On Wednesday, January 21, 2004 GREEK TV viewers were horrified upon
seeing the morning program of ERT 3 (The Other Day) which
featured the GOD awful "Animal Shelter of Northern Greece", at Peraia,
Thessaloniki. At this 'exclusive' shelter for abandoned and abused
animals, amidst animal feces and carcasses, one saw emaciated dogs, most
with appalling skin diseases, and maggot crawling in open wounds.
Viewers saw the poor dogs fighting over a stale, filthy loaf of bread,
while little paraplegic and blind souls desperate and terrified, dragged
themselves in front of frightened puppies and dogs suffering in the last
stages of Leishmaniasis, a horrifying disease, causing intolerable
suffering. Oh, by the way, in the past, Cannibalization has also been a
featured item for viewing audiences.

For the thousandth time, TV viewers were witnessing the blatant violation
of all animal protection laws by 'shelters' and the indifference of the
Greek state. What is the point of legislation? Can someone tell us???

True to form, despite this documented evidence of an Animal Auschwitz, the
Greek government remains indifferent and mired down in inertia and perhaps
plain, old, unadulterated inhumanity. (Let us bring up once more, the ahem,
mysterious disappearance of thousands of abandoned dogs as the City of Athens
prepares for the 2004 Olympic Games! and the magical disappearance of their
carcasses.)

A guest featured on the morning program was Mr. Patikas, Director of the
Veterinary Directorate of Thessaloniki, who constantly referred to the
"notorious" new law, gazetted in July 2003 under No. 3170 entitled
"Companion Animals, stray companion animals and other provisions", without
even once whispering the words "companion animals and sentient beings", and
also withholding the very pertinent fact that he represents the responsible
body for the implementation of the new law!

The same Mr. Patikas, in October 2003, after receipt of official complaints
was forced to inspect the above mentioned shelter and concluded that
everything was perfectly in order! Perhaps this gentleman is missing a
chromosome?

Furthermore, throughout the duration of the program, Mr. Patikas failed to
explain how, after only two and a half months, the disgusting situation
which the camera was revealing shot-by-shot, had developed. Naturally, he
did not see fit to propose immediate intervention by the authorities to
relieve the animals' suffering, although the health and welfare of animals
is his responsibility. Needless to say, he did not inform viewers where
the dead animals were buried!

It would seem that in Greece, laws are voted in parliament to justify
the existence and salaries of the 300 MP's; thus law 3170 was passed - full
of promise - but without the slightest infrastructure for its
implementation. Yet another law to seduce and mislead and destined for the
rat eaten files of the House of Parliament, as is the travesty of a law,
whose provision defines that the state reply within 15 days to a citizen's
written request. Otherwise a certain concerned party would have received a
reply to her letter of September 4, 2003 in which she complained about the
reprehensible conditions in the above shelter. "Concerned party" addressed
her letter of complaint to Prime Minister Simitis, Agriculture Minister,
Drys, New Democracy Party Chairman Karamanlis, Agriculture Deputy Minister
Hadjimichalis, Prefect of Thessaloniki MPsomiades, and Director of Vet
Directorate Thessaloniki Patikas, Mayor of Peraia Mantzari, Mayor of Corfu
Mastoras, Director of Vet Directorate Corfu and the Prefect of Corfu
Machmari.

If the Fathers of the Nation are not disturbed when, through their own
failings, Europe considers us barbarians, rude and arrogant Balkans, they
should not be disturbed at the boycott of the Olympic Games and the influx
of hooligan tourists at the summer resorts.

A call a "spade a spade" Greek animal rights organization," run by a
phenomenal Greek, raised abroad, is waiting to see whether the famous Greek
'filotimo' (reciprocal duty to honor) exists...Because if it does, then
every member of the Pan Hellenic Veterinary Association should undertake
without charge, blood testing, treatment and neutering of the animals at
should undertake in view of the promises made at their meeting in 2000. As
for the Veterinary School of the University of Thessaloniki, it should
always actively contribute towards relieving the plight of the stray
animals.
In 2004, the year of 'Volunteering', the government should encourage in
every possible way those distinguished veterinary surgeons of the European
Union (amidst them, professors of renowned universities) who offer their
services free of charge throughout the country, to neuter and treat
desperately sick stray animals. On the contrary, with it’s indescribably
idiotic bureaucracy, the government is, indirectly, ensuring that no such
help shall be available to the strays, ever. God help the animals of Greece.
This article was written on January 24, 2004. As of August 26th, this typical Greek shelter with “Gourmet Food” is still in operation.