News & Events
Our vaccination program took place earlier this month, over the weekend of July 9th and 10th. It was completed successfully in spite of challenging conditions. The cats tend to hide away in the summer heat and we were only able to find them early in the mornings and late in the afternoons, but even with these difficulties over one hundred and seventy stray cats from the area of Aegiali have now been vaccinated for panleukopenia, calicivirus, rhinotracheitis and chlamydia as well as having been given pills for worming.
Many of the residents of the island have told us that there are still a large number of cats that hid so successfully we could not find them and it is our belief that from now on we should try to conduct our programs before the summer weather grows too intense.
We are happy to say that many of our island cats are now protected from the danger of viruses and we hope to inoculate the rest of their tribe when the weather cools down.
While we were out on the streets and in restaurants and hotels, many people seemed interested in learning about our work here in Amorgos and the island’s residents as well as the tourists who come to this beautiful island have therefore become much more concerned about the health and safety of the island animals.
Dr. Dimitris Vasalakis vaccinates one of the stray cats that Mrs Tasia cares for in Ano Potamos.
Our volunteer in Aegiali, Lily Clevede, Dr. Dimitris Vasalakis, our volunteer from WorkAway, Giorgos Zafiriou and AZI Coordinator Litsa trying to catch the cats in Langada in order to vaccinate them and give them pills against worms.
Dr. Vasalakis examines one of the stray cats that our volunteer, Lily Clevede, takes care of near her home.
Our volunteer in Aegiali, Giorgos Kantarakias, Dr. Dimitris Vasalakis and Lily Clevede with a cat in Tholaria.
Lily with Dr. Vasalakis vaccinating one of the cats of Lakki Hotel.
Lily, with Dr. Vasalakis, vaccinating one of the cats of Nisi Restaurant.
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.
Do you have free time? Do you love animals but aren't able to have your own pet? Come to our center and spend a little time with ours—we welcome your help and the animals will love you for it!
Consider devoting a few hours of your day helping these animals in need. We are looking for volunteers to help us take care of the many cats, dogs and equines in our care.
Some simple things you can help us with include:
For more information contact us at luco1982@hotmail.com or 6974990045.
Little Voulitsa was living with her mother, Voula, and her three siblings, in an area where there had been serious outbreaks of disease and infection.
Only Voulitsa and her mother were found alive when we reached them and, as you can see in the photographs that we have included below, they were both very close to death. After an intense period of care and treatment in our facility both the mother and daughter have not only survived but have each recovered their health and strength.
Voula has now been released back into her home area after having been spayed but we felt that we could not allow Voulitsa to return with her mother since the area is extremely dangerous for young kittens. Chickens and ducks and cats are all kept together in a small yard by a woman who has consistently refused our help with sterilizations and medications, which means that Voulitsa has remained with us at our center.
Voulitsa has put on weight and has now become an active and very playful kitten but we must continue treatment in the hope of saving one of her eyes. Soon she will need a foster home while waiting for the family that we hope will come to adopt this small girl and give her a safe and loving home—the miracle that we want for all of these animals who are brought to us in their great need.
One early morning in June of this year, a woman who works in a café in the central square of Katapola called our center to tell us that the café cat, who only the night before had been healthy and full of life, was now desperately ill.
Litsa, our coordinator, went to the café at once and saw that the cat was not only covered with a caustic liquid of some kind but that in trying to clean himself he had swallowed much of the toxins and his life was clearly in danger.
At the center we began to clean him and, when the room filled with the smell of lime, we realized that he must have somehow have fallen into a vat of that very corrosive liquid.
We immediately treated him with a course of antibiotics, cortisone, painkillers and creams but he was unable to eat and had developed a high fever. The wounds were severe and we had little hope for his survival but day by day he began to improve and so we gave him the name of Angel.
It took a month of treatment but Angel has now returned to being the handsome boy that he was before the accident. A few of the wounds remain but new hair has begun to grow and his appetite has returned.
Once Angel’s wounds have healed completely and his fur has grown thick, he will be driven to the central square of Katapola where the sweet lady who has fed him since he was a kitten is waiting for his return.
During a recent visit to Amorgos by GAWF's Animal Action’s team, we were told of an old mule living in Vroutsi, who, because of his age and his ill health and injuries, was no longer useful to his owner. We decided to take Marcos to our shelter in Katapola where he could be examined by Animal Action’s veterinarian, a doctor who specializes in equines, and it was found that the mule had many physical problems which included a hip fracture as well as malnourishment. But after dedicated care by our team and a good diet, Marcos is no longer in pain and he has begun to put on weight.
Until recently we have kept Marcos in a fenced in area so that he could rest and recover his strength but now he has joined the rest of our equines. This is another one of the small miracles of Animal Zone International since, Paola, the matriarch of our equine herd and a mare who does not easily accept new members, seems to have understood that Marcos is very weak and unable to kick and she grows ever more gentle with the old mule.
We, at AZI, are happy to say that we expect Marcos to live out his old age in a state of peace and well being.
The vaccination program will take place this weekend with Dr. Vassalakis on Saturday and Sunday July 9th and 10th for stray cats.
This sweet baby was only two weeks old when she was discovered in a trash bin by an animal-loving family who knows the work we do. They brought the kitten to us in such dire condition that we were not certain we could save her. Her small body was so malnourished that she was too weak to take milk from a bottle, which meant that we would need to feed her by hand, drop by drop, until she began to gain strength. Now, her appetite has returned, and this small fighter is gaining strength day by day. When she is strong enough to eat on her own she will be adopted by the family that first found her for they have grown to love her as they watch her struggle for life.
Over three days in June, a total of 55 equines—37 donkeys, 10 mules and 8 horses—were seen and cared for by the Animal Action team in the following areas: Vroutsi, Arkesini, Kolofana, Langada, Tholaria, Ormos, Chora and Katapola.
During the program we were informed about an unwanted old mule (40 years old) that the owner no longer wanted. The mule had broken his hip, which fortunately healed, but prohibited the mule from continuing to work. So for his retirement, the mule will come to AZI’s stable and we welcome his addition.
The team also examined a two-year-old stallion who was kept with his legs tied together. This practice of tying the legs is seriously detrimental and can permanently damage the legs. Instead, the team offered advice about a better way to tie a horse, using a halter and collar. A halter and collar was bought for the owner, and we hope that he will use it and that the quality of life of the horse will improve.
The residents of Amorgos have embraced the program and they eagerly await the annual visit of the Animal Action team.
We want to thank Animal Action for sending the team: Michali Gagani, a veterinarian specializing in equines, the farrier Gianni Mprastiano, our volunteer Lea Voegeli who offer us great help, and Panagiotis Psychogios (the Pensione Panos) who hosted the vet.
A big round of thank yous also go to the owners of the many animals who participated in the program.
Animal Action at work in Amorgos, Greece, June 23–25, 2016
On the flyer below, translated from Greek, and distributed on Amorgos:
In collaboration with Animal Zone International, the Equine Care team of ANIMAL ACTION – GAWF will return to our island this June in order to offer its services to working animals (donkeys, horses, mules) of residents of the island for three days: Thursday, June 23rd, Friday June 24th and Saturday June 25th.
Whoever has donkeys, mules, or horses who need care, please contact Animal Zone International or simply bring the animal to the designated points. Both a veterinarian specializing in horses and the farrier from ANIMAL ACTION will deworm animals and will take care of hooves and animal teeth for FREE.
THURSDAY JUNE 23—KATO MERIA
Time: 18:30 p.m. Vroutsi (Georgalini Parking)
Time: 20:00 p.m. Arkesini (Cafe)
FRIDAY JUNE 24—AEGIALI
Time: 10:00 a.m. Over Parking Langada
Time: 13:00 p.m. Parking Tholaria
Time: 15:00 p.m. Parking Ormos Aegiali (next to Lucky Hotel)
FRIDAY JUNE 24—CHORA
Time: 18:00 p.m. Parking of Chora (to the Health Center)
SATURDAY JUNE 25—KATAPOLA
Time: 10:30 a.m. Agrokipio (Next to Exarchopoulos)
On June 10, 2016, Anastasia Voulgaridi and Efi Pavlidou, two volunteers, visited Aegiali’s primary school to talk about the well-being of animals with the children. This year's presentation focused on the animal farm industry and considering the choices we make about what we eat. As Amorgos is an island in which religion plays a large role, the relationship of Christianity and animals was also discussed.
On this visit we were very pleased to award to the winners of last year’s art contest their prizes—brand new bicycles! The winners were students of first and third class of the primary school, and we hope they enjoy riding their new bikes.
The two winners receiving their new bikes!
In February, a common buzzard was rescued from a hencoop in Ormos on Aegiali. The bird remained with us for ten days, at which point it was examined by Dr. Vassalakis and was discovered to have a wing fracture that had not been obvious at the beginning of its stay. We decided to send the bird to the Rescue Center for Wild Birds, “Alkioni,” in Paros, and by March it had come back to Amorgos healthy and strong and ready to return to its natural habitat.
During its stay at “Alkioni,” our own bird was examined and treated along with a second common buzzard that had been rescued and sent to Paros. Both birds were treated successfully and were released back into the area of Aegliali.
We want to thank the local volunteer, Jennie Arvaniti, who rescued and sent our bird to us. We also want to thank another volunteer and member of the local animal welfare society, “Panagiotis Pshogios,” who helped to care for the bird while at the same time sharing with us his extensive knowledge of wild birds. As well, we would like to thank the Aegean Wildlife Hospital, “Alkioni”——who took care of the two birds as well as for their excellent cooperation during these many years. Finally, we would like to thank Dimitris Synodinos (Amorgos Diving Center) who was the rescuer of the second bird and was able to release both of them back into nature.
For more informations about Common Buzzards here:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_buzzard
Stage Two of the Aegiali Project has been completed. A total of 193 cats were sterilized in a week. We thank The Stavros Niarchos Foundation for their generous support and all of the people, especially our two vets and the volunteers from PAWS Chicago, who have helped make it a success. Thank you!!!
