Chains of Burden

                                                           

Lefki was tethered 24/7.  I was able to start helping her; - walking, straw, a blanket.

     A great point of distress for me are the chained dogs in Greece. A drive through any rural area and one can not help but notice the large number of them. They are known as barrel dogs; their only shelter from the elements is a tipped over metal barrel that over time becomes rusted and full of holes.  Barrels, however, are not the only items used but whatever the material, these structures are often inadequate.  Sometimes I see dogs chained with out any form of shelter, making the barrel dogs lucky.

     These dogs are often never let loose, never taken for a walk, rarely pet and may go days without food. They must urinate, defecate, eat and sleep in the same area, day in day out. They wear a circle of patted down dirt around themselves as they monotonously move back and forth ….back and forth.  Most of them are unattended and if anything happens to them no one will hear their plea for help.  They may bake in the sun and are left to sit in the rain and cold.  Strays mate with these female dogs which create more unwanted litters. Many live and die unnoticed on the end of their chain; only to be replaced by another dog that will share the same torment.  These conditions are tolerated by a large number of Greek people, remnants of an outdated past; a misunderstanding and an ignorance about the nature of dogs. On one occasion I spoke to a woman about her dogs that lived under these conditions. Her response was that she had never thought about it, it was the way she had learned from her grandparents and parents. She believed her dogs were fine.  

  This dog, chained outside a warehouse. I happened to be at the right place.  It was just before sunset on a Saturday evening  and the owner wouldn't have come until Monday.

     So what can someone do to help?  Well, you may consider copying and pasting one of the two pictures I have created at the end of this post and sending it to the Ministry of Agriculture at webmaster@minagric.gr. and to the Ministry of Law and Order at ydt@otenet.gr.   Let them know you would like them to take the welfare of companion animals in Greece seriously by enforcing the laws (more on that in another post). There have been many steps in the right direction but we still have a long way to go.  Every human that speaks out for these dogs is a voice for those whose barks are never heard. 

     Another way anyone may help is to sponsor a barrel dog and help us build him or her a new home.  Boulitsa, the picture below, is one of three cases we are working on right now. Having developed a good relationship with the owner we are moving forward towards making her life more comfortable.  We are always in need of wood, straw, fencing, longer chains, whatever. Mostly it takes time to gather the money and materials required.  If anyone would like to help with Boulitsa you may send me an e-mail or leave a comment below.

This is Boulitsa.  We have been able to make contact and start helping with her care. 

  

      I try to do as much as I can to improve even a little bit the life of each of these dogs.  However, no matter how much better their lives become, it never feels like enough. The existence of these dogs always haunts me.  Total satisfaction would come only if the chains were gone. 

  

K.K. 
tinakanellos2@hotmail.com
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 You may consider copying and pasting one of the two pictures I have created here and sending it to the Ministry of Agriculture at webmaster@minagric.gr., (Attention, Honourable Minister A. Tsaftaris) and to the Ministry of Law and Order at ydt@otenet.gr, (Attention, Honourable Minister N. Dendias).   Let them know you would like them to take the welfare of companion animals in Greece seriously by enforcing the laws 

Update on Boulitsa.
   We had managed to build her a longer line between two trees.  She was so happy to have more room.  A few days after we had done this her owners gave her away.  We made many attempts to find out where she was taken but her owners refused to tell us.  We only hope that she is better off.




January, 2015

  We are working on a case.....five tethered dogs....no protection from the elements.  The full story soon.