We, that is the Souda Shelter Project in Souda, Chania, on Crete, are looking for reinforcements as soon as possible!
Anyone who would like to become active in animal protection abroad and is willing to pack up and move to the beautiful island of Crete for a year (with an option to extend) is hereby cordially invited to apply to us.
What we are looking for is an employee (m/f/d) full-time (40 hrs/week) for our Souda Shelter, where we currently look after and try for about 80 dogs, including former strays and abandoned or abused animals to find a new and loving home.
The daily tasks include looking after, caring for our animals, cleaning and maintaining the premises, trips to the vet, looking after visitors, etc.
A completed training in the field of animal care or similar is not a requirement, but a very high level of commitment and responsibility. Our international team is very small and everyone has to be able to rely on everyone.
The means at our disposal are small and there is a lot missing. What we do not lack, however, is the love for our animals, which are always our top priority. We also expect this attitude from every new team member.
As everyone knows, the clocks tick a little differently in animal welfare, so the willingness to get up at three in the morning or to work late in the evening is an absolute must. This also applies to emotional and physical resilience, because especially in the hot Greek summers our work is many times more strenuous. Furthermore, a driving license and good English are essential for our daily work.
If your interest is aroused, we would be very happy to receive your application in English to [email protected]!
So after taking in many darn puppies last spring we are now in the midst of an overload of animals which need to be neutered…ASAP.
Calculate this, male dogs cost us approximately 125 euro: surgery plus miscellaneous (antibiotics, Elizabethan collars, etc.) and females cost us approximately 150 euro each.
The animals needing neutering right now who have come of age are seven boys and fourteen girls, that amounts to 2,972 euro!
Big expense, so I have a plan and I would love for you to assist:
Sponsor an animal.
Below are the animals who need neutering.
Choose one and donate to that cost.
That allows us to continue helping the animals in need without tampering with our very limited budget. That gesture in itself takes a load off of our minds as to what we CAN do when the next call about a needy animal arises.
Be a part of our project, actively.
Sponsor a neutering.
Choose your animal and in the comments under its picture write, “I choose ________, funds have been donated to IBAN/PayPal.”
(In two months we will have another lot so please lets clear this one first).
Great thinking and planning amongst the teachers at Theodoropoulos International School.
The teachers, all animal lovers, decided it would be a good idea to get a class trip going to the Souda Shelter and so they contacted me.
Yesterday the bright, young faces came and graced our premises. Twenty five children ranging from six to twelve years of age came to visit, had questions and was plenty interested in our work.
They brought us two cases of wet food AND collected a donation of 81.30 euro!
We even got a couple, “I’d like to be a volunteer” and “can I visit with my parents?”.
Great Joy.
Kudos to teachers, the ladies mentioned above and kudos to the parents that okayed this trip.
To many more visits
September 2021:
Vivien Peachment has donated the first edition of her new book, FRIENDSHIPS WITH FERAL CATS IN CRETE, to the Souda Shelter Project.
It is an enjoyable book much enhanced by the paintings of local artists and photographs of her feral cats by the renowned animal photographer, our very own, Nicklas Svartengren. Call Vivien on 6973230190 or email her at [email protected] to arrange collection.
Price 15 euros.
Pay by donation on through PayPal at [email protected] or the non-profit bank account, KYN-wnia
IBAN GR65 0690 0010 0000 0018 6013 001
Please leave a message in the comment box that the donation is for Vivien’s book and then call Vivien to arrange collection for 15 euros, or postage for 17 euros.
You can also request a pdf of the book, which is easy to read and has many illustrations and photographs, from Vivien whenever you make a donation online.
The Souda Shelter Project
July 2021:
English/Ελληνικά
A very big THANK YOU to the Hellenic Animal Welfare Organization with the cooperation of the inmates at the correctional facilities in Alikarnassos for donating 10 beautifully made doghouses to the Souda Shelter Project!
Ευχαριστούμε την Πανελλήνια Φιλοζωϊκή Ομοσπονδία για τη δωρεά τριών σκυλόσπιτων που κατασκευάστηκαν στα πλαίσια της δράσης “Σπιτάκια για αδέσποτα ζώα από κρατούμενους στα Καταστήματα Κράτησης” που συνδιοργανώθηκε από τη Γενική Γραμματεία Αντεγκληματικής Πολιτικής,
την Πανελλήνια Φιλοζωϊκή Ομοσπονδία και τη Συμμαχία για την Ελλάδα.
Let’s all join in the efforts of finding this amazing creature his final home. It takes a second to share! And you never know, your share just might get Reino a home!
Μαζί να κάνουμε τον κόπο να βοηθήσουμε αυτό το αξιολάτρευτο πλάσμα να βρει το παντοτινό το σπιτάκ. Κοινοποιήσετε!
Ποτέ δεν ξέρετε, με την δικιά σας κοινοποίηση μπορεί να Βρεθεί το παντοτινό σπίτι του Ραΐνο.
Special thanks to Jeffrey Singh for his donated time and efforts to create this video.
The Souda Shelter Project is in the situation that it is in because charges for dog trafficking and illegal shelter operations were filed by two people right here in Chania.
On the public prosecutor’s paperwork are two names classified as “witnesses”.
The first is an actual employee and veterinarian at the Veterinary Department of Chania, the public department famous for working against and looking down at local rescuers.
The second is the president of the Perivalontiki Filozoiki Drasi of Platanias, (a basically inoperative animal welfare group who spends most of their time trolling online than rescuing).
Yes, the mayor may have some of the blame for the situation that we are in (a simple signed cooperation would free us from any charges) BUT these two are the direct cause of the action.
And behind these two brainless marionettes (one of whom HAS sent animals abroad but somehow has forgotten) is the Athenian organization who speaks about Nazi couches and bestiality.
Shame on local rescuers who overlook this great wound and work with these sick people.
Shame on the government authorities who actually are influenced by these people.
Shame on the taxpayers money being spent and the court system being clogged with these ridiculous accusations bringing rescuers to trial (because it’s not only me it’s a whole lot of us).
And mostly shame to these two women for getting in the way of efficient, effective animal protection.
We are proud of the work we have accomplished and the reputation we have established.
We must unfortunately share our energy between saving animals and fighting back.
And we will most certainly fight back.
Join us. Stay informed. Back our cause with your voice.
Be a part of the project.
Be a part of our movement.
The Souda Shelter Project.
11. December 2020
NO MORE ANIMALS TO BE ADMITTED TO THE SOUDA SHELTER PROJECT AS OF TODAY
Today we were visited by the vice mayor of Chania responsible for the stray animal population, two civil servants from the municipality and two civil servant vets from the Chania vet department.
All of the animals in the shelter have been documented and NO NEW ANIMAL IS ALLOWED TO BE ADMITTED into the shelter as of today.
We were thoroughly searched for illegal drugs by the vet department. Of course none were found because we don’t use any illegal drugs.
It is a bad day for the strays of Chania.
This all stems from accusations by the Confederation of Animal Welfare Athens and by the president of the Platanias Animal Welfare group along with a vet from the Vet Department of Chania.
And all of this animosity stems from animals being sent abroad.
The above mentioned are all individuals who are strictly against animals leaving the country and who state that they would rather the animals die on Greek streets then on Nazi couches.
Accusations include dog trafficking, the commercial sale of dogs (how that’s possible with a nonprofit tax number and bank account I don’t know) and the obvious, which I stated in 2016, the illegal structure of the shelter.
The only sorry I feel is for the animals whom we must now turn our back on.
Of course we will have stories to tell you and beautiful pictures and videos to show you but this will be just of the animals we already have in our care.
It is also a great shame that an organization such as ourselves who offer a service which no governmental office has taken responsibility for is treated like a criminal organization.
Taking in animals is now illegal for us.
It is a very sad day.
28.October 2020
Ελληνικά/English
Η Λάντα ήταν ένα μικρό κορίτσι που ήρθε σε μας με την αδερφή της. Τα δύο μικρά κορίτσια ήταν μόνα τους στους δρόμους και στο έλεος κακών ανθρώπων, μεγάλων σκύλων, επικίνδυνων αυτοκινήτων και άλλα.
Με την φροντίδα μας, χαλαρώσανε και μας εμπιστεύτηκαν. Αισθανθήκανε ασφάλεια.
Κατανοούμε ότι το Souda Shelter Project δεν λειτουργεί ως νόμιμος χώρος. Κατανοούμε ότι η Ελλάδα έχει νόμους που πρέπει να τηρούνται.
Δεν καταλαβαίνουμε γιατί είναι έκτακτο να μας κλείσουν και να μας κλείσουν τόσο γρήγορα.
Δεν καταλαβαίνουμε πού σκοπεύουν να βοηθηθούν αυτές οι ψυχές εφόσον μας κλείσουν.
Δεν καταλαβαίνουμε, επειδή είναι νομική υποχρέωση των δήμων να παρέχουν καταφύγια, γιατί αυτό είναι κάτι που δεν έχει πραγματοποιηθεί εδώ και τόσα χρόνια.
Ναι, υπάρχουν σχέδια για ένα δημοτικό καταφύγιο στα μελλοντικά σχέδια του δημάρχου, αλλά τι συμβαίνει με τα ζώα μέχρι τότε; Απλώς αγνοούμε τα δεινά τους; Απλώς αγνοούμε τα ζώα που έχουν ανάγκη;
Το Souda Shelter Project είναι ένας χώρος όπου τα ζώα που χρειάζονται βοήθεια συλλέγονται και προσωρινά στεγάζονται. Τραυματισμένα ζώα, κουτάβια, γέρικα ζώα, ζώα που χρειάζονται θεραπείες είναι όλοι προσωρινοί κάτοικοι εδώ στη Σούδα.
Ως που να βρουν το σπίτι τους, την οικογένεια τους.
ΕΑΝ Η ΤΟΠΙΚΗ ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΗ ΕΙΧΕ ΠΑΡΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΕΥΘΥΝΗ ΤΟΥΣ, ΔΕΝ ΘΑ ΧΡΕΙΑΖΟΤΑΝ ΝΑ ΥΠΑΡΧΕΙ ΤΟ SOUDA SHELTER PROJECT. ΤΟ SOUDA SHELTER PROJECT ΥΠΑΡΧΕΙ ΓΙΑΤΙ ΥΠΑΡΧΕΙ Η ΑΝΑΓΚΗ ΓΙΑ ΒΟΗΘΕΙΑ, ΓΙΑ ΣΤΕΓΑΣΗ, ΓΙΑ ΠΕΡΙΘΑΛΨΗ ΓΙΑ ΚΑΘΕ ΚΑΛΟ ΖΩΟ ΠΟΥ ΒΡΙΣΚΕΤΑΙ ΑΔΕΣΠΟΤΟ.
ΚΑΛΟ ΖΩΟ ΣΑΝ ΤΗΝ ΛΑΝΤΑ ΠΟΥ ΜΕΣΩ ΤΟΥ ΕΡΓΟΥ ΜΑΣ ΕΧΕΙ ΒΡΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΟΙΚΟΓΕΝΝΙΑ ΤΗΣ, ΤΗΝ ΗΡΕΜΙΑ ΤΗΣ, ΤΗ ΖΩΗ ΤΗΣ.
Γίνετε μέρος του έργου μας. κάνετε email του δήμαρχο [email protected]
Γράψτε τον δήμαρχο και ζητήστε του να αναγνωρίσει το τεράστιο έργο που γίνεται καθημερινά για την κοινότητα μέσω του Souda Shelter Project.
Lada was a little girl who came to us with her sister. The two little girls were alone on the streets and at the mercy of bad people, big dogs, dangerous cars and more.
In our care, they relaxed. They trusted. They were safe.
We understand that the shelter is not a legal space. We understand that Greece has laws which must be respected.
We don’t understand why it is imperative to shut us down and shut us down so quickly. We don’t understand where these souls will be helped, given a safe haven. We don’t understand why since it is the municipalities legal obligation to provide shelter, why this has not been addressed for so many years.
Yes, there are plans for a municipal shelter in the mayor’s future plans but what happens to the animals till then? Do we just ignore their suffering? Do we just look away from the animals in need?
The Souda Shelter is a space where ANIMALS IN NEED are collected and taken in. Injured animals, puppies, old animals, animals needing therapies are all candidates and residents here in Souda.
IF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAD ADDRESSED THEIR RESPONSIBITITIES, THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR THE SOUDA SHELTER PROJECT. THE SOUDA SHELTER PROJECT EXISTS BECAUSE THERE IS A NEED TO HELP, TO RELIEVE, TO REVIVE THE LIVES OF GOOD ANIMALS. GREAT ANIMALS LIKE LADA WHO WAS MADE WELL AND WHO HAS NOW MADE A FAMILY’S LIFE BETTER.
Be a part of our project.
Write the mayor and ask him to acknowledge the immense work done for the community.
Saturday 17/10 at 18:00 a new program premieres on Greek public television ERT2, Plano Me Oura. It is a show based on animals and the people who help/work with them in Greece.
We had the great pleasure of welcoming the hostess, Tassoula and her lovely crew, who came to visit us and interview me for one of the episodes of the new show
Below, after the taping, we brought Reino to meet Tassoula.
He’s getting pretty good at being in front of the camera what a doll!
Σάββατο 17/10 στις 18:00 ένα νέο πρόγραμμα κάνει πρεμιέρα στην ελληνική δημόσια τηλεόραση ERT2 και λέγεται Πλάνο με Ουρά. Είναι μια εκπομπή με θέμα τα ζώα και η ζωοφιλία στην Ελλάδα.
Είχαμε τη χαρά να καλωσορίσουμε την Τασσούλα, η host της εκπομπής και το υπέροχο team της, που ήρθαν να μας επισκεφτούν και να με πάρουν συνέντευξη για ένα από τα επεισόδια της νέας εκπομπης
Μετά την μαγνητοσκόπηση, φέραμε τον Ρέινο να γνωρίσει την Τασσούλα.
Εχει μάθει ο Ρέϊνο πια μπροστά στην κάμερα…κούκλος!
15. October 2020
The Greek-American Foundation collects now money for the shelter.
I don’t sell animals for a living. I don’t make a profit off of them either. I have a legal nonprofit organization. My organization covers philanthropy, animal welfare and cultural issues. My organization is transparent. I am a Lady and a respectable citizen of the planet. I help animals, I help fellow citizens. I write calling all networks, all reporters, all journalists WORLDWIDE to dig deep and help me discover what is going on here in Greece. In Greece there is a small group of powerful people spreading lies and propaganda against the Animal Welfare world. They accuse us all of sending animals abroad to brothels, they accuse us of sending animals abroad for vivisection or just plainly they accuse us of sending animals abroad to be sold for profit. Personally I don’t prefer sending animals abroad for the mere fact that it is too much work and it is too expensive. I would prefer to find good local homes. Unfortunately there is no way the population of strays could be absorbed by the general Greek population. Impossible. So I, along with all of the other rescuers, send animals away to Europe and to any part of the world that will have them and give them the good life they deserve. The claims of this group that do not want animals leaving the country are based on their ‘fear’ that the animals are being used, neglected and exploited. They fight tooth and nail, constantly submitting legal claims, informing police with their slander, making the lives of rescuers difficult. If they are so afraid of the welfare of Greek animals: 1. Why don’t they get off of their asses and rescue an animal? 2. Why do they fight to make a legal EU established tracing method of transported animals illegal in Greece? You see the European Union has specific paperwork which traces an animal from its country of origin to the country of its destination, to ensure its safety. The TRACES system was specifically established to track the movement of animals from one EU country to another. The vet department of the country of origin informs the vet department of the country of acceptance how many animals are coming, the microchip and health records of each animal, who will except them and what will be done with these animals. It was initially implemented to track the movement of farm animals from one EU country to another. In this day and age TRACES are also used for the transport of domesticated animals. The animals are traced and documented from the minute they leave its origin to the minute they get to its destination. The Greek government HAS CEASED to issue this paperwork to the Animal Welfare groups. In some areas of Greece, such as Chania, Crete they have stopped since 2013. Greece is the only EU country which does not issue this paperwork called TRACES. Why? Inquiring minds want to know. The rescuers who have nothing to hide want to be traced. The countries excepting animals from Greece are demanding this paperwork. Yet this paperwork IS NOT being issued. Hmmm… Share.
Below is an animal who lived on the street in Chania, who was threatened to be poisoned. We took her in, nursed her to tip top shape, vaccinated her, chipped her and when it was time, sent her off to her home in Europe. Not to a brothel or to a laboratory.
23. July 2020
Elizabeth writes: Yesterday I met with the Vice Mayor of Chania, responsible for the maintenance of the stray animal population. I was called to discuss the closing of the Souda Shelter.
As we all know, from the very beginning of this project, if you read the “About” you see that I do mention that the space of the shelter is illegal. And that I would like to shut it down.
In 2016, when the previous owner renounced the shelter a few days later I had a meeting with the previous mayor of the time. I told him the situation (that there were 253 animals in the shelter) and that I would be more than willing to help but that I needed his support. Not economically, nor provisions wise. I needed his support because of the illegality of the space. I did not want to be chased for it, nor held accountable for it. I wanted to be pardoned so that I can help the animals.
In the same weeks I also visited the vet department introducing myself and requesting help to “empty” the shelter legally.
There was not any support from either authority, they just let me be and looked the other way, shucking any responsibility they have legally to the animals.
Fast forward to today.
Both the municipality and the veterinary department of Chania have been summoned with prosecutorial orders that the illegal space in Souda must close.
Why all of a sudden, four years later?
Anyone following the animal welfare scene in Greece knows about “the bad guys of animal welfare”. I won’t bother to mention them to give them any publicity but these are the folks who stop animal transports, who accuse animal welfare volunteers of selling poor dogs for profits, of exploiting animals for monetary purposes. This group has filed against the municipality and the veterinary department of Chania for allowing an illegal shelter to exist.
And so we find ourselves in this predicament today.
I showed up at the meeting with the vice mayor with my lawyer, of course.
Within the first minutes I was immediately insulted with the question of “so you don’t make money from this?”, “how do you live?” He also said that he cannot understand how someone can work for “free”. Infuriated I stated that I live from my husband’s salary, a high ranking military official, that I am saddened that he cannot fit it in his heart that people can do something that they love for a greater good and then I had the pleasure of insulting him back. I proceeded to ask him how he lived off of the poor salary of vice mayor and that SURELY he must be getting some money under the table…how else could he live? He sternly said he did not, and so I sternly said neither did I and added that I am very sorry that ONLY IN GREECE are animal welfare people associated with stealing money. Very sad.
We continued our conversation where I informed him that I was recognized by various serious establishments and organizations, such as the Naval Support Base of the US military, by KIFAAMEA, by the municipality of Apokoronas and others and that all of my problems would diminish if the municipality of Chania acknowledged us as well. He declined. He declined to acknowledge us yet on the telephone when arranging this meeting in the same breath asked me if I could take in an aggressive animal. Of course I did not.
The hypocrisy is just astounding.
He told me that we have twelve months to pack it up.
And so we will.
This means we must find a new grounds, buy it, build it to legal specifications and move our operations.
WE NEED YOUR HELP:
We need someone who can help create a media/marketing packet for the shelter to present to potential donors. Who we are, what we do, what we’ve done.
Please someone professional who knows how to do this.
We need publicity. Local and national newspapers, TV stations and other media vehicles to promote our story. In any, every country.
We need everyone to share. In the next months we need to raise funding to achieve this. Remember, we are a non profit organization with a non profit tax ID. All money collected will be strictly used.
We need someone who knows about EU grants and national Greek grants, maybe we are entitled to some help from the higher ups.
We need animal welfare organizations and associations to help us with rehoming and provisions.
We need your patience, your love, your understanding, your goodness.
Be a part of our project.
The Souda Shelter Project
June 2020
Puppies keep pouring in…
9. May 2020
The shelter is open again after the Corona lock down! Visitors are welcomed. Now, we are waiting for planes coming (and going) so that our dogs have a chance to be taken to their new homes and make room for new, dogs in need. Please, consider to become a flight partner!
17. April 2020
Hey folks! Join the Beanie Blanket Raffle! DETAILS on FACEBOOK!
It is a great way to help us out, at a very low cost (5 euro) and to take a shot at your luck. We have lots of animals at the shelter at the moment and a plethora of cats who need flight tickets out.Please join our raffle, share, help us!
YOU CAN SUPPORT BY BUYING A TICKET E. 5 / EACH (max. 150 available)
PRIZES 3 x Very Classy Beanie Blankets of a beautiful double layered fabric
Payment can be made through preferably Paypal: [email protected] Pls mention your name and “raffle for SSP”
Bank details can be given through a PM. Thank you so much for your support!
BEANIE BLANKETS your pet will love them ?
1. March 2020: Corona hit Greece and Europe. No more flights, no more tourists mean that we can’t empty the shelter and rescue new dogs. So, please, DO look at our dogs and cats! These times will be over and it would be great, if we could then start sending our dogs to new homes!
10. February 2020
Miki, our therapy dog, got a chance to get a family of his own AND to continue his therapy dog education. As we weren’t able to find a home for him here on Crete, we decided it would be best for him to let him go. Now he is waiting for a a possibility to travel.
This means, of course, we will look for and educate a new dog.
8. February 2020
Steve and Steven continue to repair the shelter; fences and doors always suffer from tear and wear. Maybe you want to help them?
25. December 2019: Merry Christmas from Boomer and Dion!
24. December 2019: Now the kitties are coming! Have a look at out cat section and tell every cat lover you know!
The cats are not at the shelter but we work with various private cat shelters and fosters.
19. December 2019: Coming soon…a full kitty section on our website…oh and if I haven’t said it before…KITTENS RULE
12. December 2019: Our work in the local community
K.H.F.A.AMEA is a day care center for children with disabilities. It was one of the first of such centers in Greece, run by parents, offering the children everything from music therapy to arts and crafts and loads of other activities.
The place is warm and the children are happy and the minds are progressive. Together with the president of the center we decided that a therapy dog would be a plus in the children’s routine and so we chose Miki. Through the guidance of Dogtrainer Chaniacrete, we trained him to be a therapy dog.
He visits the children once a week, for the last four months now and they recognize him and are happy to see him.
See the news report below and praise our ladies, Litsa Metaxa and Tatyana Kaminaris for their love and dedication. Be a part of our project!
For more info about our community work see ABOUT US. All this would not be possible without you. Thank you!
English
Greek
German
Dutch
Danish
Finnish
French
Italian
Spanish
την Πανελλήνια Φιλοζωϊκή Ομοσπονδία και τη Συμμαχία για την Ελλάδα.
Reino’s Story
FYI
NO MORE ANIMALS TO BE ADMITTED TO THE SOUDA SHELTER PROJECT AS OF TODAY
what a doll!
