TRIP DETAILS:
Additional Dates to be Added for 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. Goals
for the trip are twofold: 1) to first-hand assist the people and
animals that are struggling with the horrific and inhumane conditions
that exist in Greece for dogs, including abandonment, neglect,
starvation, poisoning, overpopulation, abuse and mistreatment; 2) to
create an awareness of the problem that exists in Greece and spread
that awareness to create more funding, greater education and
encouragement to the Greek government to make changes.
inside/out's trip participants will assist a very small
minority contingent of animal welfare advocates in Greece who are
desperately trying to improve these conditions and are severely
overworked, under-funded and overextended. Our primary activities will
be to provide hands-on assistance in the much needed improvement of
shelter facilities in Patras, located on the gulf of the Peloponnese,
and education, care and feeding programs in Ioannina, located in the
mountains of the central mainland, the Zagoria region. We may also
assist in a spay/neuter program, the treatment 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.
Humanitarian trip duration is 7 days with an additional
6 days attached following for local adventure in the project area, with
a day on either end for travel. Number of participants may range from
6-12. Age limitations apply. Project and adventure tour to be led by
Zoe Katsulos of inside/out, with additional support staff as necessary.
Project leader possesses basic Greek language skills.
A portion of proceeds from the trip will also be
earmarked for the projects.
Trip Cost: $2985 (does
not include airfare)
ITINERARY
SAT 10/11/08 -- Arrive in Patras, check in to hotel.
Meet local animal welfare advocates, project overview
SUN 10/12/08 -- Begin project in Patras, Overnight in
Patras
MON 10/13/08 -- Participate in Project in Patras,
Overnight in Patras
TUE 10/14/08 -- Participate in Project in Patras,
Overnight in Patras
WED 10/15/08 -- Participate in Project in Patras,
Overnight in Patras
THU 10/16/08 -- Travel to Ioannina, meet local animal
welfare advocates, Overnight in Kastro district of Ioannina
FRI 10/17/08 -- Participate in Project in Ioannina,
Overnight in Kastro district of Ioannina
SAT 10/18/08 -- Participate in Project in Ioannina,
Overnight in Kastro district of Ioannina
SUN 10/19/08 -- Trekking in Zagoria, Northern Pindos
National Park: Monodhendri to Papingo; Vikos Gorge, approximately 6 1/2
hrs, Overnight in Papingo
MON 10/20/08 -- Trekking in Zagoria, Northern Pindos
National Park: Papingo to Konitsa via Katafigio & Dragon Lakes;
evening at Kavasila Hot Springs, Overnight in Konitsa
TUE 10/21/08 -- 1/2 day Rafting on Arachthos River,
class 2-3, Cultural Excursion Day, Sirako to Kalarites 1 1/2 hrs,
Kalarites to Matsouki 1 1 /2 hrs, Overnight in Kastro district of
Ioannina
WED 10/22/08 -- Trekking in Zagoria, Northern Pindos
National Park: Kipi to Vradheto, Overnight in Kastro district of
Ioannina
THU 10/23/08 -- Kayak in Lake Pamvotida, Lunch on
island, Overnight in Kastro district of Ioannina
FRI 10/24/08 -- Travel to Athens
SAT 10/25/08 -- Depart
Background
The Greek government has no 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 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. Most Greek vets are not trained for the
surgeries.
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.
Dimitris Karabalis, an engineering professor at the
university in Patras, helped start the Achaic Animal Welfare Society.
He, along with Anastasia Aravanitou and a few other volunteers, care
for some 80-100 dogs on property with no shelter facilities. The
possibility of adoption keeps these hopeful pups chained to trees on
the property, with at least food, water, shade, affection and medical
care while they wait. There is not enough funding to create genuine
shelter facilities. A very small amount of funding comes from Germany-
and UK-based rescue groups that also help the dogs find homes.
Things are improving, however. Fifteen years ago, Patras
had only one vet and no spaying or neutering services. Today in Patras,
a major shipping port to Italy, there are 15 or so vets, two of whom
offer low-cost spaying and neutering services to the dogs and cats the
Society brings them.
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.
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.
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 donate to 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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