I call upon all decent people in Greece to rise up and protest the horror that Ms. Karagouni has created. It is you who must take responsibility for your own country, a place I love with all my heart.
I have the utmost respect for all animal people in Greece, both Greeks and non-Greeks. Animals in every country need all the help they can get.
Who in their right mind would sieze dogs who have homes and DECENT people waiting to take care of them. Doesn't the government of Greece have anything better to do....... I would imagine Greek citizens would think so. Just release these animals, unless there is good reason not to, so they can be on their way and Greece can attend to matters where they are needed. Stop interfering with this process please. Please!
as a resident of Greece and a die hard animal lover who feeds and treats stray animals in my neighborhood, I am neither shocked nor surprised, just tired. VERY TIRED...
In an unjustified seizure of rescued animals from Crete, 58 dogs, property of the animal rescue group Arche Noah Kreta were illegally detained at the port of Piraeus near Athens on the 28th Feb 2005.
Through TV and press, the notorious Mrs Garagouni continues to attempt to systematically destroy good-cause operations of animal groups in Greece by giving false impressions about the fate of the rescued and transported animals. She claims that these animals are sent to north and west Europe for fur and experimentation. Greeks are generally very patriotic in nature and for the sake of pride prefer to believe stories like Garagouni's that twist truths to their favour. They are not happy that the rest of the world cite them as cruel to their animals, resulting in mistreated dogs and cats being transported to "safe" countries, like Holland, Belgium, Germany, UK and USA. Garagouni plays on Greek jingoism to claim that she is doing the right thing for Greek animals. However, when these animals are stopped by her and the authorities from leaving the country, the rescue groups have no choice but to return them back to the streets, leading to ultimate starvation and death.
The whole procedure is – even in Greece – illegal, because it took place within the country and not on its border to another country. Apart from this fact, we are obviously deeply concerned about the welfare of the animals in our care.
If Garagouni would care to get her facts straight, she would find plenty of proof as presented in the recent court case in Athens, that all of these dogs are taken to happy lives abroad.
We strongly protest against this manipulation through the press by the Mrs. Garagouni. The animals leaving Greece are taken to loving families abroad and as long as the Greek authorities refuse to live up to their responsibility and resolve the problems of stray cats and dogs in their streets in a RESPONSIBLE and HUMANE manner and not by cruel poisoning, hanging, feed
Release thse dogs to the appropriate authorities so they can be placed in kind, loving homes.
The Greek government disgusts me to no end in the manner in which they treat abandoned and stray animals.
A truly civilized nation can be judged by the way its people treat animals.
Implement spay and neuter laws and create clinics through Greece where people can take their companion animals to be altered, thereby preventing the horror and tragedy of unwanted births.
Thank you!
i must agree with all those who have written.....please, let the dogs go. what you are doing makes very little sence. if the dogs have a home to go to, let them go to it.
Instead of pretending to yourself that you are all-powerful by instigating this situation, you are merely showing yourself to be weak and characterless. Only by acting with compassion and fairness will you truly show your power to the world.
The Arche Noah people have to be allowed to look after their dogs. The dogs were going to leave Greece. Why don't they let them go? Has Greece got too little dogs, or what?
There is no rhyme or reason for any animal to be treated any way other than they way that you yourself would want to be treated. Free these dogs, as yourself would not want to be taken from your home and locked away either.
This is not a nice petition but it is sincere in it's efforts. Please pay attention and know that the harshness only comes from fear for these innocent animals. Please be humane about this and treat them with feeling as you yourselves would like to be treated. Thank you.
The Greek authorities must stop their abuse of dogs. It is truly sickening. These dogs have families waiting to give them a good home with lots of love.Why would anyone want to stop that????
You should be ashamed to deny good homes to dogs who have suffered so needlessly. Why hold the 58 dogs in Greece, where they're obviously not wanted, when each has been guaranteed a loving home abroad? Do the right thing and let the dogs free!! Greece has a rich history of culture and creating many of the world's current institutions yet you treat animals with cruel disregard. I've always wanted to visit your nation but in light of the horrible situation with strays and other innocent animals, I'll go elsewhere.
As I understand, these animals have safe homes waiting for them>What i don't understand is why they haven't been sent there. I thought I wanted to visit Greece, but now I'm not so sure. I also don't go to my favorite Greek restaurants untill this is taken care of.
