TRIP DETAILS:
With the tremendous interest we have had in this trip, we have added a new Greece Humanitourism™ Adventure for May 2010
If you are interested, please be sure to sign up for our newsletter to receive announcements and updates: Please send me trip news and information when available
See our trip blog on FetchDog at: FetchDog Blog
and on Matador Travel at: Matador Blog
Trip Photos on Facebook: Greece Humanitourism™ Adventure June 2009
This trip is designed for people who want to make a
difference in the lives of animals and the people who help them. Our contacts all speak English so there is no need to be concerned about a language barrier. Our project and adventure will be in the Zagoria region, a magnificently beautiful part of the country. While foreigners vacation in the islands, the Greeks vacation in Zagoria. It is an amazingly beautiful part of the country and offers a different perspective on Greece than the highly touristed areas.
We will provide hands-on assistance in education, care and feeding programs for the neglected, abused, abandoned and mistreated dog popluation of the area around Ioannina, located in the
mountains of the central mainland, the Zagoria region. We may also
assist in a spay/neuter program, the care or rescue of sick or
injured dogs and other support efforts. No special skills or knowledge
are required for the assistance projects. Anyone who has a desire to
help is welcome. If you do have special skills in any of these areas,
we can find
additional ways of incorporating those into the project.
Following our humanitarian work in Ioannina, we will
embark on an adventure tour of the beautiful mountainous region,
sampling activities in the local area, ripe with opportunities in
trekking, rafting, sea kayaking/canoeing, culture and history. The area is known for its rich history, geographic variety and spectacular scenery. Historic regions offer a rare glimpse of life in ancient Greece. We will be joined on our adventure by Lakis, a lifelong native of the area who has explored the area extensively throughout his life and has an intimate knowledge of the landscape.
When we return to Athens, we will have an amazing group dinner with animal welfare advocates in the Athens region to be inspired by their commitment and ongoing tireless efforts to make change in their own country.
You may also have the opportunity to adopt a dog from Greece or to transport rescue dogs to homes in your country of residence.
A portion of proceeds from the trip will also be
earmarked for the projects. We also welcome donations below. We've been able to donate veterinary supplies with past donations and continue to work toward providing additional veterinary supplies and other desperately needed items.
Trip Cost: $2595
Reserve your spot on this trip by registering now. Limit
of 12 participants, so register early. Slots are filled on a first come
first served basis. A $500 deposit is required for registration. Enter
the name and dates of the trip and deposit amount on the next screen.
ITINERARY
FRI 6/12/09 -- Arrive in Athens, Travel to Ioannina, meet local animal
welfare advocates, Overnight in Kastro district of Ioannina
SAT 6/13/09 -- Participate in Project in Ioannina, building feeding stations for stray and abandoned dogs,
Overnight in Kastro district of Ioannina
SUN 6/14/09 -- Participate in Project in Ioannina, continuing work on feeding stations for stray and abandoned dogs,
Overnight in Kastro district of Ioannina
MON 6/15/09 -- Participate in Project in Ioannina, doing educational and informational work,
Overnight in Kastro district of Ioannina
TUE 6/16/09 -- Participate in Project in Ioannina, doing educational and informational work,
Overnight in Kastro district of Ioannina
WED 6/17/09 -- Trekking in Zagoria, Northern Pindos
National Park: Monodhendri to Papingo; Vikos Gorge, approximately 6 1/2
hrs, Overnight in Papingo
THU 6/18/09 -- Trekking in Zagoria, Northern Pindos
National Park: Papingo to Konitsa via Katafigio & Dragon Lakes;
evening at Kavasila Hot Springs, Overnight in Konitsa
FRI 6/19/09 -- 1/2 day Rafting on Arachthos River OR Cultural Excursion Day, Sirako to Kalarites 1 1/2 hrs,
Kalarites to Matsouki 1 1 /2 hrs, Overnight in Kastro district of
Ioannina
SAT 6/20/09 -- Flat water kayak in Lake Pamvotida (brief lesson provided prior), Lunch on
island with a visit to the monastery, Overnight in Kastro district of Ioannina OR Trekking in Zagoria, Northern Pindos
National Park: Kipi to Vradheto, Overnight in Kastro district of
Ioannina
SUN 6/21/09 -- Travel to Athens, Dinner in Athens with animal welfare workers in the Athens and surrounding areas
MON 6/22/09 -- Send off
Background
The Greek government provides little or no enforcement of laws for the protection of
animals against cruelty, and there are few facilities to provide
shelter, food and care for the thousands of stray and abandoned dogs
roaming both the cities and villages. Even those with homes often do
not fare any better. Some are cruelly abused, some grossly neglected,
some chained to a tree for protection with little or no food, water,
shelter or affection. The chained females are often not spayed, so they have
no means to escape from males looking to breed.
Spaying and neutering have only recently been introduced
and are infrequent practices. Many Greek vets are not trained for the
surgeries and of those that are, most are not inclined to provide any volunteer services for stray and street animals. It is also difficult for vets from other countries to be allowed to provide volunteer services.
People often ignore sick or injured animals, or shoot or
poison them. The healthy ones are also at risk. Those that are
considered a nuisance, which are many, are poisoned with pesticides,
rat poison or ground glass, all horribly inhumane and painful deaths.
Some of these "exterminations" are done by the local municipalities.
Recently, there have been dogs found hanged in trees, an equally
unconscionable death.
Puppies get tossed in the trash -- if theyre lucky, the
trash collector finds them before they go into the truck's grinder.
A very few dogs are lucky enough to be rescued by
volunteers from the few ad-hoc animal welfare groups in Greece, people
who love them and hope to find them homes in Germany, the United
Kingdom and the United States. But funding is scarce and support from
the government is non-existent.
Mary O'Connor and a handful of other local animal
advocates care for dogs that are living on the streets or in the dumps
in Ioannina, located in the beautiful mountainous region of Zagoria on
the central mainland. They have no land to provide a shelter, but work
tirelessly making rounds to feed, care for and love all of the homeless
dogs in the area. She provides help in getting some spayed and
neutered. Mary and her friends have personally adopted and fostered
numerous dogs. They work with Greek Animal Rescue and other groups to
place the dogs in homes in other countries. There are few opportunities
for adoption within Greece.
Please consider a donation of any amount to help us fund this project and cause. Your donation can help provide food, shelter, veterinary treatment, rehoming and a change of destiny for dogs in Greece.
You can also join our Cause on Facebook.
To find out more about the following
organizations, click on the logos.
 Please
visit the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation website to read the prologue in
this Greek Tragedy and support their mission to promote the
health and welfare of dogs worldwide, focusing on homing, health issues
and humane treatment. Special thanks to everyone at Camp Bow Wow and
the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation for their work in uncovering this
overlooked atrocity that continues in Greece and connecting us with
these amazing people.
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