I AM FROM AMORGOS A SMALL ISLAND IN CREECE WHERE ANIMALS HAVE SEEN THEIR LIVES TO ΒΕ CHANGΙΝG ΤΗΑΝΚS TO ANIMAL ZONE INTERNATIONAL...I SPEND MOST OF MY FREE TIME WITH ANIMALS THAT AZI HAS RESCUED AND CURED OR STERILIZED, I HELP TO FEED THEM, TO CLEAN THEIR SPACES A.T.C....WITHOUT HELP FROM ANIMAL ZONE INTERNATIONAL ΝΟΤΗΙΝG WOULD HAVE CHANGED AND ANIMALS WILL CONTINUE TO SUFFER...ΙTS A VERY PLEASANT EXPERIENCE TO HELP AZI TO MAKE ANIMALS LIFE BETTER...THANKS A LOT AZI FOR YOUR HELP...!
Living on a remote island in the Agean sea in Greece where conditions for stray dogs and abused dogs,horses and mules are deplorable,and after 15 years of selflessly helping these animals to survive in these cruel conditions where the attitude towards these helpless creatures are reminiscent of the middle ages,I feel very grateful towards the support of AZI which has helped us(few volunteers)to make significant changes to the existing situation.Thanks to their generous support,we are in the lucky position to have regular sterilising projects,the availability of a vet to provide medical care(though somewhat limited due to the lack of some equipment),and now a rented space so that we,now a locally established animal welfare society,can house and nurse cats and dogs post op or whilst receiving treatment.AZI has also made it possible for us to save a horse and some mules and has provided a proper stable and exercise area where they can be sheltered.Above all,the existence of such facilities has helped open up the local narrow mentality somewhat,though we are still a long way from reaching our goal of changing these attitudes.A great number of abused,neglected chained dogs and several stray cats have had the possibility of being adopted through a foreign organisation which insists on a series if tests to be carried out before dogs can travel and on the sterilising of the dogs first.All this would not be possible without the financial support of AZI.The costs involved are too great for individual volunteers and we could not manage without the funds we receive from AZI.I personally greatly appreciate their understanding and compassion and their total dedication to our cause.
I have always had a great love to all animals, that is also one of the things I liked from the beginning when I first came to Amorgos, an island from the greek cyclades. All this cats in the villages and donkeys , goats and sheep in the fields and in the mountains, running around with their small ones. It seemed a happy sight,but after a while, looking around better, not all animals seemed to be so happy really. I noticed that many goats had their legs tight together in order to keep them from wondering off too far, some dogs had been tight for life on a rope in the mountains ,to guard some flog of goats nearby, many times in very poor conditions ,and a great number of the cats around were hungry or ill, and their number was increasing too rapidly so many of the small kittens were suffering from diseases and lack of food. There were of course ,like myself, also other people on the island noticing this conditions and they were already trying to help were they could ,like feeding cats or dogs in need, taking small kittens at their homes to try to help and cure them, which was of course not easy at all as their was no vet on the island. About these poor dogs in the mountains, or any skinny and hungry, and in summer thirsty ,donkey or horse there was not much to do as long as their owners didn't care about these animals. Then, one day, at the small hotel I was working, I met an Italian woman who has been visiting Amorgos for many years now, staying with her husband the whole month of august. Paola and Luigi, who have been falling in love with this beautiful small island, She told me about a horse she had seen in the mountains who was so skinny her bones were visible being in a real bad state .Paola was feeling the suffering of this horse like herself suffering and she decided to do something about it.Then it seemed this was not the first time she was helping the animals of Amorgos, as she had started already, since some time, to search for sponsors to finance her dream; helping the animals of Amorgos. Most sponsors are from the US were she is living, and over the last years she has managed to arrange a vet staying on the island ,with a full equipped space, so hundreds of cats have been already sterilized and treated for illnesses and locals feeding stray dogs and cats have been given an financial help. She founded the non profit organization AZI and on the island locals were encouraged to organize ,so both organizations cooperate now in close connection.This organization was called PMAA and now has many members.They organized things and now help feeding tight up dogs and give them some relief by taking them for a walk now and then,and considering the poor horse , who we called paola;we managed to buy her from the owner,find her a suitable place and build a shelter,where since the summer,she is taken for a ride by young people from the village or volunteers.She soon got company of 2 old donkeys,not wanted anymore by the owners,there they will get a deserved good old age after a life of hard working,We even manage to arrange a visit of GAWF organization last spring which was a huge success,with many horses mules and donkey treated for overgrown hoves,dental care and besides all information given,many questions were answered.As on many other island and places in greece GAWF has done a great job at Amorgos! They have helped to give a positive image to local people that still have doubts about the good willing helping hand we want to give them by taking care of the animals. It has been very satisfying being able to do something for the animals around me, in cooperation with all the volunteers involved. The cat population seems in much healthier condition now, with less skinny and suffering cats and kittens and their have been found adoption homes for more than 20 abandoned dogs,mainly in Holland. Although many things still have to be done AZI and the local organization PMAA have made a difference among the animals of Amorgos,suffering animals are given a chance and there is medical help for sick animals. I will continue supporting PMAA and I really hope that on other islands and places in Greece people will be inspired by our efforts ,seeing that there are really results when people cooperate!!