The abandoned animals of Santorini and their daily struggle to survive

We can see them every day moving discretely amongst us in the streets, seeking for food in the garbage bins, a puddle to drink water, and the slightest gesture of affection from those walking by them. They are the abandoned pets that with their eyes full of wonder and sorrow are trying to adjust to their new “status” and adapt to their new lives as strays. Words are not enough to describe a problem that we all cast a blind eye to …. Here are some extracts from the diary of a dog.

« 1^st week Today I am 1 week old .What joy to be part of this world! 2 months. Today they separated me from my mother, she was very restless and bid me farewell with her eyes. I hope that my new “human” family will take care of me as well as she did. 5 months. Today they yelled at me. My owner was very upset as I urinated inside the house. But no one ever showed me where I should do that. I was terribly sad about it! 12 months. Today I became 1 year old. I am an adult dog. My owners say that I grew more than they expected. How proud they must be about me! 13 months. Today they tied me up. I could barely move, almost couldn’t get up, go towards the sun when I am cold, or find some shade when the sun is high in the sky. They say that they are going to supervise me and that I am ungrateful. I can’t understand anything of what is happening to me. 16 months. Today they untied me. I was certain that my “human” family had forgiven me. I was so excited that I was jumping up and down. My tail was wagging like crazy. Moreover I believed that they were going take me for a walk. They headed towards the highway, suddenly they stopped the car, opened the door and I jumped off thrilled as I thought that we were going to spend the day in the country. I didn’t understand why they shut the door and left. «Hey! Listen up wait!» - I barked. They forgot me…. I ran after the car with all my strength. My agony grew as I started realizing what had happened, I couldn’t catch my breath, they had abandoned me! 17 months. I searched in vain to find the way back home. I am alone and I feel lost. In my wanderings I often encounter some warm hearted humans that look at me with pity and offer me some food. I thank them with my eyes, from the depths of my soul. I wish that they would adopt me. I would be the most loyal dog ever! But they just say: «poor dog must be lost». 18 months. A few days ago I passed by a school and I saw many children that looked like my “young owners”. I approached them and a group of the children started throwing stones at me, laughing, just to see who could “aim” better. One of these stones hit my eye and ever since I can’t see anything through that eye. 20 months. I can barely move. Today as I was trying to cross the road, a car hit me. I was walking at the pedestrian zone … but I will never forget the driver’s eyes full of content for hitting me. I wish he had killed me! But he didn’t succeed he just dislocated my back legs! My legs don’t obey me any longer and I just managed to crawl to the edge of the road. For 10 days I am exposed to the burning sun, the strong rain, the cold, without food. I cannot move anymore. The pain is unbearable! I am lying in a damp place, my fur is falling off. Some people that pass by don’t even notice me others say “don’t go near”. I am almost unconscious, but the last drop of strength deep inside me forces me to open my eyes. The sweetness in her voice made me react « My poor dog, how could they leave you like this?» With her there was a man in white that touched me and said: «I am sorry but this dog is not going to make it. It would be better to help him get out of his pain and misery». The kind lady, with tears running down her face agreed. As best as I could I wagged my tail and thanked her with my eyes for helping me rest in peace with dignity. As I felt the light pinch of the needle, before the long sleep, my last thought was: «why should have I been born in the first place since no one ever wanted me?»