uutisia lyhyesti / news in brief

Group condemns killing of dogs
Animal rights organizations yesterday condemned the unidentified individuals behind a blaze last week in Amaliada, central Greece, that killed 25 dogs. Ahead of today’s World Animal Day, the Saint Francis of Assisi Association said it has offered 3,000 euros to whoever can identify the culprits. “Some people have already communicated with us,” association president Marina Petropoulaki-Kollia said. The dogs burned to death in a pen in the village of Roviata, Amaliada, last last Wednesday when a fire started on some dry hay nearby and spread to the pen. It is unclear whether the incident was intentional or due to negligence.
2007_10 ekathimerini.com
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ND says government must respond to criticism from rights groups
Opposition New Democracy MP Aris Spiliotopoulos yesterday asked the government to explain how it was going to stop a wave of criticism from international animal protection groups, following cases of mistreatment of strays in Athens and elsewhere, from having a negative impact on the Olympic Games. Spiliotopoulos said it was imperative that the government react to such widespread condemnation and asked for clarification as to whether mass exterminations of animals could have been conducted.
2003_07 ekathimerini.com
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Greek MEP condemns slaying of stray animals

As reported in last week’s Spectre Weekly News Review, a large number of stray cats and dogs were found slain in the vicinity of the Zappio Park in Athens, where the inaugural ceremony of the Greek Presidency took place. It has now been revealed that the animals were poisoned by agricultural pesticides, which were mixed in their food.

Greek left Euro-MP Emmanouil Bakopoulos is calling for an explanation of the killings. “I condemn the slaying of the cats and dogs that had found a home in Zappio Park,” Mr Bakopolous, a member of the 50-strong United Left Group (GUE-NGL) said, adding that “While the deaths are a tragedy in themselves, they also highlight the urgent need to solve the problem of the many stray animals that populate the streets of Greece."

The Greek Animal Protection Society estimates that there are more than 700,000 strays in Greece, of which 60,000 are in the main cities. However, more than a fortnight after the killings, the local authorities have yet to take action. Unfortunately, legislation making it an offence to kill domestic or stray animals, though due to be enacted, has not yet entered into force.
source: 2003_01 spectrezine.org
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