Online Diary 2010 supporting cretan animal welfare


		17th of may, 2010 Zurich - Happy Checkin! The friendly employee didnt even charge us additional fees for the overweight of the boxes. A very good start of our journey! At this point, a hugh thanks goes out to the 'Susy Utzinger Stifung' for turning all the important donations in kind to us, every time we travel to Crete.

		Safe arrival in heraklion. Grabbing our rental car and looking for Verena from Cretan Dogs.

		Just a short stop to feed the cats.

		At Verenas place we take some time to cuddle with Lucas, an elderly, charming boy. Its already late so there is not a lot to talk about till now. Tommorrow we will join Verena during her daily business at her dog shelter.

		18th may, 2010 Today we visited Verenas shelter in Keramoutsi. Its absolutely fantastic and we appreciate Verenas work a lot.

		There are 12 kennels, and no more to come, cause more wouldnt been to handle for just one person.

		Here you find the contact details from Verena, she appreciates visits a lot, but please give her a call first to arrange an appointment. Verena Wels 75100 Athanati / Kreta Tel: 0030 6945424365 Email: verena@kreta-hunde.de



19th may, 2010 Visiting the official shelter in the mountains of Heraklion. It is the only one that is from the government. The program is to catch strays, getting them sterilized and let them out again.
		We have to be careful, because we are not allowed to take pictures or movies. This area is run by the government. And now we pretend to be tourists. Strange anyway, cause a tourist would never ever be able to find this place. But we get in. Unfortunately many animals are too sick or they are fighting dogs or cross breeds of fighting dogs and they will not be putted back on the street. If its not possible to find new homes for them they get put to sleep.

		This poor dog was hung and lost on top an eye caused of the strangulation. The eye couldnt be safed and was removed. So its unfortunately quite common to hang dogs alive in crete. Admin update: The dog is called Alex and we are very happy to inform you, that it was possible to find a new loving home in america for him. He will soon be able to fly. More Infos about Alex >>

		There are as well many pedigrees in the shelter. The owners just get rid of them and kick them out, like this beautiful boy. Unfortunately we are not able to take him, because switzerland does not allow the import of fighting dogs anymore. And the import of dogs with cutten tail and ears is forbidden since many ears. So we have no chance here. Admin update: Unfortunately we received an update about this beauty, he is on the list now to be put to sleep soon... :(

		Even that the shelter is far away from the center, people still manage to drive up and put their dogs on the front door. This happend to this cute female. She was brought by night even with her bed and bowl.

Here you find a horrible short movie of a dog that suffers a lot. He might have a braindamage and hopefully be released soon. Short Movie >>


		20th may, 2010 It took us some time to get to Alistairs and Suzannes place down in Anatoli near Ieraptera. But it was very important to us to visit this wonderful project. The english (sorry Alistair - the scottish/english) couple gave us a warm welcome and we've been very impressed of their work.

		They have eleven own donkeys they take care of. But its important to mention that they always help locals as well, threat and inform about how to keep a donkey healthy.

		Its so sad to hear, that old, sick or injured donkeys get thrown over the cliffs or just left behind without water to die. Its so important to support this amazing project and keep it alive.

		It was so sweet to see the curious goat walking with us all the time. She found as well a lovely, warming home at Alistairs and Suzannes place.

		Its clearly a fulltime job and they spend all their time for and with the donkeys. The older ones are all retired and they get out for a walk to graze nearly every day.

		Alistair has built 2 stables and the material for that was incredibly expensive. On the island all material is much more expensive than on the mainland.

		That's Red. He was shot by a gun and is blind on his left eye since then. It took some time till he startet to trust in Alistair and Suzanne which took care of him all time. But now he is fine and has his conclusive home.

Should you be once in crete we recommend to visit this lovely project. Walk with Donkeys Sanctuary for Donkeys of Crete Alistair and Suzanne based in the mountains a short drive from the village of Anatoli near Ierapetra Mob: Alistair: 0030 697 6088547 Web: www.walkwithdonkeys.com


21th may, 2010 Long drive into Lindas direction. We see some barrel dogs but we are quite happy to see not as many as suspected along the south coast.


We finally made it to Kaina where Linda was able to buy some land and started to build the kennel. We knew that she has many dogs, but now we face it on our own. She has more then 200 dogs at the moment.

Its unbelivable. Especially cause most of the dogs have been drop at her shelter and people keep on hanging dogs at her door at night!






		Its unbelivable hard work what she is doing. She has to organise everything and is on her feet all day long.
And she has a big heart, she takes everyone. So it comes that she has a lot of big, older, sick and injured dogs as well.
		this one does not like other dogs a lot...
		but he is fine with humans...
Some dog are very afraid of hands and feet as well. They made already to many bad experiences with humans. For some of them it takes a long time just to eat from a human hand....


		22th may, 2010 Taking some time to get personal :) This wonderful boy called Dias has a very sad past.

His owner John Kantiros (same name used on his facebook profil) was uploading some images of his dog, after cutting his ears of with a hairdresser sissor. He proudly presentet himself and wanted to sell the dog for about 350 euros. Fortunately his profil was cancelled and the dog came to Linda. Now its very difficult to help, cause its not allowed to import 'fighting dogs' and on to cutten ears and tails into switzerland or germany.....


		Here is a very sweet boxer girl. She is so good with humans.

		She belonged to somebody, that dropped her at Lindas place. She would need a loving home.

		Unfortunately she has a cutten tail as most of the boxers here. So we cant take her to switzerland.... If anybody is interested please writte an email: mail@arche-noah.ch



		On a walk around the area where Lindas shelter is we found a bounch of shotgun shells. Cretans love hunting, shooting and.... killing...


		23th may, 2010 Leaving Kaina heading to Chania. But i get bitten in the car. NO CRETE WITHOUT FLEES... HOW I HATE THEM! We stopp and spray everything with frontline. Hopefully we mangaged to get rid of them...

		It was one of the most important things for us to visit Joy and Dave. They are the best, the most carrying and responsible foster home that Crete ever had.

		Unfortunately they are going back to England, because after more than 8 years they just cant stand the cruelty in crete any more....

		There is always time to go on a walk with the dogs.... Please look at Joy and Daves report from last year >

		Befor driving into Chania City we will see how the situation with the barrel dogs is. We are driving to Malaxa, the worst area in the past...

		We have been very surprised. We heard about, that since the beginning of this year 'owners' of barrel dogs get punished, because its not allowed to isolate a dog and let them starve to death (EU Law).

		It nearly unbelivable, we just saw 2 barrel dogs on the whole drive. In the past there have been dozens....

		We still find one, near Aptera...

		In our opinion, 1 barrel dog is 1 too much... We feed him, give him water and take pictures. We will go to the police later and report it....

		Finally arriving in Chania....

		24th may, 2010 We drive to Souda Port to feed the dogs, as ever... But we are shocked not seeing one of them. I call Silke, she tells me all of them have been poisend about 4 weeks ago... It made us very sad, to hear that bad news. We knew many of the doggies.

		So we drove to the war cemetery at souda bay.

		Already at the entrance we saw some strays...

		They all are very friendly...

		... and covered with ticks...

		It freightend us to see how the dogs are running around and jumping on visitors...

		And then a english tourist lady couldnt stand them and wanted them to go away. I stood between to get the attention of the dogs and she told me: they shouldnt bee here anyway. I was already so sad and angry and i answerd: your right, they all should been poisoned immediately. She was shocked and told me that i am overreacting... Anyway, when the tourists complain, these dogs will be poisoned for sure. But the lady didnt understand a word. She was just worried about her self, after hearing from me that these are all stray dogs, that she chatches some flees from them... Not even with the tourists you can make some effort... its all so sad...


		25th may, 2010 Just look at the awfull souvenirs that are sold here. They are made of goats, rabbit and cat fur. Its forbidden to import such things anyway. At the border these things would been taken away and destroyed at the end... And that for animals have to die?



		Really important to say is that the turtels need protection as well! John works here as a volunteer since years during the season. Archelon (Sea Turtel Protection Society) was founded in 1983, the primary objective has been to protect the sea turtles and their habitats in Greece through monitoring and research, developing and implementing management plans, habitat restoration, raising public awareness and rehabilitating sick and injured turtles. Please visit the website, support them or even become a volunteer: Web: www.archelon.gr

		26th may, 2010 Nice to see some of the old strays again in the old harbour in Chania...

		they became fat :) but we prefer to see some fat dogs, than starving ones...

		first visiting Silkes Quarantine...

		its quite full...

		Now driving up to Chorafakia. We are looking forward to meet Mark and Ann. Since the english couple started working at Chorafakia, things became much better...
		its about a 20 minute drive away from Chania City...
		Mark and Ann keep it clean and well organized, we are happy too see that they improved many things and even did a lot of cleaning, painting and fixing on the building...

		its quite difficult to find animal friendly people here to do this kind of work. fortunately Silke has now 2 of them.

		Ann shows us how the vets mark the cats after castration. They cut out a piece of the ear.

		Ann showes us the lists on the wall of all the animals and threatments. Its a great job they do, and we would like to say thank you guys, keep on!!

		we are taking pictures and recording at the same time for the movie production afterwards.... its sometimes quite difficult, especially if your surrounded by friendly cats...

		lets drive to Stavros where the cat house is. Mark and Ann are taking care of all the animals at this place as well...

		Mark explaines to us how all the dogs got in here. Sad story, people just throw them over the fence... and the fence is quite high...

		There are many lovely cats, that are looking for new homes. If you are interested in one of them please email: mail@arche-noah.ch






		Nice snapshot from the internet cafe.... :))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

		27th may,.2010 Going to the vet with Linda.... We still have some trouble getting used to the greek style of driving...

		exklusive place to park the car :)

		Today we have to do some microchipping and getting paperwork ready. We drive to Virginia, a very nice vet.

		This sweet dog has the chance to go to germany.

		We meet Silke as well, at the vets, we all meet eachother and have the chance to talk about news.

		In the evening we still find some time to care about the strays in the harbour.

		28th may, 2010 Fortunately we found time to visit Carol and George. They run a tattoo studio in Chania. Both of them have always been very helpful if a stray in their area needed to be treatend with medications. They even care a lot about the strays and help a lot on their own. We appreciate to have some very good people around in Chania. If your interested in having a professional tattoo we recommend to go to: Medusa Tattoo Studio Minoos & Epimenidou 8 Chania 73100 Crete, Greece Web: www.medusatattoo.gr

		:))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

		At home they have twelve dogs and many cats as well. Most former strays. Because of their knowledge about how to handle ´fighting dogs´ they adopted several of them. We are very happy to see that even Bandit found a loving home.


		29th may, 2010 We are leaving Chania. On our way to Heraklion we are visiting Christine. She used to be a foster home for many years. Unfortunately some associations kind of forgotten her and her foster dogs. She still has some of the 'foster dogs' which are now 5 years old or more.

		Quite sad she explains to us, that she is not the kind of person, that runs all the time after the associations and neighter calls them up all the time to ask, when the dogs will leave. She always believed them, when they promised, that they will manage on the next transport to send some of hers as well. But unfortunately they didnt....

		It was very important to us to visit her and having an ear for her situation. She would still like to rehome some of her dogs, so she would be able to foster new ones. Please contact her if you want to visit the dogs or want to help to fly some of them out: Christine Papadakis Pigi / Rethymnon Crete / Greece Tel.: 0030 28310 72977


		30th may, 2010 Finally we made it to Heraklion. Verena was our start and end destination. Funny, the sweet cat that used to be outside when we arrived, sits now on the couch.

		We are as well happy to meet Tanja from the German Shelter Vlotho again. She arrived one day after our arrival and was supporting Verena a lot in the meantime. Now we all drive to Verenas vet.

		Well organised... Verena has adequate and orderly accounting of all her dogs.

		We come together for the last time to have dinner. Tomorrow we are going back to switzerland.



		31th may, 2010 The last morning in Crete. And the first time we dont get up early... Here a cute picture of Markus and Lucas still sleeping.

		At the heraklion airport. Ready, with 2 dogs.

(from the left to the right): Claudia Schärer Arche Noah Switzerland with Foxy, Tanja Kreylos German Shelter Vlotho, Verena Wels Animal Welfare Heraklion e.V., Linda Lucas Kaina Shelter




The diary 2010 ends here. We have seen again a lot of cruelty but some small progresses as well on the island. Thats what keeps us going. And as well many very hard working friends which are doing such a god job for the cretan animals. Our main job now is to foster and rehome the animals we brought to switzerland. And after that to produce the DVD, we recorded over 8 hours of material. If you are interested to receive further informations, please register to our newsletter (right column).






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