News & Events
A tiny creature came recently into our hands. He was found crying alone for several hours on the path to Kastri. He is growing in the experienced hands of Angeliki and once he gets a little older he will be available for adoption. Stay tuned!
Lucky, the kitten with the special ears, was adopted and yesterday he moved to his new family.
Adopting a kitten was the constant request of our little friend to her parents for two years. After much thought her parents gave her the green light to adopt a kitten from the animal shelter.
Her little face was shining with joy both when she chose him and also she finally took him in her arms. We are sure they will become the best of friends!!
His name is Marios for a very good reason! Marios got hit by a car and he is still alive thanks to the sensitivity and persistence of a woman from the neighborhood where he lived. Marios comes from Xylokeratidi, an otherwise safe area for cats.
Being hit by a car has cost him a badly broken jaw, but the dangerous thing was that after the accident he was so scared, that he was hiding from people so that he could not be caught to get help from the vet. Due to the fracture, he was not able to eat.
Angela made a lot of effort to find and catch him for many days without a result. When a week had passed since the accident, she decided that on that day he must be caught or otherwise he would not survive. So she asked for help, which was given to her!
The local vet Dimitris went on the spot where the cat had been hiding from the previous day and as soon as the cat felt safe, he went straight to him. The next day, Marios traveled to Naxos where he had surgery.
Marios is now back at our Center where he will remain for at least a month. He eats with appetite, he gained weight and he is more relaxed and happy!
Another soul was saved because a human being cared for him!
Thank you Angela!
Please, don't ignore an animal that looks like it's in trouble—ask for help. Every creature's life is precious.
Here are two short videos of him:
In the summer of 2021, four tiny orphaned kittens came to our care: 3 boys and 1 girl, the Three Musketeers and princess Avgi. Not even one week old, with their eyes closed, they could fit in our palms.
Α "human" took them from their mom and threw them in the street like they were rubbish. It took us an entire month of intensive care (and loss of sleep!) until they began to eat on their own. Almost four months later two of them, Athos and Avgi, traveled to their new family in Holland. They had been adopted by the best family who had already adopted another Amorgian kitten, Siouti.
But Ute’s heart was left behind in Amorgos, with the third kitten, named Porthos who had stayed back. She tried to convince her husband Edouard to adopt him too. Porthos was an animal that really needed a home— life as a stray on the streets was not for him and Ute knew that. After nagging Edouard day and night about it she finally managed to convince him. So on her last trip to Amorgos in May she finally got the OK to bring Porthos back to their home in Holland and to reunite him with his brother and sister. The wandering life of an outdoor cat came to an end for Porthos and we were very happy about it.
Ute and Edouard thank you from the bottom of our hearts for once again opening your home and your hearts to creatures in need. Thank you for what you have offered us and the animals of Amorgos. Have a happy and great life together!
Here is a small video of Porthos at his new home!
Here you can find his story: https://www.animal-zone.org/news/2022/1/7/dhr4wweucx1u8k9u1qs2kymy5aluxa
And here the adoption story of his brother and sister: https://www.animal-zone.org/news/2021/11/8/athos-and-avgi-are-adopted-in-holland
It was January 2020 when Achilleas left Amorgos, where he was born, and went to his new home in Switzerland. His new mum Pascal and Achilleas had become very good friends during Pascal’s stay at AZI’s Center when she came to do some volunteer work.
Pascal went back to Switzerland in September 2019 but her mind always returned to her friend Achilleas so she decided to adopt him. Our veterinarian and friend Anna traveled with him to Switzerland in January 2020. Since then Achilleas lives a happy and relaxing life forever. Yesterday we received an update on him from Pascal and we wanted to share it with you.
Pascal says: “Look how my cat grew. I put him on a diet a while ago, he is like a classic Greek cat, just eating and lying in the sun.” We’re grateful for the safe and loving home he now has with Pascal.
Here is a small video of him: https://youtube.com/shorts/x3nMK0f2utc?feature=share
The Municipality of Amorgos, in collaboration with Animal Zone International and the Greek Action of Volunteer Veterinarians (GAVV/EDKE), held a 2-day sterilization program for stray cats on March 4 and 5, 2023. A total of 69 stray cats (42 females and 27 males) from most of the villages of Amorgos were sterilized. In addition, a surgery was performed to remove a carcinoma from the ear of a stray cat.
In addition, all animals received anti-parasitic treatment and were tagged electronically (microchip).
We would first like to thank the volunteer veterinarians who participated in the action, in particular Dimitrios Papatriandafillou (chief of mission) and Nikos Kakatsidis (who came from England to volunteer his services), as well as Iovi Kotzatisoglou and Elena Gerostathopoulou, for their help.
We sincerely thank the shipping company BLUE STAR FERRIES which is always helpful in the needs of our island and offered free transport to the vets and the GALINI pension and specifically the Despotidis family who offered free accommodations, the MOURAGIO restaurant who offered free dinner both evenings, GLYKA TIS POTHITIS and TELION who offered breakfasts, ELICHRYSON and PANTOPOLEION GEFSEON who offered lunches. But a big thank you also goes to our amazing volunteers: Chariklia, George, Angeliki, Anna, Melina, Lamia, Alexandra, Wendula, Evangelia, Asimakis, Georgia, Michalis and Manolis who collected and released the cats and helped at the clinic, and of course all the inhabitants of the island who helped each in their own way.
Our spay and neuter programs are vitally important for both the cats and the islanders. Without this effort, the cat population will explode to unsustainable levels. Cats reach breeding age very quickly—at just 6 months they can have two or three litters a year. When there is an explosion in the cat population, it is difficult to feed and care for them all and they soon become parasitic and diseased, suffering from malnutrition and common infections thus increasing discontent in the community. When the cat population is under control, we can provide them with appropriate food and anti-parasitic treatments so that their overall health improves, which reduces the risk of them being considered a nuisance pest. Suffering is reduced and harmony is achieved—a win-win for all.
If you’d like to help, please consider supporting our efforts with a donation. We appreciate your help, no matter how small: https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI.
UPDATE JAN 2023— Ruby, now Vincent, has been adopted!
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In July, we received a phone call concerning a kitten that got into a car engine and was almost turned into mincemeat. He was a tiny little creature, only 2 months old. The extent of the injuries was very severe and we were not at all certain that he would make it.
His suffering was immense and he had just started his life. But the little boy turned out to be a great fighter. He overcame everything and the only thing left to remind us of the accident is one missing ear and a crooked right leg. We called him Ruby and you can read his full story here:
https://www.animal-zone.org/news/2022/9/20/meet-ruby-our-special-kitten
Time passed and Ruby grew up but the long-awaited and hoped for adoption news did not come. (There was an almost chance, but it was canceled because the little one tested positive for Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) 1/100).
So our one and only Ute Kohlmann, whom we really don't know how to thank anymore, decided to take him to the Netherlands so that he could have a better chance of finding a home there. Ute searched and found a girl, named Kim, who will host him (maybe eventually fall in love with him and adopt him, perhaps?) and during this time she will help us look for a permanent home for our sweet Ruby. We hope that the new year will bring him own home with a family to adore him.
We would like to thank Kyriaki, Julia and Polykarpos who supported Ruby during his hospitalization and accompanied him on his journey from Amorgos to Athens; Pepi and Daniel who once again opened up their home — they not only hosted him but also escorted him to the airport; Kim who opened up her home to host him in the Netherlands; and finally Ute: we have no words for her anymore...Thank you seems too little…
Here is a small video of Ruby in Athens where he stayed for about 10 days:
https://youtube.com/shorts/r8_T2-O7NP0?feature=share
As you can imagine, his medical treatment was costly—please help us help others like Ruby by making a donation here: https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI
Theodora came to our Center in December 2021. When she arrived, she was roughly 2 months old and was suffering from respiratory problems. The girl who found her had to go back home to England and although she was willing to adopt the little kitten, Theodora was too sick to travel. The girl promised to come back to Amorgos and take Theodora to England with her and that's what happened.
In early October 2022, almost a year after Theodora’s arrival in our Center, the moment we were all waiting for had finally come. Theodora said goodbye to Amorgos forever and started the journey to her new country. She is now in her new home and has completely adapted to her new life. The two dogs of the family accepted her very easily and everything went smoothly for her.
Another happy ending!!!
Here are two short videos of Theodora at her home in England:
Not one, not 2, but 3 kittens were abandoned inside a box and left in the parking lot of Tholaria. The kittens were there from morning till afternoon and no one cared until a good-hearted man took them with him.
But that man was in Amorgos only for a short period of time and eventually had to go back to his hometown, so he needed to find a place to leave the kittens. And soon he found out about us and asked for our help. Of course we couldn’t refuse and the kittens came to our Center.
They are 2 girls and 1 boy, only one month old, healthy and playful babies. In the period during which the kittens came to the Center, we were fighting against a virus which was causing severe diarrhea, so it was not at all the ideal place for the kittens to stay.
We made an appeal to find someone to foster the kittens in a healthier environment for them. Our dear friend Angeliki once again responded immediately to our appeal and took home the 3 kittens along with two more that had been found earlier that month. The boy has already been adopted by Angeliki and her family, but the two girls are still looking for a home.
Our work is never done—there are always new arrivals who need food, shelter, and medical care. Help us by making a donation here: https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI. The kittens will be forever grateful!
It was 3 pm on a day in the midst of our autumn sterilization program when the mobile of our program coordinator rang. Two tiny kittens had been crying since early morning while the mother was nowhere to be found.
The weather in Chora where they were was too cold and windy for them to stay alone any longer so we ran over to pick them up. The boy was huge for his age and in good condition but very hungry. The girl on the other hand was half the size of her brother, only skin and bones, with hypothermia and respiratory problems—a difficult case.
We were afraid that she wouldn't survive. We started intensive care with frequent small amounts of milk formula for kittens, vitamins, antibiotics, and heating agents and despite the odds not being on her side the little girl proved to be a fighter.
Two days later, the kittens were given to Angeliki who volunteered to foster them. That same day her family decided to adopt them so it was one of our fastest adoptions ever. In Angeliki's experienced hands the kittens got stronger, grew up, started eating on their own and have brought the house up and down with their energy. The little girl who was named Popi will soon travel to Athens where a new sister is waiting for her. Thank you so much Angeliki for all your support and efforts.
Foster homes are a great help both for us, as it opens up space for another animal in need, and for the animal itself, as it learns to live and behave in a home environment, so it is properly prepared when adopted. If you cannot adopt a cat, consider fostering a cat so you can be part of its life's journey.
Here are two short videos of them:
When they were found: https://youtube.com/shorts/q_ymmyNC_Jk?feature=share
When they started to eat by themselves: https://youtube.com/shorts/f98Vuw55088?feature=share
A young lady contacted us to ask our help for a kitten who lived in her neighborhood in the village of Kamari of Amorgos. It seemed the little cat's eye had developed a serious problem, apparently from some accident the animal must have had.
We advised her to bring the kitten to us as soon as possible so that we could send her to our vets in Naxos. The next day, the kitten who in the meantime we named Rosa, traveled to the nearby island of Naxos where our vets examined her.
Unfortunately, her left eye was completely destroyed and was causing her terrible pain, so the only solution was the surgical removal of the eye, which took place on that very same day. Two days later, Rosa was returned to our Center where she will remain for the next 2 weeks to complete her treatment.
Ideally, we would like to find a home for her instead of sending her back to the streets, but adoptions have not been easy this past year, so we don't have much hope. In case you want to adopt a kitten, Rosa is a very sweet, affectionate and playful little creature who is in a real need of a home. For now, we are asking for your help to cover the cost of the surgery.
Please help by donating here: https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI.
Thank you!
Here are two short videos of Rosa before and after the surgery:
Before the surgery: https://youtu.be/k8IThB-sF0I
And after the surgery: https://youtube.com/shorts/4UVrk69izbU?feature=share
Jordan, our handsome, special boy was adopted by a very nice family in Athens. Two years ago, the same family had adopted another three-legged female kitten named Nala. But Nala was home alone for many hours because the members of the family had to go to work or to school, so they decided to adopt a second cat for Nala to have as company.
Litsa, our program coordinator, happened to know the family's cousin who saw our Facebook post through which we were looking for a family for Jordan, and she informed the family. Jordan seemed to be the perfect match for Nala. Jordan is missing his left hind leg while Nala is missing her right foreleg. Both are black and white, while Jordan is a boy and Nala is a girl.
The decision from the family came right away and it was positive. The references for the family were excellent and their cousin happened to be in Amorgos at the time so she could take Jordan back to Athens with her immediately. Εverything fit together so perfectly and Jordan became part of a beautiful family.
The first few days, Nala was a bit wary of him, but within a week they became best friends and were already sleeping together. Now they are inseparable and have turned the house into a big playground. Their mom is looking for a place to decorate the Christmas tree, as it might soon be taken down, and she is seriously considering hanging it from the ceiling.
Here is Jordan’s original story: https://www.animal-zone.org/news/2022/8/10/jordan-a-three-legged-kitten
And here you can watch a short video of Jordan with his new sister Nala at their home in Athens: https://youtube.com/shorts/k47eIGzOj_w?feature=share
Have a nice life, sweet Jordan!
Another sterilization program was completed with great success! Over a period of 10 days, a total of 213 stray cats (129 female and 84 male) were spayed/neutered from all over Amorgos, as well as 1 male dog. Additionally, surgeries were performed to remove cancer from the ears of two cats, as well as two surgeries for hernia repair, and, sadly, two euthanasias were performed for two very sick cats with late-stage cancer.
All animals were also vaccinated against rabies (except for those who were too sick), received anti-parasitic treatment, and were marked electronically (microchip). This program was made in collaboration with the Municipality of Amorgos and Animal Zone International.
We would first like to thank our amazing veterinarian Dr. Andrianna Alexandropoulou, for her unwavering support and assistance (and for the fact that she worked intensely to meet the needs of our community).
Also we offer sincere thanks to the Municipality of Amorgos for the continuous support and perfect cooperation, the local veterinarian Dr. Dimitris Simos for his cooperation, and for transporting and catching cats of Chora, our Chariklia Psaki who worked eagerly as a veterinarian assistant. We wish to thank our amazing volunteers Giorgos, Angeliki, Anna, Melina, Marianna, Kaliroi, Lamia, Lilie, Wentoula, Fani, Alexandros, Giannis and Rania who "plowed the island" and went up and down many stairs in order to collect and release cats as well as to assist in the clinic, and of course all the inhabitants of the island who helped each in his or her own way.
We would like to say that the participation of the residents in this program was wonderful and to apologize to those who were unable to be included in the program as literally it was raining cats. Thank you all!
This sterilization program is crucial for both the cats and the residents of the island. Without this effort, the population of cats would explode to unsustainable levels. Cats reach the age of reproduction very quickly at 6 months and can have two or three litters a year. When there is an explosion in the cat population, it is difficult to feed and care for them all, and they soon become parasitic and sick, suffering from malnutrition and common infections, and increasing dissatisfaction within the community. When the cat population is under control, we are able to give them proper food and treatments for parasites, so that their overall health improves which reduces their risk of being considered a nuisance pest. Suffering is reduced and harmony is achieved.
If you agree, please continue to support our efforts to improve the lives of the cats of Amorgos. Make a donation to AZI today. Thank you! https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI
The Municipality of Amorgos and Animal Zone International will carry out a sterilization program for stray cats.
We ask those who take care of stray cats in their area and those who are interested in participating to contact us promptly at telephone: 22850 71716 & 6974990045.
According to Law 4940/2022, article 52, sterilization of dogs and cats is mandatory except for the animals whose genetic sample of material (DNA) has been sent to the genetic storage and analysis laboratory pet material of article 13.
The participation of volunteers, mainly in catching and transporting animals, will significantly help us help more animals.
Our coordinator Litsa put together the slide show below, showcasing some of our more difficult cases so far this year.
WARNING: some of the images are graphic and therefore may be upsetting to some people.
As you can clearly see, these animals need our help! Some are suffering needlessly. For us to continue to do the work we do, we need your help! Won’t you make a donation today? https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
JULY 2023—Little Jordan, only three months old and weighing just over 3 lbs (1.5 kilo), was hit by a car, and sadly one of his legs was completely dislocated. Since he lives on Amorgos and there is no surgeon here for emergency care, there was no possibility of saving the leg, and unfortunately, it had to be amputated. He was sent to the vet on Naxos and then returned to Amorgos in our care. We’re happy to report that he is doing well, getting used to walking on three legs, and has the sweetest meow!
Soon he will be healthy again and we will look for the best home for him. But in the meantime, we are asking for your help to cover the cost of the surgery. Please help by donating here: https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI. Thank you!
Recently, a kind-hearted tourist named Martina called us, concerned about a cat living at the monastery of Chozoviotissa. We reached out to the people who live and work at the monastery and discovered that the cat colony there badly needed treatment against internal and external parasites. Using funds from previous donations, we had already purchased ampoules and pills for treatments against cat parasites. So an appointment with the monastery was made immediately.
On Tuesday, May 24, very early in the morning (in order to be there when the monks feed the cats), our program coordinator Litsa together with our wonderful volunteers Ute and Edouard visited the monastery of Chozoviotissa, loaded ampoules and deworming pills.
Christos, who takes care of the cats, was waiting for us with 14 of the 16 cats who reside at the monastery. All were treated for internal and external parasites except for the 2 who were absent that morning. (We left Christos with the ampules and pills for them.) One of the cats was suffering from a respiratory disease so she also received a 10day antibiotic that will help her to recover. Advice was also given regarding proper nutrition which will help to keep them healthy.
We thank all the people of the monastery and especially Christos who lovingly cares for the cats that live there.
We are also grateful to our supporters because it’s thanks to them we were able to buy the necessary treatments and proceed with this action promptly.
Dear Athos (from the Three Musketeers) and Avgi, Almost 4 months ago when you arrived you were just a bunch of little creatures. Not even one week old, with your eyes closed, you could fit in our palms. Α "human" took you from your mom and threw you in the street like you were rubbish. It took us one entire month of intensive care (and loss of sleep!) to start eating on your own.
Now, almost four months later, you are two chubby monsters and today a new life opens before you. Today you say goodbye to Amorgos forever and begin the journey to your new home and life. You have been adopted by the best family and you will soon be hanging out with another Amorgian kitten, Siouti, who has no idea yet what awaits her. We will miss you! But despite the grief of separation, we are very happy for you because you could not have landed in better hands.
Ute K. and Edouard A., thank you from the bottom of our hearts for once again opening your home and your hearts to creatures in need. Thank you for what you have offered us and the animals of Amorgos. Have a happy and great life together! Have a good trip our little monsters and have a good start in your new life!
August 2021—Mitsos is a cat who lives in Agia Anna, Amorgos. About one month ago visitors to our island contacted us to report that he was suffering from a large wound under his ear and urgently needed medical care. We picked him up and after cleaning the wound began treating his ear. During his stay at our Center, he was also sterilized and dewormed and today, after now that his ear has healed, he was returned to his neighborhood.
When Litsa, our program coordinator, released him near his home, he ran off. But 10 minutes later, after exploring the area and realizing that he was back at home, he came running to find Litsa and did not stop showering affection on her. Litsa felt that he was thanking her for her care. And yes, animals have emotions and they prove it to us every day. This gratitude and love that they show us is the driving force that keeps us going.
July 2021—Not 1, not 2, not 3 but FOUR newborn kittens were rescued recently.
It appears that the kittens were taken away from their mom and left in a box in Ormos of Aegiali. They were crying through the night into the next afternoon until a goodhearted girl realized that they needed help and decided to take action. She bought milk and started to feed them and then called us. Soon the kittens came under the care of Litsa, AZI’s coordinator, who took over their care, including feeding them every 2 hours.
The kittens are now about 1 week old and the first one is starting to open his eyes. They are 3 boys and 1 girl and we named them Porthos, Athos, Aramis (the 3 bodyguards) and princess Avgi. When they reach the appropriate age they will be available for adoption. They are extremely sweet, round, fluffy balls who purr nonstop.
We’d like to mention here that Animal Zone International and the Municipality of Amorgos offer free spaying/neutering for the island's stray cats to the residents of Amorgos. Keep in mind it’s much better and more humane to prevent unwanted kittens than to leave them to certain death. And thanks to all who support us in our mission of humane animal welfare.
UPDATE Nov 2021: Two of the kittens have been adopted! See the story here.
