Veterinarian Dr. Dimitris Vassalakis visited Amorgos and worked at AZI's Center this past weekend.
He examined all the cats and dogs that are under AZI's care as well as animals that were brought by neighbors and other members of the community.
These vet visits are a vital and major part of AZI's mission to provide healthcare to the animals on Amorgos, as there is no permanent veterinarian on the island.
Our two-day sterilization program on the 3rd and 4th of November has been a great
success. Over fifty-six cats -thirty females and twenty-six males- are now unable to
increase the number of feral kittens in the areas of Agiali, Chora and Katapola and
they are all in good health and have been released back into their home turf.
We want to thank Dr. Manolis Vorisis and his wife Nikoletta Delasouda for their
amazing work and for the kindness and generosity with which they have donated
their expertise to the feral cat colonies of Amorgos.
We also want to thank Mr. Michael Koveos for his generosity in providing accommodation for our two vets in his Anna Studios Pension.
The Municipality of Amorgos has been a great partner in this program as has the
local animal welfare association, “Filozoiki Merimna of Amorgos” and its many
volunteers as well as those wonderful residents of Amorgos who helped in this
important project sponsored by Animal Zone International.
And we have committed to another program to be held in March.
We write from the island of Amorgos to tell you of six year old Emilio, a young island resident who suffers from leukemia and is in need of our help.
Emilio Soulejmani was diagnosed with leukemia in August of 2017 and has been transferred to Athens in order to undergo therapy. He is hospitalized at the "Marianna V. Vardinoyiannis-ELPIDA" Children's Oncology Unit where his parents and his brother are able to stay beside him.
The expenses for his family are great and the Association of Parents and Guardians of Aegiali – Thollaria is collecting donations for his care.
If you are able to help in any way, please contact the Association at this email address:
sullogosgoneonaigial@gmail.com
The telephone number of the Association is:
+30 6932618515
Or:
Money may be deposited directly into the bank account of the family:
Soulejmani Albana
Piraeus Bank
+30 6995389189
IBAN number: GR39017 1153000 615312 6991111
We stand beside this island family and wish them all the very best for a healthy and loving future.
On Friday, March 17th, with the cooperation of our local animal welfare society, (Filozoiki Merimna of Amorgos), we visited the primary school of Arkesini to speak with the students about our Animal Zone International project.
We talked with them about the importance of adopting a stray animal rather than buying one from either a puppy or a kitten mill and we also spoke about the suffering of animals that are not treated well. . The students asked many questions and there was a sense of joy in the room as we talked together about these vulnerable members of God’s kingdom and our responsibility in making their time on earth a safe and healthy and peaceful one.
Before we left we agreed to come again in a year and we feel strongly that our work and dedication is having a real affect on the youngest generation of our island.
Dr. Dimitris Vasalakis came to work with Animal Zone International’s Center over the weekend of 4-5 of February.
Many members of our local community brought their animals to the Center for examination and vaccines and even for grooming. Also, Dr. Vasalakis examined, vaccinated and sterilized all of our cats, which meant that he had a very busy and a productive weekend.
Amorgos does not have a permanent veterinarian so these visits from Dr. Vasalakis are vital for the animals and the health of our island and we are grateful for his help.
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.
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)
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
In collaboration with Animal Zone International & Filozoiki Merimna of Amorgos, the Equine Care Team of ANIMAL ACTION–GAWF will be making its annual visit to Amorgos in order to offer free veterinary, hoof and dental services to working animals—donkeys, horses, mules.
This will take place on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27th. Anyone with donkeys, mules, horses that are in need of care can contact Animal Zone International at: 22850-71716 or 6974990045.
We are planning a 2-day vaccination program of stray cats on Amorgos for Monday, June 8 and Tuesday, June 9 with the Greek Volunteer Vets. This program is a crucial part of our mission to keep the feral cat population on the island healthy and clear of infectious disease. To AZI Friends and Supporters: please considering making a donation to help fund this program. Thank you!
We are planning an extra-exciting fundraising dinner on June 21, 2015: Leonardo's Dinner. Put it in your calendars! Hope to see you there. Click here to read more about it.
In February, during the week of Feb 9th, AZI conducted another one of our spay/neutering programs on Amorgos. We were hoping to do about a hundred cats but the weather worked against us, with four of the six days being very stormy, full of strong winds, rain and hail.
Catching cats in the rain is a huge challenge as you can imagine, yet we managed to catch and sterilize 68 cats (36 females and 32 males), with only 25 cats coming from Aegiali. That is a success considering the difficult conditions. We'd like to acknowledge Dr. Alice Degleri and Litsa Passari for their the hard work & dedication to the program. Thank you!
We are currently organizing for a 2 day free spay/neuter program for stray cats. It will be held the weekend of November 8-9 at the rural veterinary clinic οf Chora. Volunteers are needed. If you are available, please contact info@animal-zone.org.
Litsa Passari, AZI's Local Coordinator, and the president of Filozoiki Angeliki Palioura continue to visit classes in different schools to teach about human treatment of animals and animal rights as a part of World Animal Day.
The children eagerly participated in a discussion about personal experiences and had many questions for the speakers. We are encouraged as they seemed more involved than last year which shows how important this annual visit is. As a part of the day, children also painted their favorite animal (to participate in an AZI-sponsored contest) and also played musical chairs (with a twist).
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.
