A Vet Visit

After the long months of lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Andrianna Alexandropoulou was at last able to come to our Center.

In June, Dr. Alexandropoulou performed many vaccinations on the dogs and cats of our island community, microchips were implanted, health checks were carried out and a number of stray cats with health problems were examined and placed into our care for treatment.

She also managed to neuter four male dogs that are living with us at the Center. We are grateful, as always, for her tremendous work with the animals of our island and we thank her for her generosity and expertise.

Best wishes until our next meeting, Dr. Alexandropoulou!

A Visit from the Veterinarian

We have now completed the winter sterilization program in Amorgos and we want to thank Dr. Andrianna Alexandropoulou for coming to our center to conduct the spaying and neutering of so many of our island strays.

Additionally, Dr. Alexandropoulou performed annual vaccinations on many of the dogs and cats owned by members of our island community. Microchips were implanted, a beautiful rabbit came for a checkup and a number of stray cats with health problems were examined and will now remain in our Center for treatment.

We were fortunate to finally capture a feral cat from Chora who had been suffering for over a year with a rope that he had managed to wrap around his throat. The veterinarian removed the rope, cleaned the wound, gave the cat antibiotics, spayed him and now he is back in his home area with a new lease on life.

Thank you Dr. Andrianna!!!!

Autumn 2019 sterilization program

Our autumn sterilization program took place in November and was a great success. We had hoped to sterilize 100 stray cats but, with the help and dedication of Dr. Andriana Alexandropoulou, we surpassed that goal and sent 121 boys and girls back into the world to live healthy lives without adding to the homeless feline population of our island. 

These cats had come to us from the villages of Amorgos, the areas of Katapola, Kastelopetra, Chora, Skeparnies (Kato Meria) and Aegiali.

All of the cats are in good health and after a recovery period they have all been released back into their native areas. Two kittens, one male and one female, are still with us at our Center due to a few problems that we wanted to clear up before they will be released back into their home areas. 

We want to thank our amazing vet, Dr. Adriana Alexandropoulou, who worked from morning to night with dedication and good spirit and who left us as well with advice for all the sick and wounded cats that we will continue to receive at our center.

 A big vote of thanks goes as well to the Municipality of Amorgos who not only covered the expenses for medical supplies and offered a van and a driver, (Konstantinos Grispos), to transport the cats back and forth from the Aegiali area but also for their continued support. We also thank our amazing volunteers who worked hard in order to collect and transport the cats as well as to assist at the clinic during the surgeries. We thank our donors and especially our president, Paola Mieli, who covered the salary and travel for Dr. Alexandropoulou.

 We thank those who help us to continue this most important work.

Without all of you we would not have made it....

We have renewed our appointment for February!!!

Mata and Marianna, our amazing volunteers who always help in our sterilization programs

Vice Mayor Gostas Grispos, always present when we needed him and Litsa Passari, local program coordinator

Dr. Anna Alexandropoulou

Dr. Anna Alexandropoulou

Beatrice Rock, active volunteer and supporter of AZI

Chariklia Psaki, active volunteer and vet assistant

Anna and her daughter Melina, active volunteers always present in our programs

DIALOGUES: Cruelty towards Animals

Animal Zone's director in Greece Pepi Gavala was invited by Stavros Niarchos Foundation to the DIALOGUES event on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 . The topic was CRUELTY towards animals. Cases of animal cruelty and abandonment, organized crime, illegal activities, and how abusive behaviors are ultimately a reflection of our society were the main topics of discussion at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation’s (SNF) October DIALOGUES.

Mrs. Gavala participated in the discussion and presented our work in Amorgos, mentioning the particularities of small communities and the way we try to fight animal abuse on the island. “The horrible living conditions of animals are a huge disgrace that affects tourism. In recent years, incidents become known instantly everywhere via social media. But the particularities of small, close-knit communities make it hard to file official complaints.”

Animal Zone International would like to thank Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the journalist Mrs. Anna-Kynthia Bousdoukou for the invitation and the opportunity we had to present the problems of Amorgos and the efforts of our organization that are already making a difference on the island.

Photo credits: Marilena Katsini

https://www.snf.org/en/initiatives/snf-dialogues/dialogues-animal-welfare-october-2019/

Photo credit: Marilena Katsini

Photo credit: Marilena Katsini

Our Seasonal Sterilization Program

Our goal for sterilization was set at sixty stray cats with a maximum of seventy, but, with the brilliant help and dedication of Dr. Manolis Vorisis, we managed to sterilize 48 females and 34 males with a grand total of 82 felines who will now go on to live healthy lives without adding to the homeless cat population of our islands.

For two days, Dr. Vorisis was aided in his work by the generosity of Dr. Anna Alexandopoulou, a veterinarian who came to us from Syros and kindly volunteered her help in this crucial program.

The cats came from all the villages of Amorgos—the areas of Katapola, Kastelopetra, Chora, Kato Meria and Aegiali (Langada). They are now in good health and after a recovery period they have all been released back into their native areas. One small female is still with us due to a wound that we are treating but she will also be released into her home area of Langada.

We want to thank our amazing vets, the scientific officer of our clinic, Dr. Manolis Vorisis who repeatedly helps us not only with these surgeries but also with advice and help for the wounded and sick cats that we continue to receive at our Center. We thank Dr. Anna Alexandropoulou who worked alongside Dr. Vorisis during those two challenging days. Doctors Vorisis and Alexnadropoulou do all of this from the goodness of their hearts and we thank the hotel Minoa for hosting them during this time.

As well, we thank the wonderful volunteer who came from Canada to assist us and we thank all of our local volunteers as well as the Municipality of Amorgos who covered the expenses for medical supplies. We thank them for their continued help in our project and we also want to thank all of our donors who help us continue this most important work.

We have renewed our appointment for the spring!!!

The Municipality of Amorgos

Animal Zone International is happy to announce that the Municipality of Amorgos has responded to our plea for help in feeding the stray animals of our island.

Our Center is struggling financially due to the overwhelming need of homeless animals and through the generosity of our municipal leaders as well as through the subsidies coming from the European Union, we are able, for the next four months, to feed our strays and to give them the medical care they need.

The municipality of Amorgos has recognized its obligations toward the animals of their island and are helping not only with food but also with medicines and the very important sterilization program that AZI has established.

We offer our gratitude to the Municipality of Amorgos—together we can succeed!!!!

Heracles

Only a few weeks ago, the children of Chora’s kindergarten were grooming and riding dear Heracles but sadly today he is no longer with us.

Heracles was in very good health, living in our equine shelter, and these last years have been joyous ones for this sweet donkey. But Heracles was very old, and, after a long life on the nearby island of Antikeri, a rocky place without permanent residents, Heracles was chosen come to us in order to be a representative of our equines. He was calm and easy-going and his sweet nature made him popular with everyone he met.

We suspect that the great age of Heracles made his passing an easy one, perhaps his heart gave out, and, now, this sweet donkey lives in the neighborhood of the angels.

The Rescue of Three Small Kittens

It is not always easy to tell the stories of our rescues. On the island of Aegiali there was initially a resistance to our sterilization program but we have carried on to great success.

Unfortunately there are still cats who give birth to unwanted kittens and a few days ago three small babies were abandoned in a garbage bin. By grace and good luck they were rescued by a kind man who heard their cries and brought them to our Center. Two small girls and one small boy are now safe and healthy and living in a foster home.

When they are strong and old enough to eat by themselves they will be available for adoption. Their little lives have now been saved and we wish for each one of them a safe and loving home.

Tortuel

Some weeks ago, a young French couple vacationing in Amorgos came across a tiny blind kitten on the streets of Tholaria. They brought the kitten to our Center in Katapola and visited the kitten during the last two days of their stay. Saying goodby to this small being that they had rescued was difficult and they decided to adopt her and bring her to their home in Paris once she had recovered from her difficult time living alone on the streets.

This magnificent couple has traveled from Paris to Mykonos and now to Naxos where they received tiny Tortuel from our veterinarian. She is now living happily in Paris with her loving and wonderful new family. We are profoundly grateful for the kindness and generosity of those who help us in our ongoing work to make the animal kingdom of these islands a safe and healthy one.

Our work on Amorgos is dependent of your donations. Please help us help these helpless creatures and make a contribution today! https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI

Vet Visit

Dr. Dimitris Vasalakis came to our Center in Amorgos this last weekend. Many of the island animals received the gift of his great veterinary care. Four donkeys and one turkey were given check ups and our own two dogs, Sissy and Liza, along with many of the island dogs, were groomed in preparation for the coming summer weather.

These visits from Dr. Vasalakis are vital since we have no permanent veterinarian in Amorgos, and, therefore, with full hearts, we give our sincere thanks for his great work.

Thank you Dimitris!

Dr. Manolis Vorisis

Animal Zone International and the people of Amorgos and all the islands of the Cyclades are grateful for the magnificent work of Dr. Manolis Vorisis.

Dr. Vorisis has made cats of the Cyclades famous around the world, and his standards for veterinarian surgery and animal care are incomparable. Long ago, Dr. Vorisis went out into the streets of these islands and, witnessing the desperate needs of a multitude of stray animals, decided to devote his life to creating safe and beautiful havens for these fragile creatures.

Beginning on the island of Syros, the capital of the Cyclades, Dr. Vorisis worked to transform dangerous areas where homeless cats gathered into safe and beautiful gardens, his mantra and slogan being, “The ugly shall become beautiful.”

Dr. Vorisis believes that it is important to change the way we humans see and interact with members of the animal kingdom and so he began to organize volunteers who were willing to knock on doors in the neighborhoods to talk about the ways in which it was possible to change the lives of these struggling felines.

Since 2017 Dr. Vorisis has spread his message beyond Syros and now he is the scientific director and advisor at the clinic run by Animal Zone International here on Amorgos.  His advice and support gives us the courage and inspiration to continue our fight to make a better life for the animals with whom we share our island.

During our spring sterilization program, not only did Dr. Vorisis sterilize sixty-three cats in two days, he also helped us clean and revitalize our own garden. He helped to prune our trees and plants to allow more light to enter that area, creating a welcoming, safe and beautiful haven for the cats of Amorgos.

As the good doctor says, “We must create beauty in our world.” We feel Dr. Vorisis is an amazing human being as well as an amazing veterinarian, and we are proud to partner with him in this important work.

Thank you Dr. Vorisis from all of us on the island of Amorgos!

Spring Sterilization Program

AZI's sterilization program was a success! We surpassed our goal of sixty cats by three: the final count was sixty-three cats in two days.

Thirty-four females and twenty-nine males are now protected against producing the scores of litters that leave too many fragile kittens suffering from malnutrition and infection across our island.

Most of the cats came from the area of Katapola. Two were from Saint George Valsamitis, six were from Arkesini, and one came from Tholaria (Aegiali).

We want to thank all of those kind residents who helped us to bring these strays to our center—it was truly an all-island project.

All of the cats are now back in their home territory except for three sick ones who were too weak to withstand the operation. We are now treating their wounds with antibiotics and hoping very much that all three will soon be strong enough to bear the procedure and be returned to their home areas.

Animal Zone International along with the Municipality of Amorgos funded the cost of the vet Dr. Manolis Vorisis, his transportation, as well as the medications and surgical materials that were necessary to make this program a great success.

As well, we want to thank the lovely Pension Anna (http://www.studioanna-amorgoa.com/) for hosting Dr. Vorisis at their wonderful hotel. Thank you all!

3 Day Spay/Neuter Program in March

3 Day Spay/Neuter Program Planned for March 9-11, 2018

When there are too many cats and not enough resources, the cats are at risk for a life of hardship or worse, death.

AZI is preparing for a spay/neuter weekend in March. Your generous tax-deductible donation would allow us to sterilize as many stray cats as possible to maintain the current cat population and keep them healthy.

This is an important part of protecting the animals of Amorgos. Please donate and join our efforts to create a better life for all on Amorgos. Thank you!

Fluffy's Good News!

Dear friends,

Fluffy, our beautiful and truly special blind cat, after staying at our Center for two years and despite being positive in FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency virus), has finally found her own home in Holland!

Mirtos Animal Project, an organization in Holland with which we cooperate, has found a new home where Fluffy will live with 2 dogs. (Her medical condition prevents her from going to a home with healthy cats.) 

Mirtos also found a flight escort for her which is great news. Animal Zone is responsible for paying for her transportation from Amorgos to the airport in Athens (boat and metro tickets), passport fees and health check up (microchipping and flea and tick prevention medicine) and carrying case. All of this will cost approximately 200 euro.

Won't you consider making a donation to help us send Fluffy to her forever home?

Donations can be made here, or if you wish to send money directly to Dr. Vasalakis, our vet, below is his wire transfer information.

Bank: PIRAEUS BANK
Ιban number: GR95 0171 3610 0063 6101 0072 331
SWIFT: PIRBGRAA
Name of the account: Vasalakis Dimitrios - Kontopidi Maria

(Please add a note: For Fluffy/Animal Zone Intl)

We are so happy for Fluffy and are grateful for our friends and supporters who wish her well. Please help if you can. 

Fluffy, our beautiful gentle blind cat

Fluffy gives many kisses to her canine friend Ektoras

When she arrived as a kitten in 2015

She's come a long way! We are so happy to know she will have a loving home in Holland

From Weeds to Wisdom

Announcing an exotic dinner of edible wild greens, vegetables, berries, and grains conceived by poet and historian of both literature and food Luigi Ballerini, author of A Feast of Weeds, and prepared by Chef William Mattiello based on recipes of the legendary Pugliese coltivatore and cook Ada De Santis.

This benefit for Animal Zone International will pair inventive and sophisticated vegetarian dishes with literary and historical narratives ranging from Homer to Shakespeare.

Sunday, June 25 at 6pm

Via Emilia Restaurant
47 East 21st Street, New York 10010

Tickets: $300 per person ($250 of which is tax deductible); $500 for two. Space is limited; buy your ticket today!

Click the button above to pay by credit card or PayPal, or send a check to: Animal Zone International, P.O. Box 1039, Cooper Station, New York, NY 10003

“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food. ”

— Genesis 1, 29

The Primary School of Arkesini

On Friday, March 17th, with the cooperation of our local animal welfare society, (Filozoiki Merimna of Amorgos), we visited the primary school of Arkesini to speak with the students about our Animal Zone International project.

We talked with them about the importance of adopting a stray animal rather than buying one from either a puppy or a kitten mill and we also spoke about the suffering of animals that are not treated well. . The students asked many questions and there was a sense of joy in the room as we talked together about these vulnerable members of God’s kingdom and our responsibility in making their time on earth a safe and healthy and peaceful one.

Before we left we agreed to come again in a year and we feel strongly that our work and dedication is having a real affect on the youngest generation of our island.
 

Help us help the dogs of AZI

Many of our recent posts are about our cats and our cat projects. Now we would like to tell you about three sweet dogs in our care.

With the help of the Municipality of Amorgos we are preparing a temporary kennel for the dogs who have come to stay with us.

Bob, Akira and Arangon were living in an area far from our Center. Their kennels were in serious need of repairs and so, with the help of the Municipality of Amorgos, we were able to move them closer to our Center and greatly improve their living quarters.

Bob, one of the three dogs in our care. Click on the picture to read his story

The Municipality has provided us with an enclosure in Katapola where we have begun to clean the area, expand the fencing, cement the grounds and soon we will spread gravel so that the dogs will stay dry in their shelters and free from mud in the rainy season. Finally, the Municipality will give us trees and plants to help shade the animals during the intense summer heat.

The total cost of this project will be 800 euro and, since we are a non-profit organization, we rely entirely on donations in order to achieve our goals.

Won’t you consider becoming an angel to these dogs in need and make a donation to help keep them safe and healthy. Or, even better, consider taking one of these beautiful creatures, for, they are available for adoption.

We need your support. Please Donate. Even one euro is valuable to us and to the animals in our care. We are so grateful to have many online friends. If each friend gave only five euro we would be able to complete our kennel project and continue our struggle to care for the animals of the island of Amorgos.

VISIT BY DR. VASALAKIS

Dr. Dimitris Vasalakis came to work with Animal Zone International’s Center over the weekend of 4-5 of February.

Many members of our local community brought their animals to the Center for examination and vaccines and even for grooming. Also, Dr. Vasalakis examined, vaccinated and sterilized all of our cats, which meant that he had a very busy and a productive weekend.

Amorgos does not have a permanent veterinarian so these visits from Dr. Vasalakis are vital for the animals and the health of our island and we are grateful for his help.
 

Cleaning the teeth of a stray cat with chronic stomatitis

Grooming of a local family's dog

Cleaning an abscess on a stray cat

Checking the heart rate of a local family's dog

Documentary about Aegiali Project cat sterilizations

In Amorgos we care for the health and safety of the island cats and their kittens but no animal in need is ever turned away from our center. The cats and dogs of this rocky island, the mules and horses and donkeys and goats and geese of Amorgos are all given aid and comfort by our extraordinary group of veterinarians and volunteers who even, at times, find themselves caring for a sick rabbit or a wounded hawk. Our Center is a hospital and a temporary place of shelter and recuperation. For some it has even become a permanent home. But there is so much more to do.

Will you help us keep this project alive, not only for these defenseless members of the animal kingdom, but, perhaps, also to serve as a model for other centers throughout Greece and beyond.

Please consider donating: we are in urgent need of help!