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Abandoned in Greece a dogs story
My wife and I arrived in the resort of Finikounda on the Peloponnese peninsular Greece in the middle of May 2006 looking forward to a nice relaxing holiday.
We arrived at our studios to be met by a really friendly looking Labrador retriever female dog that was rather fat and pregnant looking. but very affectionate and being the animal lovers we are we gave her a lot of attention. The following morning we found the dog outside of our door, with her tail wagging and an expectant look on her face, so all three of us shared breakfast together.
I had assumed up till then that the Hotel next door must have owned the dog and decided to find out more about her as the dog had attached herself to us and followed us around the resort wherever we went, much to the delight of the locals.
Our holiday rep told us that the dog was a stray and had been around the village for a few weeks scavenging from bins and fending for herself and that the last occupants of our studios had been feeding her and had called her Goldie.
My wife and I decided to care for the dog as best as we could during our stay and I made it my mission to try and get Goldie some help before our return to the UK.
The Greek people are not renowned for their animal welfare care and any traveller to Greece will probably have come across the hundreds of uneutered cats and stray dogs wandering around many of the Greek resorts.
We knew that if Goldie did not get any help the most likely scenario for her and the pups was poisoning by the locals, as this is common practice in Greece to get rid of stray and unwanted animals. After visiting the local Internet café and carrying out a search for any local animal charities, I found one based in Kalamata called KAWS ( Kalamata Animal Welfare Society) and decided to phone them for help.
KAWS is run by John Blackwell a British ex pat and his wife Inger and is based in Kalamata and relies totally on charity for its funding.
After speaking to John and Inger, they offered to help and were hoping to find a local farm to act as a foster home to Goldie and her pups.
By now we were 10 days into our holiday and Goldie was looking decidedly uncomfortable, we thought she must be close to giving birth as she was not moving much and had given up her favourite past time of turning up on the beach and sprawling across my chest while I was sunbathing. I rang KAWS that evening and explained my concerns as up till then a foster home had not been forthcoming. John and Inger decided that they would take Goldie in themselves and we arranged to meet them the following day at Kalamata airport.
The journey was uncomfortable for poor Goldie who was laid out in the back of the car with my wife offering comfort. We all met up at the airport and were told that Goldie would be taken straight to the vets for a check up and vaccinations.
The next day when I phoned I was told that Goldies health was fine and that she had produced a litter of 13 pups during the night all doing fine. My wife and I both continue to support KAWS and keep in regular touch with John and Inger through email and they have kept us updated on developments.
Goldie and her pups to our delight were all eventually found good homes in Germany and recently all the owners had a first year reunion and this was broadcast on German National Television.
One thing is for sure I shall never forget this holiday and although it may not have been the most relaxing of breaks I have ever had it was certainly the most satisfying. I still have a photo of Goldie on my mobile phone and it makes me a smile to know that she now has the love she deserves and everything turned out for the best in the end.
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Contributor's Note
A story with a happy ending
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Goldie outside our Studio
Goldies puppies
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