as a member of a family, inside a home.

We've heard nothing but good news about his new life, and here is the proof...!

AZI Dogs Video

A look back at the many dogs we have rescued over the years, in conjunction with the Amorgos Animal Welfare Society.

Help us help the dogs of AZI

Many of our recent posts are about our cats and our cat projects. Now we would like to tell you about three sweet dogs in our care.

With the help of the Municipality of Amorgos we are preparing a temporary kennel for the dogs who have come to stay with us.

Bob, Akira and Arangon were living in an area far from our Center. Their kennels were in serious need of repairs and so, with the help of the Municipality of Amorgos, we were able to move them closer to our Center and greatly improve their living quarters.

Bob, one of the three dogs in our care. Click on the picture to read his story

The Municipality has provided us with an enclosure in Katapola where we have begun to clean the area, expand the fencing, cement the grounds and soon we will spread gravel so that the dogs will stay dry in their shelters and free from mud in the rainy season. Finally, the Municipality will give us trees and plants to help shade the animals during the intense summer heat.

The total cost of this project will be 800 euro and, since we are a non-profit organization, we rely entirely on donations in order to achieve our goals.

Won’t you consider becoming an angel to these dogs in need and make a donation to help keep them safe and healthy. Or, even better, consider taking one of these beautiful creatures, for, they are available for adoption.

We need your support. Please Donate. Even one euro is valuable to us and to the animals in our care. We are so grateful to have many online friends. If each friend gave only five euro we would be able to complete our kennel project and continue our struggle to care for the animals of the island of Amorgos.

Bob

Bob as a puppy

Bob today

Happy go lucky

and very friendly

Won't you consider giving him a home?

Bob was one of the five small puppies who were abandoned last year outside of a field in Amorgos. After many months with us, a local family of shepherds asked to adopt Bob and begin the work of training him to watch over their herds of goats and sheep. Although we told them that Bob loved to chase anything that moved they assured us that they would be able to turn him into a good watchdog.

Unfortunately, Bob was very happy to chase the herd but not to control it, and, so, after two months, Bob came back to us at the Center. He is now a very sweet and smart boy who loves to be with people. He is calm and gentle with children and he is comfortable with other dogs as well as with cats. As long as there are no goats or sheep to chase he is the most easygoing of fellows.

Bob is now living with his sister Akira and his brother Arangon in an enclosure in Amorgos.  Unfortunately, due to the lack of foster homes and volunteers on the island, these young dogs are able to spend only a short time with the people who come each day to care for them and they urgently need homes and human attention.

Bob’s mother was a pure bred Belgian Shepherd Groenendael and his father was a Greek Shepherd mixed breed. He is one year old, weighs 30 kg, is neutered and fully vaccinated, and his microchip number is 941000016719317.

Our great hope is that Bob will find a new and loving family on which to lavish his immense capacity for joyful affection.

Watch a video of him here.

Negra Update

We have good news through an update on Negra, the all white pup who was adopted by a family in Holland one year ago.

Negra has gone through training and she now has a job visiting the mentally handicapped. She has learned how to help them relax and even to help out with small chores, like getting the laundry. 

Her family is very proud of this amazing dog.

Charlie (Koutcho) says Hello from Holland

Koutcho, now Charlie, was adopted in Holland in 2009, when he was about six years old. He is now a senior dog at 12 year old, but still very handsome (see photo of Charlie with his tie on). We're so happy to get an update from you, Charlie!

Update on Raki

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Raki was brought to Holland to be adopted by a loving family in October 2014. She is doing very well and is a happy dog who loves the sun and her ball!

Update on Heracles

After being adopted in December 2014, Heracles, now Raklee, is happy and healthy and enjoying a wonderful life in Holland. And, as you can see, he is still as handsome as ever!

Working Weekend Ahead

The examination room is ready!

While in New York we are madly preparing for the Annual Argos Fall Benefit, back in Amorgos, Litsa is madly preparing for a weekend of spaying and neutering. She will be working with 4 vets and one vet student to spay/neuter cats from all areas of Amorgos as well as some dogs. Getting the cat population under control is a major step toward achieving a healthy cat community and improved environmental conditions for everyone on the island. We wish Litsa and the vets the very best this weekend!

New temporary shelter

We have built a temporary cat shelter on land that has been lent to AZI by Monks of the famed Monastery of Hozoviotissa. A strong, tall fence has been put up and we plan to move cats, dogs and saved goats there until a permanent place is available.

Even as a temporary shelter, it is very beautifully constructed and we believe our cats will love it here. The first residents—6 cats—arrived this week, and as you can see they are happy to run and play in the trees, sunbathe and enjoy themselves.

Luna is Adopted!

Luna on the boat

On October 1, 2014, Luna traveled from Amorgos to Athens airport. Later that same day, she flew to Holland where her new family was eagerly awaiting her at the airport. When she arrived, she went to them right away. She was curious about the world which she arrived in but she was tired from the long journey and slept the rest of the way to her new home. She is adored by her family, and she is enjoying everything there from the green grass, cows, riding in the car and sleeping on her new blanket. She loves to play and run and sometimes she is shy, but the cats are getting used to her and the kids love her, so what more can we ask for? We are so happy for her, and wish her the best in her new life!

Luna felt safer in her transport box as we were waiting the car that took us to the airport

Litsa and Luna in the queue for the check-in

Thanasis (Luna's escort from Amorgos) learns the entire procedure

Arrival at the Dutch airport and her new dad gives her some treats

Luna, happy in her new home