Notice to the Public

English

The Paros Animal Welfare Society is a legally formed animal welfare non-profit association, with the official registration number 889/1999. It is run by a Board of Directors, elected by the public under the terms of its articles of association. Our purpose is to work with local vets, the police, the municipality, rehoming specialists and other interested parties to the benefit of the stray cats and dogs of Paros. We welcome all visitors to our facilities, our Web page and our social media. We welcome new ideas and constructive criticism, but we do not accept criticism or accusations based on hearsay or assertions made without legal facts to support them. For those making such criticisms or accusations, we will pass their comments and messages to our lawyers and legal action will be taken against them.

Ελληνικά

Ο Σύλλογος Προστασίας Ζώων Πάρου - PAWS είναι ένα νόμιμα ιδρυμένο φιλοζωικό μη κερδοσκοπικό σωματείο με επίσημο αριθμό μητρώου 889/1999. Διοικείται από Διοικητικό Συμβούλιο που εκλέγεται από το κοινό σύμφωνα με τους όρους του καταστατικού του. Σκοπός μας είναι να συνεργαζόμαστε με τους τοπικούς κτηνιάτρους, την Αστυνομία, τον Δήμο, ειδικούς στην υιοθεσία αδέσποτων ζώων και άλλους ενδιαφερόμενους προς όφελος των αδέσποτων γατιών και σκύλων της Πάρου. Καλωσορίζουμε όλους τους επισκέπτες στις εγκαταστάσεις μας, στην ιστοσελίδα μας και στα μέσα κοινωνικής δικτύωσής μας. Χαιρετίζουμε όλες τις νέες ιδέες και την εποικοδομητική κριτική αλλά δεν δεχόμαστε κριτική ή κατηγορίες που βασίζονται σε φήμες ή ανεδαφικούς ισχυρισμούς που γίνονται ελλείψει νομικών στοιχείων που να τους υποστηρίζουν. Για όσους διαδίδουν τέτοιου είδους συκοφαντικούς και δυσφημιστικούς ισχυρισμούς, θα παραδώσουμε τα σχόλια και τα μηνύματά τους στους δικηγόρους μας, προκειμένου να ληφθούν νομικά μέτρα εναντίον τους.

Our shelter is located on the outskirts of the village of Marathi. It is here that stray animals are brought when they are first rescued. They are treated and rehabilitated, before being rehomed. In the past 10 years more than 1200 dogs and cats from Paros have been rehomed thanks to PAWS being there to save them and our rehoming partner organisations PAROSHUNDE and PAROSKATZEN, who are always there for them to find loving new homes.

 Education

Greek law 4830/2021 defines animals living in Welfare conditions and places the responsibility for ensuring this happens on the owner. Strict fines are imposed for those who fail to care properly for the needs their animals.

PAWS recognises the need for education to help change attitudes towards animals. To help do this and in cooperation with local schools, vets and dog trainers, PAWS has held multiple education sessions at the shelter for local children. They are shown the shelter and allowed to meet the dogs and cats, while the dog trainer and vet tell them about the needs of cats and dogs and how to care for these needs to give their pets a fulfilling and happy life.

An animal’s welfare rights, as prescribed by law

Law 4830/2021 Article 2.

An animal lives in welfare conditions if: (a) it has a guaranteed comfortable, safe, healthy and appropriate accommodation, adapted to its natural way of living, (b) it does not suffer from situations such as pain, fear and anxiety, and (c) it is capable of expressing behaviours, which are important for its good physical and mental condition. The animal welfare rules shall ensure the following principles:

i. Freedom from hunger and thirst, with access to food and water, suitable in quality and quantity.

ii. Freedom from unnecessary suffering and strain, with safe and clean accommodation for accommodation and rest, which protects against adverse weather conditions.

iii. Freedom from pain, injury and illness, with proper care and veterinary care.

iv. Freedom from fear and anxiety, with appropriate behavior and treatment.

v. Freedom of expression of normal behavior, with appropriate living conditions and socialization.

 We collaborate with many organisations to get our strays to their forever homes

Living on an island in the Aegean ocean is idyllic for holidays and relaxing, but for rehoming stray animals, it presents very real logistical challenges. Coordination between partner organisations, vets, ferries and pet taxi services is essential to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Even then, strong winds that spring up quickly can cause ferries to be cancelled and connections to the pets’ new home to be missed. Fortunately this is a rare occurrence and our pets almost always reach their new homes as planned.