No to barrel dogs in Crete
The improvement of the living conditions of barrel dogs in Crete and the death of lambs and goats from stray dogs were the issues discussed at the Municipality Building of Chania by the members of the Stock Breeders Association of the Chania region and the members of the Animal Friends Association.
It was agreed that dogs should live in real dog houses instead of barrels. The pastoral dogs should be protected from the weather conditions. A dog house itself cannot provide adequate protection from high temperatures and cold and should be placed in the shade, i.e. under a big tree in the summer or any other construction during winter.
There should always be clean and fresh water and food – no raw meat that causes several illnesses harmful for the dog and public health. The food and water containers should be kept clean at all times.
A campaign of raising awareness and informing the stock breeders should be started start by the association, beginning in the main villages. The stock breeders should be informed on the protection offered to animals by the law, the fees and penalties imposed by the law and of course on the animal rights.
Stray dogs in Crete
Everyone accepted that stray dogs attack lambs and goats and cause fiinancial damages to the stock breeders.
It was also agreed that these attacks are not the dogs’ fault; it’s a responsibility of those who abandon them when tired of them or when the animals stop serving “their purpose.” It is also the fault of the State that doesn’t enforce the given laws regarding the placement of electronic IDs on the animals.
The State also doesn’t impose the penalties recognized by the law in the case of abandoned animals, and doesn’t launch educational and informative programs at the schools in order to teach children how to protect the nature, the flora and fauna of their region.
All pertinent bodies should address the State for this issue rather than punishing the animals, which do not bear any responsibility anyway. It was finally agreed that this meeting and cooperation has to continue and improve, because mindsets do not change from one day to the other; constant efforts and rundowns are necessary.
9 years later nothing has changed. I have photos of dogs chained and left alone with no human contact in Ag Nikolas. The laws are ignored and laughed at.