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The "Cradle of Civilization"
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Estimates suggest approx. 80% of the 30,000 to 50,000 stray and homeless dogs in the streets of Athens and the greater Attika area have been poisoned in the past year in an effort to "clean up" the streets prior to the opening of the 2004 Olympic Games on August 13. The country's countless abandoned dogs have been given food laced with rat poison which often leads to a slow and excruciating death that sometimes takes days."
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Thankfully, millions of animal welfare advocates around the world are now aware of the plight of countless companion and farmed animals in Greece who are imprisoned within the borders of inhumanity and they will most assuredly become your most severe critics. The eyes of the world are upon an event that should "unite the world" in camaraderie. Sadly, as of this writing, it isn't and I fear it will not. As well, the 2004 Athens Olympics and a grossly overestimated number of visitors to the games will throw the Greek state into an economic tailspin. I predict a powerful aftershock!
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I was in Athens last week, and I learned directly from Mayor Dora Bakoyianni that the city of Athens had initiated a program to protect the strays. How successful and long lasting this program shall be, is yet to be proven. Perhaps it is a "smokescreen" for the benefit of the press?
I personally doubt the motives and the follow-through. The city is devoid of strays and their disappearance is suspect to say the least. Even before the commencement of Mayor Bakoyiannis' program, there was an eerie quiet throughout Athens. The mass poisoning of Greece's abandoned animals committed allegedly by government order has many Greek animal advocates pointing the finger at the "2004" Athens Olympic Organizing Committee.
The Greek massacre hit an artery and the world exploded in a frenzy of outraged protest followed by worldwide press coverage.
Sadly, the "house cleaning" efforts appear to have been successful. If the Greek Prime Minister does not issue a public proclamation denouncing nationwide animal abuse and neglect and does not urge authorities to investigate, prosecute and punish such animal related crimes, as we have urged him to do, we fear the status quo will persist and cruelty and neglect will escalate. As well, animal advocates on the ground throughout Greece will continue to suffer and be persecuted.
Press Release Debate
My direct response to the 2004 Athens Olympic Committee Chairman, Ms. Angelopoulou-Daskalaki, who crafted a message to the world press and proudly and falsely claims that the AOC is raising the standards of animal welfare in Greece. I have just spent 14 days investigating animal issues on the Greek mainland and the island of Corfu. I am not impressed, I am horrified! Marijo Anne Gillis (March 17, 2004)
"Global concern for Greek animals is quickly becoming a reality because of international pressure from compassionate people around the world and from the courageous actions of animal advocates in Greece; for no other reason.
The abandoned animal population of Greece and the endlessly suffering farmed animals have never been a priority for most Greek citizens and especially not for any past or present Greek government. Greek animal advocates have always been marginalized and ridiculed and have never received aid or recognition from the Greek government. How can they ever achieve a reasonable amount of success? This is in itself, a reality which shocks the civilized world.
Greece will take center stage as the 2004 Olympic Games commence. Global scrutiny and security will become quite intense for a number of obvious reasons. We believe that security issues are a prime concern and rightly so in this perilous political atmosphere."
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An Open Letter to the Greek Government
August 7, 2004
How shameful that the Greek government is just now making a frazzled, feeble attempt to care for her abandoned animals in a last ditch effort to save face as Greece assumes center stage for the 2004 Athens Olympics. Isn't it a bit late? Eighty percent of the abandoned dogs and cats of Athens and the greater Attika area have already been "disposed of" in a cruel and systematic manner.
Graphic, color photographs and a narrated, documentary expose film of abuse, " Greece In all Her Glory", produced by WAG New York, detailing the poisoned remains of innocent victims have been circulated worldwide.
Almost daily, Greek television networks and the print media feature the unspeakable cruelty in the streets and the horrifying neglect in municipal shelters. Sadly, this is usual and customary treatment for the companion and farmed animals of Greece.
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Over one thousand Greek animal welfare advocates marched, many with their dogs beside them, in protest at the Syntagma (Parliament) in Athens on June 6th of 2004. They called for mercy for the animals. Unfortunately, animal welfare advocates are ridiculed, humiliated, marginalized and usually are afraid to speak out for fear of retribution. Sadly, there are a few who make their living from animal advocacy and their personal agendas are of paramount importance, and the welfare of animals are of secondary importance.
I lived in Greece for 14 years and the brutal abuse and willful neglect that I witnessed and continue to witness during investigative journeys there every two or three months, is horrifying. I just returned from fourteen days on the Greek mainland and the islands. The cruelty issues remain reprehensible and unacceptable.
The powerful Greek Veterinary Association lobby exerts such influence over the government, that they make it nearly impossible to license volunteer veterinarians from around the world to practice free spay/neuter/vaccination, treatment of diseased animals and merciful euthanasia for the terminally ill and dying.
Questionable animal protection legislation, Law 3170 /2003, which is never implemented or enforced, is in position, thanks to Ministry of Agriculture state veterinarian, Ms. Chryssa Dile and her personal cronies and advisors. Ms. Dile, quite sadly, appears to be a permanent fixture within the Ministry.
We urge the Greek government to substitute a spectacular and costly public relations campaign and the pandering of an animal welfare organization, entered into financial contract with official entities, for the admitted guilt of a sad and unspeakable situation. Request help and allow those educated in the implementation of humane welfare to assist in resolving an issue that is truly inhumane and tarnishing the reputation and the image of Greece across the globe.
"There's certainly very little left about this particular Olympic event that's either glorious or noble. It appears to be just another big corporate money and image fest and abandoned animals, well they better not get in the way. I hope some courageous athletes and activists manage to get a message out to supporters and spectators across the world about what lies behind the Olympic "sport."
Please do not insult our collective intelligence and respond to the concerned world community in the meaningless rhetoric of the Greek government's futile attempt to whitewash the truth.
Marijo Anne Gillis
Welfare for Animals in Greece - New York City
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Gianna Angelopoulou Daskalaki
Director of the 2004 Athens Olympics Organizing Committee
Athens, Greece
March 26, 2003
Dear Mrs. Angelopoulou:
You are an intelligent and dynamic force in Greece.
It seem impossible to believe that with the enormous amount of financial resources at your disposal, which clasps hands with power, credibility and entrance to all areas of Prime Minister Simitis government, that you appear to be unable to, or worse yet, unwilling to seriously address the issue of escalating animal abuse in your country, especially in light of the Olympics.
The mass poisonings, ongoing in preparation for your committee's "housekeeping" for the Olympic Games are evidenced by hundreds of graphic photographs and personal testimony from witnesses in Greece.
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Your proposal of one shelter "to dispose of" a mere fraction (1000) of the city's 50,000 abandoned dogs in order to "sanitize" Athens for the Games, is not a solution. It is ludicrous.
We have approached the Greek government on numerous occasions through out the years to urge them to remedy a very serious issue which will only serve to tarnish the image of Greece abroad. Nothing, I repeat, nothing has been done to alleviate the suffering of the companion and farmed animals in Greece.
It is astonishing to me that the Greek Veterinary Association wields such extraordinary power over Prime Minister Simitis and his Ministers and is given freedom to prohibit foreign veterinarians to enter the country for the purpose of alleviating the gross overpopulation of unwanted and abused animals. Offers to mass spay/neuter/vaccinate/microchip and release to safe haven neighborhoods have been ignored.Ministerial decrees to promote urgent reform can be produced overnight. Why is this not the case?
The Government should formally invite representatives from leading animal protection organizations throughout North America and Europe and intelligently outline a plan and implement action to elevate the sub standard level of animal protection in Greece, and urgently.
Clearly, it will be a grave political mistake not to present a humane image for the 2004 Olympic Games. Not to do so would eventually lead to political and financial suicide. Why would Greece wish to appear as a brutal society in the eyes of the world and create major political damage, especially in an election year. I can guarantee Mrs. Angelopoulou that the world community will learn of this moral and social outrage. Please exert your dynamic and powerful influence to combat the obvious ignorance barrier which will lead to a high price to pay for Greece and her citizens; if not now, in the future.
I can assure you I will not allow these issues to remain under cover!
Thank you. Marijo Anne Gillis/WAG NY
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Mrs. Katerina Malaxia
The Greek Ministry of Tourism
Athens, Greece - August, 2003
Dear Mrs. Malachia;
We offer our appreciation that the Ministry of Tourism has had the courtesy and wisdom to reply to growing, global concern regarding the abusive and neglectful treatment of animals in Greece. Sorrowfully, your Ministry is "whitewashing" the truth.
As you recall, the "national cleansing" of Greece's abandoned animals prior to the onslaught of tourists to the long awaited 2004 Athens Olympic Games garnered worldwide attention and elicited a global outcry. If you remember correctly, the world press had a field day with the subject. Fortunately for Greece, and the financially motivated ATHOC led by Mrs. Angelopoulou Daskalaki; the long reach of ATHOC and the Dimos Athinon's public relations "arm" were able to dilute and divert the attention. But we caution, not 100%.
Thankfully, millions of people encircling the globe, who respect all life and deem animals, sentient beings, were not fooled. The national government based in Athens may indeed have had, at one time, the prudence and common sense to "verbally" condone such actions as poisoning, hanging and shooting which are commonplace and everyday criminal actions perpetrated against Greece's companion and farmed animals. But to whom? The new animal protection law 3170, ignored by all, is a travesty, and screams for repeal.
Unfortunately, the national government led by Mr. Costas Karamanlis has not once expressed the philosophy that you mention in your response -- to the citizens of Greece. Not once has any government official in Greece stood before the people to address, via public proclamation, and condemn the horrifying issue of animal abuse and neglect which has metastasized across the nation.
If great concern, according to reports from major animal welfare organizations and individuals throughout Greece is the fact that a Mrs. Chryssa Dile, and a Mr. Stylas, both permanently ensconced as fixtures in the Ministry of Agriculture, have done little to advance the welfare of animals, both companion and farmed and much to destroy it. It is frightening, but it seems as if Ms. Dile and Mr. Stylas, both civil servants, have been given carte blanche by the Minister of Agriculture and his Deputy Ministers to administer their own personal agenda and wreak havoc with animal welfare in Greece.
Further to the issue, the Panhellenic Veterinary Association, a powerful lobby, wrapping the Ministry of Agriculture around it's collective fingers, refuses to allow volunteer vets into the country to perform free spay/ neuter/ tx/ vax, to help alleviate the suffering of uncontrolled overpopulation.
The Panhellenic Veterinary Association can take a silver medal for running a close second behind Mrs. Dile and Mr. Stylas who have captured the "gold". Sadly, but ironically fortuitous, as the consequence of indifference, on the part of the central government and the municipalities, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the general mind set of much of the populace - the world is now aware that wanton, criminal acts of abuse and neglect are ignored by national and municipal officials who are in position by "election" and therefore obligated to preserve the integrity and the global image of the Greek state, especially, one would presume, during the tourist season.
Tourism, the main stay of Greece's gross national product, is of vital importance to Greece's economy. The Ministry of Tourism has spent millions of euros to advance a major public relations campaign around the world - "Live Your Myth in Greece". But because of the world's escalating awareness of horrifying abuse and neglect - thanks to photographic evidence- compassionate people everywhere are voicing their concern and horror and are resolving to divert their tourist dollars to more gentle venues. You would be surprised how the plight of all animals and ecological issues are fast becoming a global priority.
Perhaps, it would be prudent for the Greek government, in order to remove the layers of tarnish from a global image, to prepare a less convoluted law, paralleling laws of the European Community, to advance a campaign for animal welfare, {low cost spay/neuter/ vaccination/ re homing, public awareness and humane education in the schools} as is done throughout the western world.
Perhaps after such a wise and compassionate effort, there would be little need for dramatic public relations programs and massive expenditures to entice visitors to the most beautiful country in the world. I can only hope that the government of Greece will open a dialogue with animal welfare advocates within Greece and animal welfare organizations worldwide. We are at your disposal and do hope to speak with you via telephone.
Respectfully and cordially,
Marijo Anne Gillis
Founder Welfare for Animals in Greece
Welfare for Animals Global, Inc.
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We would hope that Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dora Bakoyianni, a charismatic and extremely intelligent woman and leader, would set an example for the rest of Greece and become a staunch ally of the animals and their protectors. To initiate reform does not incur complex evolution of moral thought; it just takes humanity. But, if past actions are any indication of things to come or if positive actions, reforms and any future progress is dependent upon other members of the Greek cabinet and Parliament, then God help the animals.
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