Rescue Stories

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Two Blind Kittens

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In May, we received a report of two small kittens with serious eye infections. The kittens were still with their feral mother in Kastelopetra, next to the main road to Katapola-Chora. When our program coordinator arrived, she found a mother cat with four kittens, two of which were healthy and who scampered away when the coordinator approached.

Sadly, the two other kittens did indeed have severe eye infections and were obviously unable to see. We brought them to our Center where we immediately began treatment with antibiotics and eye drops. We were hoping to save their sight but unfortunately, it was too late.

So now we are looking for a forever home for these two-month-old blind babies. Orfeas is a beautiful red boy and Evridiki is a three-colored girl. They are sweet and playful despite their handicap and they would thrive in a loving home.

Please consider adopting them if you are able, or if not, won’t you help us care and feed them in the meantime, by making a donation on our donation page? Orfeas and Evrdiki deserve a happy and safe life!

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Casper

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A few weeks ago, a man from Arkesini saw a small dog in a very bad state wandering the area of Kolofana, but, when he and his grandsons had tried to approach it, the dog slipped away.

In order to find and help this small frightened ghost, we staked out a post and waited for the dog to appear. But after eight hours with no sign of the dog, we abandoned our post and returned to the Center.

A week later we heard from Mr. G again. He said he had seen the dog once more and the poor thing appeared to be in worse condition. We set off for Kolofana with food and water and had a lucky break—someone had seen the dog resting in an olive grove.

We set out immediately for the olive grove but the dog remained out of reach, retreating into the bushes as we tried to approach. Clearly the dog was afraid of humans so we had the idea that perhaps the presence of another, friendly, dog might help. Giorgios agreed to come with his lovely dog Lioumpa and Lioumpa had a calming effect on our frightened quarry.

We were able finally to capture this tiny boy and bring him to our Center where we could feed and clean him and treat the many infections and the malnutrition that came from what must have been at least a month of being on his own.

We call this tiny fellow Casper and he will stay with us at the Center while he recuperates and returns to health. He is learning many new skills that will be necessary once he finds a loving home. He is a fast learner, a sweet, gentle, and playful young fellow.

Once again we appeal to all the owners of female dogs and cats to act responsibly and have them spayed and neutered. It is the most humane thing that you can do in order to avoid the unnecessary suffering of their unwanted litters.

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Update on Arangon

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Do you remember our big, super sweet, and kind dog Arangon? Arangon was adopted two years ago by an amazing family in Holland.

Arangon and four of his siblings were found, abandoned as 2-month-old puppies, and sadly spent the next 2 1/2 years waiting for their forever home.

Just as we were despairing that we would never find a home for them we received notice from a Dutch animal organization (with whom we often work with) regarding interest in two of these dogs. And we were so thrilled when the interest eventually led to adoption. 

In March 2018, Arangon and his brother Bobbie traveled from Amorgos, where their lives had no future, to Holland, to start their lives as a part of a family, inside a real home.

Helen and Peter, the new parents of Arangon, recently sent a lovely note to us with this update: "Arangon is indeed the best most lovable and kind dog on earth. We are so happy to have him with us in Holland! Your description was very accurate—he is all you wrote. Hope you are well, and here are some photos."

And we say, “Thank you for giving Arangon a wonderful life!”

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The Rescue of Two Dogs

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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.

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.

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.

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Ivan

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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.

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Introducing Frideriki

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A few days ago, we welcomed a new donkey to our shelter. Her name is Frideriki and she is 30 years old. Her owner left Amorgos permanently due to health problems and unfortunately he won't be coming back. So Frideriki needed a new home. The only solution for her was to come to our shelter since, due to her advanced age, she can no longer work.

Welcome to our shelter sweet Frideriki!

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MICHOS

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A tiny kitten in great distress was rescued by Anna, our Volunteer in Chora, and brought to us at the Center in January.

Michos was frail and thin and suffered from many of the problems that cats born on the street are prone to, so many in fact, that we were not sure that we could save him. But Michos, this small miraculous fellow, not only survived but thrived and he has now fully recovered and is ready for adoption.

In March we will neuter Michos and we hope and pray that he will be adopted so that we do not have to return him to the place where he was found.

He is a sweet, sweet boy and clearly has great strength since he managed to come through a storm of neglect. Now, we hope that his sweetness and strength will find a loving home.

Please contact us if you are interested in welcoming into your family!

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Mao

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Mao, a blind cat who lived for years in Chora of Amorgos, was rescued by the owners of the Jasmine café-bar and by a young girl named Venia.

A few days ago, Venia found Mao lying in the street in agony after having been poisoned. Venia, with her two friends Christos and Despina, rushed to call us and ask for our help.

Mao was brought immediately to our clinic where extraordinary measures were taken and today, sweet Mao is purring again and asks for affection. This sweet and innocent creature was saved because someone cared, because three friends acted with kindness and generosity.

We give our thanks to Venia, Christos and Despina, and we feel blessed to have been a part of this beautiful moment. Venia will be back in her neighborhood, cared for by the owners of the Jasmine Café and by all those who have been touched by her story.

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Koutco

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When Koutco arrived in our Center this summer he was FIV positive and had already lost the vision in one of his eyes. Since the other eye was severely compromised, Koutco was struggling to survive on the streets but after an accident that left his front right leg paralyzed his future appeared bleak.

Lamia, the benevolent woman who took care of the colony in which Koutco was living decided to contact a friend in Holland and together, Lamia and Juliette, found a shelter for him in Belgium. This is a wonderful shelter and we have sent another cat from Amorgos, the handsome Plume, to find a home with them.

The people of Vzw Zwerfkat in Belgium do tremendous work with cats in severe need and we salute them and hope that you will visit their website https://www.zwerfkat.com. They have given Koutco a second chance in life and, now, he is looking forward to his true and loving forever home.

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Aeneas

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The morning and a parked car were hiding a pleasant surprise. We received telephone call saying that a kitten was hiding beneath a car and the owner of the car was unable to tempt the crying kitten out.

Once Litsa our coordinator arrived, with her knowledge of the language of cats, she began to meow and a baby boy came running out. Aeneas is a healthy long-haired boy with beautiful big blue eyes and he already shows signs of growing into a large and strong silvery grey adult.

It seems a pity to allow such beauty of live on the streets of Amorgos and, so, we are looking for a home for Aeneas. If you are interested, please, please contact us at: azi.amorgos@gmail.com

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Update (10-18): Handsome Aeneas has found a forever home! He is living with a loving family in Athens. The daughter fell in love with him during a visit and the family couldn’t resist. We know them well and are so delighted that Aeneas will be with a caring family for the rest of his life. Updated photos are below.

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The Rescue of Three Small Kittens

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It is not always easy to tell the stories of our rescues. On the island of Aegiali there was initially a resistance to our sterilization program but we have carried on to great success.

Unfortunately there are still cats who give birth to unwanted kittens and a few days ago three small babies were abandoned in a garbage bin. By grace and good luck they were rescued by a kind man who heard their cries and brought them to our Center. Two small girls and one small boy are now safe and healthy and living in a foster home.

When they are strong and old enough to eat by themselves they will be available for adoption. Their little lives have now been saved and we wish for each one of them a safe and loving home.

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A Seagull Rescue

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Several days ago, we were contacted by two tourists who were swimming in the remote beach of Campi and who had discovered a seagull with a broken wing. Because they were not able to capture the frightened bird, we called Alkoni, the Aegean Wildlife Hospital in Paros and asked for their advice. Unfortunately, by that time, the bird had disappeared from the beach of Campi.

Days later the bird was finally captured by two men swimming at the Agia Anna beach. We were able to send the bird to Alkioni in Paros but unfortunately the news is not good. Miguel, as we now call him, must remain at the hospital along with fifty-two seagulls that also are unable to fly.

If Miguel is able to come back to Amorgos, one of our restaurants that is close to the sea must agree to feed this broken-winged bird and keep him close to the water that he loves so much.

Our appeal is that someone will adopt Miguel and even, perhaps, a few more of the birds who live at the Aegean Wildlife Hospital. It is great work that they do and they need help in this beautiful project that brings wounded and disabled birds back into their natural habitat. 

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Rebeca

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Rebeca was found alone on the streets of Chora by a very kind child. He saw Rebeca sitting in a corner unable to move because her both eyes were completely shut, struck by severe infection. He immediately pick her up and brought her to our Center.

After 1 week of treatment Rebeca is completely healthy and she plays non stop. Her little friend visited our Center in order to see her and he was very happy to see her fully healed.

See a video of her making her super-kitten moves—https://youtu.be/18TWLK_Bsxw

Rebeca is now available for adoption! Please contact us at azi.amorgos@gmail.com if you are interested. Or help us with her nutritional and medical needs by making a small donation in her honor https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI

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Tortuel

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Some weeks ago, a young French couple vacationing in Amorgos came across a tiny blind kitten on the streets of Tholaria. They brought the kitten to our Center in Katapola and visited the kitten during the last two days of their stay. Saying goodby to this small being that they had rescued was difficult and they decided to adopt her and bring her to their home in Paris once she had recovered from her difficult time living alone on the streets.

This magnificent couple has traveled from Paris to Mykonos and now to Naxos where they received tiny Tortuel from our veterinarian. She is now living happily in Paris with her loving and wonderful new family. We are profoundly grateful for the kindness and generosity of those who help us in our ongoing work to make the animal kingdom of these islands a safe and healthy one.

Our work on Amorgos is dependent of your donations. Please help us help these helpless creatures and make a contribution today! https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI

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New Arrivals

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During a trip to Syros, on an afternoon walk in beautiful Ermoupoli (the capital of Cyclades) we came across three abandoned kittens. Two of them appeared very sick but the third was in better condition. Desperate and not knowing what to do, we called our vet Manolis Vorisis who lives and works in Syros. Manolis sent a volunteer to take the kittens to the clinic where he works.

Sadly, the two sick ones could not be saved. But the third kitten (the tri-color calico), after 2 days of being hospitalized in the clinic, made a full recovery and came back with us to Amorgos. Her name now is Fani.

During the same period another kitten was found abandoned on the streets of Amorgos and was brought to our Center. We named her Frinta. The kittens are exactly the same age so they became immediately friends.

As you can imagine, they have a lot of energy and they do not stop playing. These two adorable kittens are available for adoption—please contact us at azi.amorgos@gmail.com if you are interested. They will thrive in a loving home!

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Sparrow Rescue

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Rescue of the Day

The schoolchildren of the Primary School of Katapola found a small sparrow that could not yet fly and realized it needed some help. They went to their teachers and let them know. 

We were called in to attend to the bird. While there we took the opportunity to say a few words to the students about how one cares for such a small bird. 

We returned to our Center with the bird to look after it, promising the students that we will keep them informed of the health of the little sparrow, with hopes that it would eventually be released. 

A GREAT BRAVO to the teachers and one BIGGEST BRAVO to the students. Today's lesson came to all of us from them.

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Zizi

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In May of 2017, little Zizi was abandoned, together with her brothers, outside of the primary school of Potamos in Aegiali.

After a difficult struggle her small brothers were not able to survive but little Zizi showed a gift for life that helped her to grow strong in her time at our Center. Now, Zizi has been adopted by a local family in Langada, Aeliali where she shares the love and care of a family with two young boys who clearly adore her.

We are thankful for another happy ending for another young member of the animal kingdom.
 

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Ducklings of Amorgos

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The colony of ducks in Amorgos continue to reproduce during the cold of our winters, and, today, six small ducklings were discovered huddled together against the strong winds that beat against our island. Unfortunately these ducklings were in very bad shape by the time that we found them and we were only able to save four of the six Those four are now with us in our Center and are enjoying the warmth of our glowing stove while they grow stronger day by day.

A Sea Turtle is Rescued off the Coast of Amorgos

On September 10 2017, a sea turtle of the protected species Caretta caretta (loggerhead sea turtle) was found in distress at the port of Aegiali in Amorgos.

Dimitris Synodinos, the owner of the Amorgos Diving Center (https://www.facebook.com/amorgos.diving), along with his diving team, found the turtle looking exhausted and realized something was very wrong with the small creature. 

The team immediately contacted the Association for the Protection of the Sea Turtle (Archelon Association) in Athens and were told that it would be necessary to transport the turtle to their facilities so that examination and treatment could begin.

Dimitris then spoke with the port authority of Amorgos who contacted our association, and a kind of human chain was created when we arranged for the boat, Highspeed 4 of Hellenic Seaways, to speed the turtle to the volunteers of Archelon that very same evening.

Both the port policemen in Amorgos and the crew of the Highspeed 4 did a tremendous job in bringing the turtle to safety. We would like to thank Dimitris Synodinos and the team of the Amorgos Diving Center as well as the port policemen of Amorgos and the entire crew of Highspeed 4 of Hellenic Seaways along with the team at Archelon. 

The turtle was given the name Pavlos, and was treated for his injuries at the rescue center. We are thrilled to report he recovered well and on December 13, 2017 he was returned to the sea. See a video of his release here: www.facebook.com/amorgos.diving/videos/1690670217720716/ 

According to Archelon, every year about 300 dead or injured turtles are reported through the National Rescue Network. Most of them have been hit by fishermen who have found them in their nets or longlines and who unfortunately do not realize the consequences that this will have for marine life and fishing.

Learn more about the species Caretta caretta which is close to extinction and protected under the Greek law here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loggerhead_sea_turtle

Pavlos

Pavlos

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A Rescue of Ducklings

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At nine o’clock on Saturday morning my mobile phone rang and I was told of a newborn duckling in trouble on the beach. Immediately I found the duckling and began a search for the rest of her family but to no avail.

I brought the duckling back to our center to nest with the twenty-seven ducklings that we are already caring for and the baby ate well, drank water and recovered her strength quickly.

Later that day I received a call saying that a mother duck with nine ducklings had been spotted on the same spot where our lone duckling had been found. It seemed best to bring the family back to our center. We now have a total of thirty-seven ducklings in our garden and we know that there will surely be more because there are so many cats that roam our beaches, as well as so many seagulls that swoop down on the tiny newborns.

Over the years the ducks of Amorgos beach have been fed by locals and the adults do well but the babies are easy prey for predators. This is why we bring them back our garden, where they are safe and fed and given water until they are large enough to protect themselves. At that point we release them back into the colony.

We need your support and we ask for your donation. Even one euro is valuable to us and to the animals in our care. We are grateful to have so many online friends! Thank you for joining us to care for the animals of the island of Amorgos.