***URGENT*** STRAY CATS ON KOS NEED YOUR SUPPORT - PLEASE EMAIL MAYOR OF KOS

[Guest guest]

PERMISSION TO CROSSPOST TO EVERYONE EVERYWHERE; WE NEED SUPPORT FOR

THIS STERILIZATION PROGRAM

 

 

Tierhilfe Süden is a small, but efficient animal welfare

organization, whi ch takes care of stray animals in southern european

countries. We organize and finance castration projects and clinics,

veterinary care, food, shelters, dog`s houses for chain dogs and much

more in turkey, bulgaria, italy, spain, malta.

 

For this October 2003 we had planned to do a castration

project for stray cats on the greek island of Kos. 7 veterinaries, all

materials and things needed were ready for the castration of numerous

street cats and their subsequent release at their old places. The

actual situation of the stray cats on Kos is desastrous. Stray cats

are living everywhere, around ruins and houses and hotels, they give

birth to many kittens throughout the year, and in fall they are

poisoned. It is a extremely cruel cycle of hunger, birth and a

dreadful death. Many tourists tell us about this situation.

 

 

In july the mayor of Kos town has send us a fax with a formal

invitation. He wrote that he apprecia tes the project and promised to

support it in many aspects. We were very happy when we received this

fax and prepared everything for the project.

 

However a veterinarian of Kos, Dr. Yiannis Thellassinos, had

another opinion of the situation. He says that such a castration

project is not necessary and that Kos is already praised as an island

with very " humane handling of the situation with the stray animals " .

He obviously succeeded to convince the mayor of HIS OPINION of the

situation. Local politics is a mistery and so we got a cancellation of

the invitation after Dr. Thellassinos had interfered.

 

It is important to mention that Mr. Thellassinos has been

invited by us beforehand to take part in the project. There was no

answer from his side.

 

The cancellation of this project means that there will be

no change for the stray cats of Kos ! Please join us in protesting and

send an Email or Fa x with the text below to the Mayor of Kos town.

 

Please spread this message among your friends and other

animal-lovers. Everybody must consider him/herself wether a vacation

is still enjoyable at a place where the obvious misery of so many

animals is ignored by the officials.

 

Many thanks in advance for you help !

 

Birgit Reuter

Tierhilfe Süden Austria

 

 

Please send letter similar to below to: dotkos

or Fax: 0030 22420 21341

 

========================================================

Dear Mayor Fakkos:

 

With deep regret we have noticed the cancellation of your

cooperation in the cat castration project which has been arranged by

 

Tierhilfe Süden and was planned to take place in october this year. We

cannot understand, however, why you first said in your formal

invitation to Tierhilfe Süden that this is an useful and good project

to help the situation of the stray cats. What made you change your

mind ?

 

In contrast to Dr. Yiannis Thellassinos, who thinks that

everything is fine with the animals on Kos, we see the misery of the

stray cats which live in your ruins, in the city and near the hotels

around Kos town. It is unbelievable that a veterinary pretends that he

doesn`t see this obvious suffering.

 

The cats are starving, they are sick and they give birth to

many kittens during the year. Then they are poisoned after the tourist

season and die an awful death under immense pain .

 

We herewith protest the decision not to let organizations

help which want to help with castration projects. We had organized 7

veterinarians and all materials needed to make this project a success.

Now the animals will continue to suffer.

 

The recreation value of your beautiful island is seriously

damaged by the continous presence of the animals`s misery and

suffering.

 

We and many other animal friends already avoid to travel to places

like this. In this sense we urge the municipality of Kos to initiate

significant steps towards a better life for the animals on your island

and to let actions follow !

 

Sincerely,

 

Les and Joy Ray