The animal welfare group covering the Mani and Messinia districts has asked me to announce that they are meeting at the Filoxenia Hotel (at the end of Kalamata seafront), at 6pm on this coming Sunday, 7th February.

The group wants to invite anybody who is interested in animal welfare to join them at the Filoxenia for the meeting.

Please consider attending this worthwhile meeting.

Worthwhile cause there KP, these cats are effectively abandoned at the end of the season here, we do what we can to feed them.

I would ask the boards indulgence to promote this meeting. The posting relates to The Kalamata Animal Welfare Society or KAWS. The Society is a collection of mainly Greek people with a small contingent of German and British who are committed to relieving the distress of animals in Messinia.
Greece along with other Mediterranean countries is notorious for a gross lack of concern regarding animal welfare issues. It is true to say that a number of laws exist for the protection of all animals; however, enforcement of these laws is the real problem.
Most visitors and ex pats will have at some time seen and experienced the terrible existence that many animals suffer. This varies from outright brutality of domestic animals to the hobbling of cows, goats, donkeys etc with their front legs tied to their heads with short ropes, so that they can neither raise their heads nor walk more than a few steps. We all have seen so often, dogs tied up on a one metre length of chain for the whole of there lives, perhaps guarding poultry. Life meaning, if the dogs are unlucky 14 years.
One of the major problems is the number of stray dogs that roam the streets. A major contributory factor is the indifference and irresponsibility of citizens who abandon their animals because of illness etc or let them reproduce without control. Many Greeks do not sterilize domestic animals because of the cost involved and for cultural reasons.
Almost on a daily basis dogs and puppies are recovered from rubbish bins, the sea, rivers and the roads. Many are housed with the small number of volunteers of which we were one, prior to re homing.
We were able to help by taking in as many emergency cases as possible. Unfortunately there are many occasions when the few holding facilities we had were full and we were unable to intervene.
The picture is perhaps not as bleak as it first looks. The culture is changing. Many Greeks look after their animals with a lot of compassion. Pet care is improving. The number of Vets has been increasing steadily, the number of pet shops likewise.
To steal a phrase, it is all about “Education, Education, Education”
KAWS feels that everyone has a part to play in improving the quality of life of all animals. This may mean challenging the culture that has probably been defined by ignorance and poverty.
Helping can be really frustrating, but can also be an incredibly rewarding experience.
The majority of members of KAWS are Greek so the meetings are largely conducted in Greek with the English speakers present translating what is said. Just turn up and introduce yourself to anyone who looks as though they are there for a meeting. Being Greek meetings they rarely start on time and can be interesting!
I would urge anyone with an interest in animal welfare to attend this meeting. You really can make a difference. The life blood of the organisation is volunteers

Thanks for letting us know about this meeting. Unfortunately we are not yet living at our house near Kalamata (so cannot attend), but please could you keep us informed of any future meetings/events? Thanks

Very VERY worthwhile cause.

We got our dog from our Local Society. Also Greeks and some UK and Canadians. They need all the help they can by getting those animals of their hands when you want a dog! They also can help you with finding good trainers to get these poor animals socialized again.

@Lucky


So true. The fact that we walk our big German Shepherd every day and don't have him on a chain in the garden is something most villagers took a while to get used to. But now some people are starting to walk their dog sometimes. And our neighbours even got a shelter for their chain dog.