Cretan Animal Welfare Group

Our Friday continues and we now continue to a completely new area, the district of Amariou in Rethymnon Province. We have some difficulty finding these villages, whose residents contacted us following our press release in Heraklion newspapers prior to the start of the Outreach week.

With the help of the local village priest we find donkeys who are in real need of our help.

Due to the time required to treat these first-timers and the winding, difficult (but beautiful) mountain roads we unfortunately run out of time and are unable to make the last of our scheduled visits so those are a priority for April 2012.

We have one last call on the way home to a donkey rescued by a lovely family, very interested in caring for it properly. As well as treating it we spend some time easing their minds about correct care, as they have read the booklet I had previously given them but have a number of questions. We finish off by torchlight, leaving them a hoof pick and brush we return to Malia, tired but satisfied at the new contacts we have made and another 12 donkeys feeling so much more comfortable because of our help.

On Saturday, our last day, we visit our friends in Kalo Horio, Kritsa  and the little donkey from Vathy. Unfortunately Nikos her owner has died and she is now the second donkey for the man at Zenia but she is in her Winter quarters where we are pleased to visit her. We are particularly glad to be able to continue her treatment as she has very bad hooves requiring regular treatment. Also another check on the donkey at the Olive Farm took place which we saw on our first day.

Returning to Malia the 3 donkeys at the Haven as well as Larry the sheep, are treated, last but not least! So a quieter last day with 8 donkeys and 1 sheep feeling happier.

As we reviewed our week with a total of 81 animals helped we feel that once again the equine outreach week has proved a very worthwhile project, helping both animals and their owners. As word of our work travels and people trust us and realise that we honestly care for their animals, without charge, we feel sure that one day, soon, we will find that 1 week each time is just not enough!

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On Wednesday we make a nice early start on our way to the south and the Messara area but first a stop in Archanes to see a new donkey, rescued by a kind Greek lady and now having a lovely life amongst olive groves with a beautiful view to the bay of Heraklion. Both the feet and teeth of this donkey needed care and so we started the day with very happy and satisfied ‘customers’. Continuing south to our regulars in Rotassi we are told by a passing lady that her brother has a donkey in a nearby village, Ethia where there are 2 donkeys we have never treated. As the day is going well we decide to find these donkeys, however, one is in the hills too far for us to visit this trip but he is on our list for April 2012.

After treating our regulars in Charakas, Vagionia and Krotos as well as 2 goats with overgrown feet, we arrive in Pitsidia for the first of our 2 night stay. After a quick but filling meal we all decide on an early night to refresh ourselves for the following day.

On Thursday  we make for Petrokefali and Barbara’s Agia Marina Sanctuary where she has new donkeys rescued since our last visit in April. After treating her donkeys and a goat she takes us to check on more donkeys, one of which is coming to her sanctuary as soon as possible. We are happy that while we are treating this donkey the old owner arrives and agrees for the donkey to travel to Barbara the following morning.

We completed our treatment of 13 donkeys and a goat and still managed a paddle in the Libyan Sea! As we looked out at a small island we mused on the possibility of Colonel Gadaifi hiding there and how wonderful if we could claim the reward for finding him and thus continue expanding our Animal Welfare work. The next morning we hear that he was caught that very day but in Libya, so I guess we will continue with our bazaars and other fund-raising events!!

On Friday we leave the area next morning heading for Saktouria where the men are waiting, with their donkeys in the same place as last time. How much easier this makes our work. We are sorry to hear that one of the old donkeys has died but another has arrived for a first treatment and so I guess the circle of life continues…

Following a telephone interview an article appears in the local newspaper so we hope that in 2012 we may be able to reach even more people and their donkeys.

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As it has already been almost 3 months ago that the Equine Outreach project took place (17  - 22 October 2011) and we will only now report to you about it we can just as well start the report in a different way than you are used to…

So let us start by thanking Garry Draper and Hans Signer for their commitment, hard work and good humour, Aegean Sky Apartments-Malia for free accommodation and Mark and Diana of Ezelopvang Kreta for their continued hard work on behalf of the working equines of Crete! A big thank you to Sue, Anke, Frank and Gerrie for their valuable voluntary help!

Thanks to all of the above we were able to help 81 animals of which 75 were equines!  Following you find Gayner’s report of this week…

On Monday we started at the Lassithi Plateau. It was a gloomy and cold day with terrible weather up in the mountains so there were no donkeys when we arrived at the caves. We visited Lasinthos Eco Park and then drove down to Zenia for another check up on a resident. Later, it was on to the Olive farm where again we had been requested to help with a poor donkey in need.

This was a difficult start for our team with long driving distances and few animals cared for. Fortunately, it was not a sample of what the rest of the trip would be like!

Tuesday we went back to Lassithi Plateau. This time the weather was a bit brighter and kept improving! Starting at Agios Georgios we learn that one of our regulars has been given away, 2 have died and we treat the remaining 3. A very sad realization but also a reflection of reality… Also, in Avrakontas 1 donkey has died but we treat another 3, always focusing on the positive side of our work!

Then, it is up to the caves where we are expected and 5 more regulars are treated. As always, these working donkeys do not require as much treatment as those standing in stables or fields most of the day. It is lovely to see that one man who had a new donkey in April and did not want us to do much with her, is now eager for us to check her before Winter arrives.

We have to hurry on to Magoulas – no time even for a coffee – as we are expected and arrive to find 8 donkeys and their owners eagerly awaiting us. As our experts set to work I am struggling to keep all the record sheets up to date and correct. Fortunately, some extra volunteers arrive to help as more donkeys keep arriving. I am very grateful for the help as it is always important we continue to keep good records.

After a quick break we arrive at Plati for the last 3 donkeys of the day and as the sun goes down and the temperature rapidly drops we partake of a warming glass of raki.

Once again we are struck by the generosity of the local people who offer us fruit, vegetables and nuts from their own produce as well as the local firewater, raki. Even on our first calls, finishing at 10 in the morning we are pressed to drink a raki (or 2!). It is not that we don’t like it but if we did accept I’m afraid we would never reach most of our clients.

This was a long, tiring but very satisfying day as we realised we had treated a total of 22 donkeys, probably our busiest ever day.

Filed under: CAWG Projects, Equines | Tagged: Equines | Leave a Comment »