Dear Friends, Happy Holidays! We're thrilled to share a short video of AZI's work and actions from this year. Take a look and let us know what you think!
Dr. Vorisis
The great Dr. Vorisis came to our center to help in the sterilization program that we have begun. Many strays were spayed and neutered but he also saw many of the animals owned by members of our island community who were in need of examinations and vaccines.
Among those animals who came to us was a pregnant goat with a deep wound in her chest which Dr. Vorisis cleaned and planned to suture, but, before he could perform the surgery, this sweet goat gave birth to two handsome healthy boys.
After the birth the doctor repaired the wound and the goat and her babies were returned to their home, where, we hear, they are doing beautifully well.
Thank you, once again, Dr. Vorisis!
Meropi
Our beautiful white mule Meropi is no longer with us.
Meropi came to our equine shelter five years ago once her legs were no longer able to support the heavy loads that she had been carrying through her long life, as well as due to the damage of the hobbling that she endured once those loads were delivered.
After Meropi was freed of these burdens her condition improved and she lived through her last years in our shelter surrounded by peace and loving care. But time moved on and the long years of hard work took their toll on her damaged limbs.
The diagnosis for Meropi was not good, her suffering was great, and, because she was no longer able to stand, we at the Center, along with our veterinarian, felt that the act of greatest kindness would be to send our dear thirty-year-old Meropi to sleep.
She was the sweetest of mules and her strong character had made her the head of the herd at our Center. We will all miss her but we are thankful that, with the help of so many of our supporters, we were able to give Meropi these last beautiful years of freedom and joy.
Koutco
When Koutco arrived in our Center this summer he was FIV positive and had already lost the vision in one of his eyes. Since the other eye was severely compromised, Koutco was struggling to survive on the streets but after an accident that left his front right leg paralyzed his future appeared bleak.
Lamia, the benevolent woman who took care of the colony in which Koutco was living decided to contact a friend in Holland and together, Lamia and Juliette, found a shelter for him in Belgium. This is a wonderful shelter and we have sent another cat from Amorgos, the handsome Plume, to find a home with them.
The people of Vzw Zwerfkat in Belgium do tremendous work with cats in severe need and we salute them and hope that you will visit their website https://www.zwerfkat.com. They have given Koutco a second chance in life and, now, he is looking forward to his true and loving forever home.
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.
Fall Spay/Neuter Program
Animal Zone International, in cooperation with the Municipality of Amorgos, will be conducting a sterilization program for stray cats on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 of November 2018. The cost of the program will be covered by Animal Zone International and the Municipality of Amorgos.
We are asking anyone who is aware of stray cats in their area to contact us at the following numbers:
Animal Zone International’s office: 22850-71716
AZI's program coordinator: 6974990045
Owners who do not wish their cats to be sterilized are kindly requested to keep them in their home on the two days when the program is being conducted or to place a collar around their necks so that our volunteers will not catch them.
As a reminder, according to Law 4039/2012, Article 5, Item g: The owner of the dominant pet is obliged to take care of its sterilization if he does not wish to keep the newborn animals or can not dispose them to new owners. He is also required to ensure the microchip and the recording of his animal as well as to issue a health booklet, but also to place a metallic badge on the collar of the animal, which is provided annually by the veterinarians during the annual rabies vaccination.
Donate now—click on the yellow bottom at the top of the page. Your donation goes toward many programs that AZI sponsors, including feeding hungry cats, vaccinations, as well as the spay/neuter program. Thank you for your support!
Celine
Celine arrived at our Center at the end of August, a tiny two-month old baby in dire condition and now, after treatment for parasites and good healthy high-quality nutrition, Celine has become a beautiful, shinny and chubby kitten who never stops playing.
Celine is available for adoption and she will be a grateful and affectionate member of her new family.
Lisa
Lisa was found in terrible condition after having been locked for years in an improvised cage in Chora. Lisa was close to death when volunteers and members of the local animal welfare society (Filozoiki Merimna of Amorgos) began to fight for her life. They not only had to fight for her health, they also had to fight the owner who refused to let them remove her from her cage and bring her to our Center.
After nearly five years with us, Lisa has finally found her new home in Holland where she will be given the love that she so greatly deserves. Lisa is a special creature filled with a nurturing spirit that caused her to care for all the orphaned and ill animals that came to us at our center. Lisa would leave her own bed and sit with these wounded animals and she will always live in our memories as the most beautiful and powerful example of the grace that can come from the commitment to save every broken and wounded member of the animal kingdom.
We wish you a long and happy and wonderful new life dear Lisa!!
Visit of Chora's kindergarten to our center
On the occasion of World Animal Day the kindergarten of Chora visited our Center as well as our Equine shelter. The children were excited and happy not only to interact with the animals but also to learn about all the many reasons that brought these innocent creatures to our center.
The children also learned about the workings of a veterinary clinic—the sterilization, adoption, surgical procedures and everyday health care that bring health and safety to the animals that are in their care. The children met the animals that we have rescued and played with our dog Sissy and got a feeling for the great sense of accomplishment that can come for helping those in the animal kingdom that need our help.
After a tour of the Center the children visited our Equine shelter where our volunteer Lea Voegeli spoke to them about the care of the equines and the importance of having them protected from severe weather conditions while being tied and hobbled. Our sweet donkey Heracles gave rides to the children after they brushed him and all the equines were given carrots and apples.
It was a great and happy day and we want to give a big thank you to the teachers and the children for giving us, as well as those in our care, a beautiful day—we are grateful for this sweet gift of community.
Nov 8 Benefit Event
Join us for our fall fundraising event!
Leonardo's Eels: A New Look at the Last Supper
This year, Luigi Ballerini, Professor Emeritus UCLA, will present an illustrated lecture On Iconography, Animals, and Secrets of the Renaissance. Refreshments will be served.
Thursday, November 8th • 7:00pm
Robert Simon Fine Art
22 E 80th St, New York, NY 10075
Buy your ticket online at https://azi-eels.eventbrite.com.
NOTE: If you prefer to pay by check, please send to Animal Zone International, PO Box 1039, Cooper Station, New York, NY 10003.
Frinta has been adopted!
Frinta was found in May, abandoned and crying, on the streets of Amorgos. She was very tiny, only about a month old, and our program coordinator, Litsa, cared for her until we could find Frinta a loving home. Very quickly her sweetness attracted a new family and she has gone to live in her forever home in Athens.
We are blessed to know that Frinta will live a safe and happy life after her difficult beginning.
Potamoulis, a lucky survivor
When Potamoulis arrived at our Center on 20 of August, 2018 he was so weak that he could not walk, was completely dehydrated and just skin and bones, with a mouth infection and a severe wound in his tail with worms that were eating him alive. We were almost sure that he would not survive.
We immediately sent him to the vet in Naxos for a thorough examination and blood tests. His mouth infection was caused by eczema in the tongue and dental problems but he was so weak that we were concerned the anesthesia would be too much for him.
So Potamoulis came back to Amorgos and we followed a course of treatment for his health. When he became strong enough he went back to the vet in Naxos who cleaned his teeth, amputated the dead piece of his tail who we suspected was the main reason of his problems and neutered him. In 1 month the turnaround in this animal was enormous; Potamoulis soon became a big, healthy, strong cat.
Maria, the young woman from Aegiali who found him on the streets, couldn’t let him return to his old life so she decided to adopt him. Maria, thank you for saving Potamoulis!!
We hope that more people will follow Maria's example and instead of simply passing by a creature in need will take action and help in a rescue and recovery.
If you can help, please consider donating so that we have the funds to do our work, including sending the injured and sick animals to the vet and paying for medicine and healthful food. It doesn’t take much to make a huge different in an animals life.
Support our sterilization program—HELP us make it happen!
Our next sterilization project will take place in the beginning of November (9, 10 and 11) and the only way to manage it is your generous help. Any amount of money from animal-loving people out there is most welcome.
In Amorgos there is no permanent veterinarian. Until there is a veterinarian on our island, we must either send them by ferry to the nearby island of Naxos, or arrange a visit from the vet, if need be. We then take care of them ourselves and release them back to their neighborhood once they are healthy again. For some who cannot live on their own, we do our best to find a forever home. Sometimes it happens quickly; other times it takes a while. Whatever the case, we make sure our cats are happy.
Twice a year we organize sterilization projects for the stray cats of Amorgos. We get help either from local or international volunteers while at the same time we try to find proper funding in order to pay everything necessary, as this is our biggest and most important project. Even more so when one thinks of the numerous cats that live on the island and whose welfare depends solely on us and the few people who help us.
While there are still people who are against neutering cats (even though they do nothing to help feed them or provide health care for them), we have adopted the global animal welfare community's recognition of neutering as the only approved method of controlling the stray population. Moreover, when we have to watch animals getting run over by cars or searching for food in the garbage bins, when we must resuscitate them when they have been poisoned or burry them when it has been too late, we realize that we still have a long way to go.
To continue our work with the two sterilization projects per year, we must seek more ways of funding. The cost of four projects (covering about 250 cats) is 4000 euro, and therefore we are creating this campaign to raise this sum. Please help us, donate here: https://gogetfunding.com/stand-by-amorgos-cats
Bobbie's new life
Do you remember sweet Bobbie?
Bobbie was found abandoned as a puppy and spent the next 2 and a half years waiting for his forever home. On March 23rd Bobbie and his brother Arangon traveled from Amorgos, where their lives had no future, to Holland, to start a life as a member of a family, inside a home.
We've heard nothing but good news about his new life, and here is the proof...!
Aeneas
The morning and a parked car were hiding a pleasant surprise. We received telephone call saying that a kitten was hiding beneath a car and the owner of the car was unable to tempt the crying kitten out.
Once Litsa our coordinator arrived, with her knowledge of the language of cats, she began to meow and a baby boy came running out. Aeneas is a healthy long-haired boy with beautiful big blue eyes and he already shows signs of growing into a large and strong silvery grey adult.
It seems a pity to allow such beauty of live on the streets of Amorgos and, so, we are looking for a home for Aeneas. If you are interested, please, please contact us at: azi.amorgos@gmail.com
Update (10-18): Handsome Aeneas has found a forever home! He is living with a loving family in Athens. The daughter fell in love with him during a visit and the family couldn’t resist. We know them well and are so delighted that Aeneas will be with a caring family for the rest of his life. Updated photos are below.
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.
Animal Action in Amorgos
On June 13 and 14, a total of 54 equines—31 donkeys, 9 mules and 14 horses—were seen and cared for by the Animal Action team in the following areas on Amorgos: Vroutsi, Kolofana, Langada, Tholaria, Potamos, Chora and Katapola.
The team also spoke and distributed leaflets for the inhumane and illegal habit of keeping the animals' legs tied together. This practice is severe and can permanently damage the legs. Instead, the team offered advice about a better way to tie a horse, mule or donkey, by using a halter and collar. The residents of Amorgos have embraced the program and they eagerly await the annual visit of the Animal Action team.
During the days of the program one of our lovely donkeys at our equine shelter, Daisy, who was already very old became seriously ill. She could not stand upright so euthanasia was deemed necessary. Daisy was a very social donkey who became the mascot of our shelter. We already miss her a lot.
We want to thank Animal Action for sending their team: Kleopatra Triantafilou, a veterinarian specializing in equines, the farrier Gianni Mprastiano, our volunteers Lea Voegeli and Giorgos Zafiriou who offer us much help, and Panagiotis Psychogios (the Pensione Panos) who hosted the vet. A big round of thank yous also go to the owners of the many animals who participated in the program.
A Seagull Rescue
Several days ago, we were contacted by two tourists who were swimming in the remote beach of Campi and who had discovered a seagull with a broken wing. Because they were not able to capture the frightened bird, we called Alkoni, the Aegean Wildlife Hospital in Paros and asked for their advice. Unfortunately, by that time, the bird had disappeared from the beach of Campi.
Days later the bird was finally captured by two men swimming at the Agia Anna beach. We were able to send the bird to Alkioni in Paros but unfortunately the news is not good. Miguel, as we now call him, must remain at the hospital along with fifty-two seagulls that also are unable to fly.
If Miguel is able to come back to Amorgos, one of our restaurants that is close to the sea must agree to feed this broken-winged bird and keep him close to the water that he loves so much.
Our appeal is that someone will adopt Miguel and even, perhaps, a few more of the birds who live at the Aegean Wildlife Hospital. It is great work that they do and they need help in this beautiful project that brings wounded and disabled birds back into their natural habitat.
