25.04.2008, 13:31:22
Klar doch! Je weiträumiger diese Schandtat publiziert wird, desto besser! Wenn jemand eine englische Übersetzung braucht, die ist eben auch hier eingetroffen:
"Chaniotika Nea", Thursday, 24-04-2008
NEXT TO THE GORGE OF ST. IRENE
"THE TOMB OF THE DOGS”
Unbelievable but true. A hole next to the entrance of a gorge in Crete became a real 'tomb of dogs'.
Some people were using that hole to throw in their unwanted dogs. A couple of days ago members of the animal society of Chania “protection of the animals”, together with a mountain climber, visited the area.
The mountain climber descended down the hole where, at the depth of 18 meters, he discovered a scared hunting dog, who was saved from certain death. The member of the animal welfare society explains:
“Days ago we have been informed that there was a vertical hole near the gorge entrance, from where dog barking was heard. The area is next to a road and is 80 meters from the gorge entrance. Last Saturday, members of our society visited the place to verify the report (dog barking from the hole). The smell was very bad, millions of flies and remains (skin & fleece) from sheep and goats. The fire department came, but they couldn’t help because they didn’t have proper equipment.
Villagers from nearby area say that the locals call the hole “the tomb of the dogs” and that in the past, some villagers threw into the cave live dogs and, in general, stray animals. The animals were doomed to die slowly and painfully, if they survived the fall, by making them kill and eat each other in an attempt to survive. Plus the locals used to throw in sick or dead goats and sheep, so the hole is dangerous for public health.
We have contacted Mr Perrakis George, member of the mountain climbing club of Chania and speleologist (expert in caves) and after he came and assessed the situation, he offered to help to save the dog from the hole.
On Monday, April 21st, our society has reported the fact in writing to the mayor and to the state vet. The major said that he knew that there was a hole and after his initiative, metal bars were placed over the opening, so no- one could throw any animals inside. But somebody had cut the bars and kept on throwing animals inside. He promised to put new bars over the opening of the cave once the dog was rescued.
In the afternoon of the same day, we went there with the climber and we confirmed the former existence of the bars. We were shocked by the fact that drivers were stopping by and the drivers were asking “did they throw a dog inside again?” That meant that everybody knew what the cave was used for. Mr Perrakis, the climber, managed to go down and bring up with him a scared female hunting dog, whom a private vet assessed to be about 8 years old - probably she was no longer a good hunter, thus useless for the owner. Our efforts were huge, because the dog is big and the entrance of the hole is narrow. Fortunately, she had only slight injuries on her back legs, apparently from the fall. She is a very friendly dog, who kissed the hands of everybody. Hopefully there will be found a family who really care for animals, to adopt this poor creature. The dog was not skinny, probably because she was eating the remains of the dead animals in the hole and had water which was at the bottom of the hole. Mr. Perrakis informed us that he found a huge quantity of dead lambs and kids, heads of rams, bowels and skin and the dog survived on this. There was also stagnant water. The smell was unbearable and there were clouds of flies and colonies of various insects. Unknown for how long the poor animal had to live in this environment.
Recently our society for the protection of the animal has been facing repeatedly human indifference and brutality towards animals. On many streets you can see animals on chains, skinny, exposed to the sun and rain – sometimes next to a barrel, and instead of proper food they were thrown some bowels. This shows people’s disrespect towards both the animal and the environment. These animals are captives, undefended, and without any right. And when we stop to give them some water – the least we can do – they lick our hand gratefully and wave their tales.
The rescue of this animal – even if only this single one out of the large number which had been buried in the hole - was an unexpected gift. Let us hope that in future we shall not have to face similar situations – neither in that area nor elsewhere in our prefecture.”
"Chaniotika Nea", Thursday, 24-04-2008
NEXT TO THE GORGE OF ST. IRENE
"THE TOMB OF THE DOGS”
Unbelievable but true. A hole next to the entrance of a gorge in Crete became a real 'tomb of dogs'.
Some people were using that hole to throw in their unwanted dogs. A couple of days ago members of the animal society of Chania “protection of the animals”, together with a mountain climber, visited the area.
The mountain climber descended down the hole where, at the depth of 18 meters, he discovered a scared hunting dog, who was saved from certain death. The member of the animal welfare society explains:
“Days ago we have been informed that there was a vertical hole near the gorge entrance, from where dog barking was heard. The area is next to a road and is 80 meters from the gorge entrance. Last Saturday, members of our society visited the place to verify the report (dog barking from the hole). The smell was very bad, millions of flies and remains (skin & fleece) from sheep and goats. The fire department came, but they couldn’t help because they didn’t have proper equipment.
Villagers from nearby area say that the locals call the hole “the tomb of the dogs” and that in the past, some villagers threw into the cave live dogs and, in general, stray animals. The animals were doomed to die slowly and painfully, if they survived the fall, by making them kill and eat each other in an attempt to survive. Plus the locals used to throw in sick or dead goats and sheep, so the hole is dangerous for public health.
We have contacted Mr Perrakis George, member of the mountain climbing club of Chania and speleologist (expert in caves) and after he came and assessed the situation, he offered to help to save the dog from the hole.
On Monday, April 21st, our society has reported the fact in writing to the mayor and to the state vet. The major said that he knew that there was a hole and after his initiative, metal bars were placed over the opening, so no- one could throw any animals inside. But somebody had cut the bars and kept on throwing animals inside. He promised to put new bars over the opening of the cave once the dog was rescued.
In the afternoon of the same day, we went there with the climber and we confirmed the former existence of the bars. We were shocked by the fact that drivers were stopping by and the drivers were asking “did they throw a dog inside again?” That meant that everybody knew what the cave was used for. Mr Perrakis, the climber, managed to go down and bring up with him a scared female hunting dog, whom a private vet assessed to be about 8 years old - probably she was no longer a good hunter, thus useless for the owner. Our efforts were huge, because the dog is big and the entrance of the hole is narrow. Fortunately, she had only slight injuries on her back legs, apparently from the fall. She is a very friendly dog, who kissed the hands of everybody. Hopefully there will be found a family who really care for animals, to adopt this poor creature. The dog was not skinny, probably because she was eating the remains of the dead animals in the hole and had water which was at the bottom of the hole. Mr. Perrakis informed us that he found a huge quantity of dead lambs and kids, heads of rams, bowels and skin and the dog survived on this. There was also stagnant water. The smell was unbearable and there were clouds of flies and colonies of various insects. Unknown for how long the poor animal had to live in this environment.
Recently our society for the protection of the animal has been facing repeatedly human indifference and brutality towards animals. On many streets you can see animals on chains, skinny, exposed to the sun and rain – sometimes next to a barrel, and instead of proper food they were thrown some bowels. This shows people’s disrespect towards both the animal and the environment. These animals are captives, undefended, and without any right. And when we stop to give them some water – the least we can do – they lick our hand gratefully and wave their tales.
The rescue of this animal – even if only this single one out of the large number which had been buried in the hole - was an unexpected gift. Let us hope that in future we shall not have to face similar situations – neither in that area nor elsewhere in our prefecture.”